Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Streaming Standard: Uncharted (2022)

 Streaming Services are convenient in many ways.  This is especially true when it comes to Films that you didn't *really* want to shell out the extra money to see in Theaters.

To that end, I finally saw...

A young man- Tom Holland- is approached by another man- Mark Wahlberg- and asked to go on an adventure.

It helps that Wahlberg knew his missing Brother and promises that the hunt will lead to him too.
It's all about tracking down some gold, which means stopping at multiple locales across the World to avoid bad guys, solve puzzles and keep moving.

While pursued by the heir to the Fortune (who's the bad guy?), they are forced to work with a third Treasure Hunter.

Hijinks ensue.
As our Heroes get closer to the treasure, the danger gets more severe and the puzzles get more obtuse.

Can they solve the hidden message of, sigh, the post cards?
As the Third Act begins, we finally get Tom Holland in the outfit from the game, so it is time for the finale!

Can him and Wahlberg get the gold?
Who will survive?
Will you get that the weird guy on the Beach was Nolan North?
Do you even know what Nolan North looks like?

To find out the answer to *some* of those questions, stream the Film now.
I debated doing this as an Immediate Response, but I *specifically* didn't see it in Theaters and would only watch it this way, so this is how it goes.

The Film is...fine.  If you're a neophyte, it's a fun, if overproduced at times, Action/Adventure Film.  It is going to feel ALOT like an Indiana Jones Film, which is both praise and a complaint.  If you don't know, Uncharted started as a Game that would essentially let you 'Play an Indiana Jones Film' (minus the Fridge Scene).  So, naturally, when you turn it into a Film, it plays like an Indiana Jones Film.

If you're comparing it to an IJ Film, it definitely wants to feel like The Last Crusade.  In reality, it's probably closer to The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.

While I'm not the biggest fan of the Uncharted Series- having only fully played 2 of them-, I can still tell what they changed and not necessarily for the better.  As much as I like Holland, he's not *quite* playing Nathan Drake in 'the right way' to match the Games.  Something something different Mediums, I know.  The Ages are also wrong, as both Leads are too young.  At one point, it was going to be Wahlberg as Nathan Drake, which would have ironically then made him too old- as fit as he may be- for THAT Role.  As Sully, he's fine, but they never quite gel like the real Nathan and Sully.

If you don't know the Games, you might really enjoy the Film.  It has a few too many random twists just to be twists for my take- a betrayal I won't SPOIL makes ZERO sense- though.  It was fun and it was fine...but will I remember it?

In case you thought I was exaggerating about how much they changed the Characters, see how Fortnite released TWO skins for the Characters- one for the Film and one for the Games.

Much like Sahara, you'll probably enjoy this fairly-light romp if you don't know the source.  If you do, however, the changes and feel might be a bit distracting. 

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