In the latest edition of Mandatory Movie Battles, we’re exploring the world of action/adventure movies. When you think about the Uncharted series of games, the word that immediately comes to mind is “cinematic.” This term has become so synonymous with the franchise that most action-adventure video game adaptations have unsuccessfully attempted to replicate it.
In the time since the original game, the big-budget film adaptation of Uncharted has experienced some rocky waters on the way to the big screen. But now that Uncharted has finally made it to theaters, how does it hold up against a similar long-delayed action-adventure movie in Jungle Cruise? Let the battle of the jungle movies commence!
Cover Photo: Sony
As a generic action/adventure movie, Uncharted isn’t half bad. But as an adaptation of a beloved game franchise, the film is pretty awful. This probably wouldn’t be the case if it actually added something to the mythology, and yet the movie still manages to be aggressively mediocre in most respects. At least Jungle Cruise took chances, however safe that movie may also be at points. If you’re a newcomer to the Uncharted franchise, it will probably be easier to find the movie enjoyable. But if you’re a fan of the franchise, there’s honestly not much here to latch onto.
Unanimous Winner: Jungle Cruise
MMB: Uncharted vs Jungle Cruise
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Leading Man
Outside of his recurring role as Spider-Man, Tom Holland’s career as a leading man hasn’t turned out so well. Although Holland is certainly trying his best in Uncharted, he’s simply too young for the role. It’s true that the movie is essentially an origin story for Nathan Drake from the games, which justifies a younger version of Drake. But at the same time, it’s also true that Tom Holland ultimately fails to bring the same energy that Dwayne Johnson does to Jungle Cruise.
Winner: Jungle Cruise
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Supporting Characters
Much like Holland, Mark Wahlberg is also woefully miscast. Not only does Wahlberg lack the range to play a character like Sully, but he also fails to bring the subtle charisma of the character to life. If anything, the chemistry between Wahlberg and Holland should work, right? Unfortunately, what should be all of the best character moments in Uncharted feel forced. There’s also a severe lack of Emily Blunt.
Winner: Jungle Cruise
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Action/Adventure Elements
For a series based on the tropes established in something akin to Indiana Jones, Uncharted features a surprising lack of action/adventure elements. If anything, the movie plays more like a heist film, which is shocking considering that the video games consist of visiting largely exotic locations. Either way, there is a severe absence of adventure sequences in a movie literally called Uncharted, which feels like an obvious missed opportunity.
Winner: Jungle Cruise
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Visual Effects
While a certain amount of visual effects are expected in a big-budget Uncharted adaptation, Ruben Fleischer’s film goes ham in this regard. It’s hard to tell if they even used real locations in the movie, or if it was just all shot on a green screen. Even though Jungle Cruise also features an excessive use of VFX, at least they shot in practical locations for a large chunk of it.
Winner: Jungle Cruise
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Cinematography
One of the most crucial elements of making an Uncharted movie is having the film feel as cinematic as the games. Considering that Chung-Hoon Chung is one of the more interesting cinematographers working today, it’s unfortunate that Uncharted has the visual language of a saltine cracker. If anything, the film adaptation makes us long for the exciting cinematic nature of the video games even more.
Winner: Jungle Cruise
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Editing
Even though the editing in Jungle Cruise is nothing to write home about, it does give one an appreciation for the craft of editing when compared to Uncharted. Not only does the film adaptation utilize the “in medias res” trope right off the bat, but it also reeks of studio meddling. In other words, the movie feels like a 2 ½ hour movie that was unnecessarily trimmed to fit in a 2-hour window.
Winner: Jungle Cruise
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Writing
For a move that was been in development for the better part of a decade, the biggest sin that Uncharted commits is to tell such an inconsequential story. While the movie is clearly inspired by Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, the script adds literally nothing to the lore of the games. Rather than exploring new territory, the movie simply regurgitates plot points and character development from the games. At least something like Jungle Cruise had the gumption to expand on the source material.
Winner: Jungle Cruise
