| Night Watch |
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List Price: $27.98
Buy New: $15.64
You Save: $12.34 (44%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 45 reviews)
Sales Rank: 110
Category: DVD
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Publisher: 20th Century Fox
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
Label: 20th Century Fox
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: Russian (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 114 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
UPC: 024543237488
EAN: 0024543237488
ASIN: B000FFJ81C
Release Date: June 20, 2006 (New: Last 30 Days)
Theatrical Release Date: November 30, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Night Watch is that rare film that--like The Matrix--is not only visually dazzling but creates an intriguing, seductive, and thrilling alternative world. A young man named Anton, after dabbling in black magic to bring back the wife who left him, discovers that the world is populated by fantastical Others (vampires, shape-shifters, witches, and more) who have chosen sides--Light or Dark--in an epic battle. A truce has been declared; both sides watch the other to ensure the truce is maintained. But a prophecy has predicted that a powerful Other will tilt the balance, and Anton--who is himself an Other--finds himself crucial to the prophecy's fulfillment. There's no question that Night Watch has weaknesses. Numerous plot holes get glossed over by pell-mell pacing, the visual conception of the apocalyptic battle between Light and Dark is curiously pedestrian (a bunch of knights fighting a bunch of guys in fur with swords--what happened to their various powers?), and more--but, much like similar problems with The Matrix, it doesn't matter.
The alternative world Night Watch presents is so rich with possibilities that it takes on a life of its own, both as an imaginative universe and as a vivid metaphor for the moral complexities of our own lives--for example, though the forces of Light claim to be good, their often brutal actions call their virtue into question, and the forces of Dark make some compelling moral arguments on the topic. The movie is so overstuffed with ideas that many don't get fleshed out, but that only contributes to the sense of vitality and unexplored dimensions. Even the subtitles are used creatively. The impending sequels (this is the first film of a trilogy) may--like The Matrix--take all the stimulating possibilities Night Watch raises and drag them into the toilet, but for the moment, this is the sort of electric excitement that blockbuster movies promise but so rarely deliver. --Bret Fetzer
Description
Among normal humans live the "Others" possessing various supernatural powers. They are divided up into the forces of light and the forces of the dark, who signed a truce several centuries ago to end a devastating battle. Ever since, the forces of light govern the day while the night belongs to their dark opponents. In modern day, the dark Others actually roam the night as vampires while a "Night Watch" of light forces, among them Anton, try to control them and limit their outrage.
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Customer Reviews: Read 40 more reviews...
 Everyone step out of the Twilight! June 30, 2006
"For it is easier to kill the Light within oneself, than to scatter the Darkness around. The prophecies are coming true..."
So goes one of the most stirring lines of "Night Watch," a tight, atmospheric, slightly surreal fantasy that has the distinction of being one of the most successful movies in Russian history. Full of mages, shapeshifters and witches, this movie spins a compelling battle between good and evil. Think "Star Wars," but with vampires.
Long ago, two armies of powerful Others fough -- and came to a stalemate. To maintain the balance between the Light and Darkness, the Night Watch and Day Watch were created, to keep an eye on each other's sides. But it seems that the balance between good and evil is about to be tipped, by a prophesied Other who will choose one side.
And now it seems to be happening: the prophesied boy has been found, and a vortex with a mystery girl is heading toward Moscow. Anton (Konstantin Khabensky) has to find the boy and turn him toward the side of light, while repelling the Dark Ones. But he is not the only one, and soon the pact is cracking as both sides try to get the kid.
Be warned: "Night Watch" doesn't really end so much as stop. There are two more movies -- one of which is already out in Eastern Europe -- which continue and finish the story. Remember "Lord of the Rings"? It's like that, so don't expect everything neatly wrapped up at the end. It's has a satisfactory stopping place, but with lots of plot threads awaiting "Day Watch."
In plot, it has the fantasy staples -- a prophecy, secret organizations, a savior, a reluctant hero, an ancient clash between good and evil. But it takes place in an urban-gothic Moscow full of the supernatural, but with the grimy, downbeat look that you'd expect from Moscow. It also gives an imaginative twist on the typical vampire legends. (Check out the Gloom!)
Timur Bekmambetov is brilliant stylistically, with tense dialogue, bizarre (sometimes very gory) fights, and fast-moving action scenes. He seems to include anything he thinks is cool, which is fine for the witches, shapeshifters, and a dose of religious symbolism. But occasionally it's a drawback, since it doesn't really make sense that these uberpowerful heroes would need swords to fight the bad guys.
Additionally, he can give twists to the typical, such as a fight between Anton and a Dark One, with both combatants in different realities and able to see each other only through broken mirrors. It's a wild scene, and one of the most suspenseful, unique action sequences you'll see for ages.
Khabensky is a very solid actor, and he brings a pathos to Anton. The only problem is that it takes a long time for Anton to finally develop as a character, although it's worth waiting for. And while there are lots of supporting characters, Bekmambetov gives them weaknesses and quirks of their own, such as the owl-sorceress who seems to have a thing for Anton.
Dark, grimy, explosive and very weird, "Night Watch" overflows with cinematic promise. Here's hoping that "Day" and "Dusk" are as good as this.
 Interesting... but clearly not up to American cinematic awe. June 29, 2006
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
First, the movie is not beautiful. Blade has more atmosphere than this movie, and the special effects (which are beautiful) are few and far between. The story is not fully articulate and in no way touches the magnitude or depth of themes like "The Matrix" to which it is commonly compared. There are several plot holes, but they are not terribly frustrating.
What is frustrating is the lack of atmosphere, drama, good pacing, and visceral feeling. At not one point did I feel like I was in the movie. I didn't share any reaction or emotion with ANY of the characters. Many of the special effects were used in non climactic scenes... most in places they shouldn't have been used at all.
For artist's sake, I can appreciate the movie... also because of what obvious little funds they must have had to produce this movie compared to their American counterparts.
Don't buy the movie, rent it. Just to see it. It strives to grab themes from the matrix, star wars, underworld... but you'll never fully believe in them when they are executed. The whole movie is anti-climactic. Give it C+ for effort.
Not what you might think, but pretty good. June 28, 2006
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I saw the trailer for "Night Watch" while I was preparing to see "The Hills Have Eyes" Unrated DVD. I quickly ran to my computer and came here to see what people were saying. The Editor review was reccomending the film so I ran out to get it. The excitement of seeing it quickly turned to anxiousness and then anxiety at the overrall lack of action that was taking place. In all honesty other than a few really cool special effects driven scenes, it really does talk you to death. It has alot of ideas, and throws them all at you. Unlike "The Matrix" which throws spectacular action at you as well, "Night Watch" is content with just explaining alot of "apocalyptic" stuff to you, not backing much of it up with good action. If you are seeing the movie without any expectations of it being full of action this movie may be for you. But for those of us who like great action/special effects with the exposition, you may want to look elsewhere. Still a solid movie that has alot of ideas and directions it can go with the upcoming two films in it's trilogy.
 Boring!!!!!!! June 28, 2006
1 out of 8 found this review helpful
This movie is boring and just drags on and on. It absolutely sucks and is one of the worst movies I have seen in a very long time. If you want a vampire movie, buy Underworld or Underworld:Evolution. These are by far much more entertaining and very well made.
 English Version Quite Interesting June 26, 2006
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
First viewed the trailer in a hotel in Moscow then in a few theaters in Cherepovets, Russia. Took a few months to get a version in Russian and loved it. Since I study russian, I'm able to appreciate much of the movie. With an English version, my friends can appreciate it also.
Best film from Europe I've seen in a while. Great action and cinimatography. Better than most of the US movies I've purchased over the past few years. Hope next two are as good or better. Little confusing first time I watched it but I was able to catch a few things more each time I've viewed the movie.
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