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
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: Box description Comment: I made sure to read the descriprion before I buy. This one said there is russian language, but when we turned it one and went to settings there was spanish, french and english, BUT NO RUSSIAN !
Vere disappointing. Customer Rating: Summary: What the hell....? Comment: I am a big horror movie fan.Over half of my collection is horror.I love top notch,big budget horror.I love B rate horror.Heck,I love some horror that wishes it were B rated horror.That said,I just do not understand how this movie gets such high praise.
The basic premise of the movie,with the powers of light and dark and those whose job is to keep the balance between the two(anyway I think that is the basic story)is pretty good.The first five minutes or so explaining the history of the war between good and evil really had my interest.Then the rest of the movie happened.To me it is just a jumbled mess(with russian sub-titles).The over-all look and feel of the movie is very cool.I liked the main character and the actor that played him.If it had a different director and/or editor,it would have been better to me.
But look at the ratings,alot of people liked it.It just wasnt my cup of tea. Customer Rating: Summary: Movie: 3.5/5 Picture Quality: 3.75~4.5/5 Sound Quality: 4.25/5 Extras: 3.5/5 Comment: Version: U.S.A / Region-A
Russian DTS-HD MA 24-bit
English DTS
Version: Japan (REGION FREE / ENGLISH / JAPANESE MENU)
MPEG-4 AVC BD-50
Running time: 1:54:21
Movie size: 37,754,382,336 bytes
Disc size: 43,949,394,764 bytes
Total bit rate: 44.02 Mbps
Average video bit rate: 32.95 Mbps
Dolby TrueHD Audio Russian 3803 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 24-bit / 3803kbps (AC3 Core: 5.1 / 48kHz / 448kbps)
DTS Audio Russian 768 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 24-bit / 768kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 448 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 448kbps
Dolby Digital Audio French 448 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 448kbps
Dolby Digital Audio German 448 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 448kbps
Dolby Digital Audio Japanese 448 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 448kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 224kbps
Subtitles: English / Japanese / Danish / Dutch / Finnish / French / German / Norwegian / Swedish
Number of chapters: 21 Customer Rating: Summary: A Stunner Comment: The first time I watched this movie my jaw hit the floor about ten minutes in to it, and it didn't return to my mouth until the credits had finished. I mean, I really couldn't believe my eyes. A smart, funny, well acted, brilliant even, horror movie from Russia (in all honesty, how often does one see such a thing coming out of this country). Not only that, I didn't have anything to really compare it to, it's that original. It reminded me of the first time I saw The Evil Dead, it was that same kind of "you've got to be kidding me" kind of moment. Even my partner was floored and she doesn't even like horror movies. So if you're interested in an original, funny, unique, and complex movie, one that will change the way you think about horror movies and one that set Russian box office records, this is the ticket. Customer Rating: Summary: this thing is a bloody mess Comment: i don't think the reviews here give an accurate impression of what this movie is like. they keep mentioning "the matrix" & you think you are going to see a cool virtual reality sci fi film with heady philosophical points to make, but really it's more like an utterly depraved slasher/occult horror film. my mind wasn't stimulated because my stomach was too busy being turned. if you like watching people chug fresh warm pig blood & stab each other in the face this may be for you, but i was just disgusted.
