Night Watch (DVD)

This film concerns the ages-old battle between good and evil now fought in modern-day Moscow. It has some interesting ideas and some fantastic special effects, but ultimately fails to deliver. This may be due to the somewhat flat pacing or to the meanderings of the plot. A film more for rental rather than a purchase.

This film actually cries out for the Hollywood treatment, which is something i almost never say. It would be strengthened by stronger actors and a tighter script. That all being said, this is an interesting curio and although i am unlikely to revisit this particular film, i will look out for the sequels to see how the story unfolds.

This film has 5.1 Dolby Digital Sound and is presented in 16:9 Letterbox Widescreen. It can be watched in both subtitled and dubbed versions. Packed with special features including Commentaries, Galleries and Deleted scenes - this 2 disc DVD is attractively packaged. It is a pity the film does not match the DVD presentation.

This is a complicated, dark and broody film. You have to want to watch it as it's not a movie that can be put on and just skimmed. But damn is it cool. Think the x-men with gonads. The central premise of the movie is that there is an eternal hidden battle that would be constantly taking place between 'good' and 'evil' all around us if an ancient truce wasnt being enforced. Based on the first of a trilogy of books by a Russian author dude, Nightwatch introduces you to the key players of the 'Night Watch', those few special souls who have been given the task of keeping tabs on the baddies through the dark hours, and it lays the foundations for 'Day Watch' the next film due in the trilogy. But it also stands alone on its own merits, this is no prequel. Nightwatch is a good entertaining film. Not one for the kids, or for the feint hearted. It's clever nightmarish stuff. A dark, slightly gory but ultimately enjoyable movie. But for real thrills get the book that has been transalted into English; the film delivers, but the books go up to eleven. The trilogy order is NightWatch, DayWatch then DuskWatch and they are all very well written good reads.

I first saw Night Watch on TV. Actually, the first time I saw 'Night Watch', it had Ewan McGregor in it, but that was a different movie! This is the Russian one, and it's best viewed in in it's original language. That's usually true of foreign movies in my opinion, the replacement voice actors aren't usually as good as the all-round actors. In this movie, however, they have actually taken the time to make the subtitles very much a part of the movie. A vampire calls to some kid, and the subtitles look like they've been written in blood. One guy's tripping out, and the subtitles disappear as he waves his arm! All very cool. Still, if you're one of those people who just can't stand subtitles, there is an English language track as well, but as I say, the acting isn't quite as good.

Another thing that surprised me was how good the special FX were. Probably because I've never even heard of a Russian action movie, I wasn't expecting much in the way of FX, but they really are top-notch. You've got people transforming into animals, trucks doing somersaults, and the forces of light & darkness literally going medieval on each other, and it all looks as good as anything Industrial Light & Magic has done.

Apart from all that, the story's good as well! It reminds me of Star Wars, or the Matrix, in that even though it's the first part of a trilogy, it stands on it's own pretty well. I didn't even know it was a trilogy when I saw it the first time, and I was totally satisfied with the ending. Also, the characters aren't just cardboard cut-outs as they so could easily have been. The 'light' guys act like they're just doing a job, like bin-men or something. One of the 'darkness' guys get's a phone call, and he's at a pop concert!

All in all, if you liked Blade, or any other movie with a strong good vs evil, supernatural theme, then you'll probably like this.

This film is great and well made. The effects are as good as any american made film.
Do not be put off by the fact the film is Russian made - you will not notice after the first 5 mins.
You can have it subbed or dubbed which is excellent, as you get the choice.
The story is brilliant, however the book has an additional 2 parts after the film concludes. If you enjoy the film, the book is highly recommended. I was a little disappointed that the film has changed a few details from the book, one of which is quite large. But this does make the film different from the book, so gives 2 different experiences.

this movie is for any horror fan, great special effects and direction. Buy this movie , you won't be disapointed, the secound story 'day watch' isnt easy to find in english and I have hear that their is a third story but have no idea what it is called or how to find it!

The movie is based on series of Sci-Fi novels by a Russian bloke whose name I can't pronounce but the basic premise is simple and familiar. There are powerful Dark (vampires, etc.) and Light (wizards and suchlike) forces in the world. Humans are pretty much food or collateral damage. There cannot be all-out war between the Dark and the Light since they both figured out that once one of the sides is winning all sorts of calamities ensue (wars, plagues, revolutions…). So there's a real need for balance and coexistence, thus the Night Watch, made up from both the Dark and the Light ones, to police the world, to look for vampires who got over their quota in blood supplies, or for wizards going all Valdimort on your ass. Then there's the Inquisitor (ooh, scary man), who watches over the Night Watch. So the Night Watch drives around Moscow in a bright yellow City Utilities and Electric Power truck (with rocket boosters), keeping the peace and
balance. Stuff goes terribly wrong? Power outages all over the place, swirling plagues of crows, aircraft out of control, people running out of Nescafe…y'know, the usual apocalyptic portents. . And there's this kid who holds the key to the balance in the force…erm…I mean the balance between the good and bad stuff. Only he don't know that he's either the messiah or the anti-Christ and just wants to watch TV. Ok. The plot is great, convoluted and difficult to follow through the subtitles sometimes, but great. The cast is also great (nice to see some ugly leads for a change). Special effects are generally passable, even by American standards (watch out Yanks, the Ruskies are catching up), and some are even innovative enough to be regarded as new ideas. Excellent stunts, action set pieces, exploding heads and flying body part stuff and plenty of blood (the film, in case you couldn't tell, is quite gory). Nice creepy, eerie atmospheric feeling to it as well. And, surprisingly, I got the humour as well, dark and Russian as it is. I haven't enjoyed a film, foreign or otherwise, this much for ages. Recommended whole-heartedly.

Heard about the hype. Interested in alleged style and decided to give it a try.
Very well made story and good characters. Will follow the trilogy as it unfolds. Recommended as a film. Good wether you like it dubbed in english or watch in Russian with subtitles.

The expectations for the film from the trailers were very high. Complete disappointment: basic script, bad acting. Very poor, boring.

I recommend you read the books and not watch the film as the books are far more entertaining. The film misses out so much of the plotb and doesn't show the others magical abilities very well... it became more horror than sci fi. Those people expecting the Russin Harry Potter will be disapointed.

this is another russian film with no real action or story just alot of nonsense not on my top 1000 but some people like it

For those of you who have not seen Night Watch, here is the plot in one sentence...Light vs Dark, Good vs Evil, just when you think its a typical Good will win in comes Evil to change the norm! The fantasy behind Night Watch is as old as time but the way it is portrayed in modern day Moscow gives the film its uniqueness and altogether separates it from any other Good Vs Evil story there has ever been. Well worth watching.

For centuries the battling forces of light and darkness have kept an uneasy truce.

The fate of humanity rests in the delicate balance between good and evil.

Night Watch is a hyper charged supernatural horror with mind melting special effects.

Excellant horror, very original. Don't be put off that it is a Russian made film. Part of a trilogy, read the books and watch the films when they will be released.

I went to the cinema with my friends for which we didn't do our research and didn't know it was subtitled - but this only added to the affect of the film.
The story is that of good vs evil, light vs dark...day vs night.

Following an epic battle eons ago, the forces of good and evil came to the conclusion that no-one could be forced to either of their sides...it was up to the individual to decide. Thus the Night Watch and Day Watch were formed from the soldiers of each side.

This film focuses on The Night Watch who are made up of the forces of light and are charged with making sure that the forces of dark don't step over their mark i.e kill too many humans.

The story mainly follows one human who becomes part of the Night Watch, and how he (and his child) play a part in the greater scheme of things.

There's vampires, chagelings and witches to spot. Lots of action and the just about the right amount of blood and gore make this film one to watch. The dark manner in which its shot also adds to the overall atmosphere of the film.
Will evil rule..only the next two parts of this trilogy will tell!

a rubish film that has a few good specal effects but other than that its so poor dont buy this film as its one of the worst films iv seen in ages and to think there making more of them i love vampire films but this hits rock bottom