Nightwatch
Few foreign films can ever handle the subject of vampires without ladling out the cheese; Nightwatch is a pleasant exception. Playing more like a comic book than that other comic-based fare that’s currently getting all the buzz in theaters right now, Nightwatch wants desperately to reinvent the vampire myth and succeeds, to a certain degree.
The gyst of this film is the cliché of good vs. evil, light vs. dark. On one side you have the evil vampires, and on the other you have the good Nightwatchers. These two feuding groups have come to a truce, until now. Perhaps the plot is a bit stunted and predictable, but there’s enough here to entertain the passing cinema-goer.
Though Nightwatch doesn’t manage to push the envelope much, it is a shocking surprise that it emerged from Russia and viewers will enjoy the dystopic, dark backdrop that seems to infect the very celluloid of this film. If you are a vampire junkie or someone with more than passing interest in Foreign cinema, this movie is a must-see. Otherwise, wait for video.
3.5 out of 5 stars.
I saw this in Russian, and it makes a lot more sense. F.Y.I. there is always Daywatch and duskwatch (well, the books at least)
I’m sorry but I cannot agree with what stands here knowing the story and having read the books.
Nightwatch is not about vampires and Nightwatchers. It is about the meaningless fight of 2 oposing forces where on each side stand powerfull beings with varieng powers. Not only vampires on one and Watchers on the other. The old lady in the begining was a Witch not a vampire, Neither was Zawulon a Vampire. And it is not a cliche fight VS good and evil for those who payed atantion to the diologues between Kostja and Anton and the talk between Gesser and Anton. Lightsiders are enforcers or rules and Dark siders are Anarchists who want compleate freedom. Neither side is the evil evil bady.
Most people are just to dumb to get it because it is not chewed and spited out at them.
I agree with Makarov, and would like to add this; 1)The Russian people have experienced darkness and evil at the hands of their government, while Americans only stupidity and greed. This makes it possible for Russian art to drop the sentimtality about good being better than evil. American art hopes. 2) The evil in this picture gets no pleasure from its actions because it is indifferent. “The opposit of love is not hate, its indifference.” 3) My opinion is, this movie’s greatness lies in its non judgemental exposure of real evil and real good, and its non biased offer-take your pick, you win and lose either way. At least these people decide which side they are on.