Night Watch (2006)

the audience applauded

Purely Joyful Movie!

Fresh and Exciting

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

I saw this in the theater when it first came out. So that might be the reason I love it so much. It was an amazing theater experience. I ended up purchasing this film, the sequel (Day Watch: which is just as good as Night Watch), & the novels. I would suggest watching Night Watch & Day Watch together. They are really perfect as one whole story. I am a huge horror/fantasy/sci-fi fan boy.......This is a stellar movie regardless of my preference, but having love for this genre really does elevate the material. Great story, great cast, & beautifully made. Even to this day, the look & feel of the film is on point. Please Enjoy!! I highly recommend this with the sequel Day Watch.............

This foreign film was a major league production. It was full of action, special effects and good versus evil. Visually it was stunning. With a name like Night Watch it was apropos that the movie was dark with very few scenes taking place in the light.The story was also good. There is a truce between the light side and the dark side with each side keeping the other in check. The Night Watch monitors those on the dark side and the Day Watch monitors those on the light side. Both sides were awaiting the coming of a powerful "other" that would tip the scales.I was with the story up until the end. I think the ending was rather simplistic and not well thought out. Besides the ending the movie had a fresh and unique spin on the good v. evil story and it was very compelling.

I didn't know much about "Night Watch" I knew it was Russian, but I didn't know much on the storyline except that it was confusing so whenever it's been on the TV I've missed it purposely, however I thought let's give it a go! So I popped it in one night and I actually had a really great time watching it! The first point I have to make is the incredible visuals, some of these jut blew me away right from the opening with the granny clapping her hands and so this withheld my interest throughout and not once did I get bored watching it. This a feast for your eyes and really quite inspirational filmaking. For this reason alone it is worth a watch for the striking cinematography and impressive special effects. No one can take away the imagination this film possesses.So, as for the plot, it was a little messed up I didn't know it was about vampires and thought it was an interesting take on how you can see them their reflection but not them. Essentially it is a battle between vampires and "Others" where they are trying to keep a truce but it's got a bit out of hand. I did find the plot engaging and different though it deep need a few tweeks to make it more solid.I appreciated how the subtitles had a life of their own, they were incredibly animated which is something I've never seen before. SOme people might find this a bit off-putting but I really liked it, they would sometimes fade, give a washed out effect, become bigger or red at the appropriate times. Nice touch.I did think that it thought it was better than it was. "Night Watch" sets out to be the huge epic "Lord of the Rings" type film, now I have never seen "Lord of the Rings" but I've heard how amazing it is and so "Night Watch" just doesn't live up to the standard it desperately tries to set itself.In the end "Night Watch" does have its sweet/humorous moments and it really is beautiful to look at with some edgy fight scenes and likable characters, however it just isn't focused enough. But i did have a great time watching it and will definitely be looking out for its sequel.

OK I finally saw this movie, and although I've been warned by friends who also read the books and loved them, I wanted to see for myself. First of all, if you haven't read the book, you're probably gonna have a hard time following the story. Sure, some things are explained, but a lot of the mythology is left out. I for one, read the books, all of them, and simply loved them. In my opinion, one of the greatest works of fiction I read (and believe me, I read a lot). So, anyway, what's wrong with this movie... well the first scene in it is actually not supposed to be there, since it's from the beginning of The Day Watch, just with some roles switched. Second, an one of the biggest flaws, it appears Egor is Anton's son. Shocked? I know I am, since it doesn't make any sense and completely sets the story on a different side of tracks than it is in the books. Then we have the characters that are somewhat weaker then in the books. Where's Gesar's power? Or Zabulon's? They're supposed to be mages without classification, and yet, Gesar has trouble healing Anton. And don't get me started on Zabulon's outfit, the guy looks like a bum. Where's the Zabulon from the books? Sophisticated, always wears a suit and clearly powerful. This guy in the movie is some crack head, Playstation playing dirty bum that hasn't seen a soap in months.Another thing, what the heck is Alisa doing, being a pop star? I know she always has her way, but come on, this is ridiculous. Totally spoils the first story in The Day Watch, when she goes to that summer camp to replenish her energy reserves.The only thing I liked in the movie were special effects and Tiger Cub. She was always my favorite character and I think she did well in the movie. Beautiful, but deadly. Although, her romance with Bear was kinda wrong. They're supposed to be just friends.Anyway, to sum it all up, if you're a fan of the series, you'll probably understand the story, which is btw. just one third of the novel (they only took the first story in the novel and focused on it), but you will probably be disappointed.