Customer Reviews:
If I am to be honest - I just didn't get it............2008-03-14
I am one of those people who likes just about any film. I love all the chinese martial arts films, I love Sci-fi, I will happily watch kiddy movies, arthouse movies - anything. This was torture for me. I was lost in an over-styled sea of weirdness. The more confused I became about the plot, the more bored I became.
If you are prepared to concentrate very very hard and also fill in some plot gaps with your imagination and forgive the frequent and obvious visual metaphors (see the "computer game scene" that was subtle... why not just have it rain when people are sad?) then give it a bash. Otherwise I'd suggest watching something else - anything else!!
Read the book first.......2008-02-25
I bought this film ages ago due to liking foreign films more than these hollywood pieces of crap. I put it in and was bloody confused (and a little bit drunk) so I left it unwatched. I bought the book on ebay to understand what the hell is going on, and believe me this film is wicked when you know what the story is about. Great effects and great plot. A must see but a must read I reckon though first. Also you only have to read the fist book coz the two films are based on that. Enjoy
The Russians will always live and relive the Lithuanians versus the Teutons.......2008-02-01
When the Russians start trying to get into the world of fantasy, they have to go back to the oldest Slavonic, we could even say Lithuanian as the old Teutonic Knights would have said, legends possible and bring them to life in the present so well and so intensely that we don't know where real reality is and where fiction lies (two meanings intended). Of course blood and all kinds of gross and other physical tortures and distortions and sufferings accumulate minute after minute, never ending, never coming to the slightest beginning of an end. They capture, because they have never lost it, the curse of a medieval vision in which evil is all powerful but cannot exist without good living next to it and fighting against it. Note good is submitted to the same curse. It is their vision of the world. Evil is necessary for the world to be able to survive its own menacing death, for anything not too bad to come out of the deeply bad witch's brew in a witch's pot history is. This vision is absolutely diabolically human. The devil is in man and man could not even exist if the devil was not in him. Some of the visual special effects are extremely good. Some others are more average. But I find it very funny to consider that your own backbone is your sword and that you can draw it to fight against - or is it for? - the existential survival of evil.
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines
Stylish, but awkward.......2008-02-01
I'd had this film hyped up for me, as I suspect most people have who watch it - it's the sort of film that attracts viewers through word of mouth. And there's no doubt that it's a very stylish film, well shot with great special effects and great sound. But there was something just a little.. awkward about it.
Perhaps it's that the plot reminded me too much of Highlander, and the opening monologue was scarily similar. Immortals, battling down through the ages, nobody has known we are among you... and so on. Perhaps it was that the two plot threads (the lost son, and the cursed lady) never seemed to come together, despite running in parallel. Perhaps it was the melange of characters, both from the light and the dark side, who seemed thinly defined. I know that's often what happens with characters in a translation of a book to film, but it was still disappointing for example that a shapeshifter called Bear never, well, shapeshifted.
I think this film undoubtedly appeals to fans of the more gothic fantasy, and its good guy/bad guy dilemma satisfies the inner emo in us. But it struggled to hold my attention, and I wouldn't think it will get a repeat viewing.
Yes confusing, yes bizzare...but who cares?.......2007-10-31
First off, I love this. Watched it on channel four a while back. DON'T watch the dubbed version. There is a version with animated subtitles which become part of the film. I find the film strangely compelling in many ways. Although I agree with many of the flaws mentioned previous, does it matter? I see this film as a collection of intriguing set pieces. Sometimes slow, sometimes moving to fast to understand. Some brilliant acting and script in parts. It is a piece of art. Like all films. Doesn't the best art seek to challenge mainstream thought? Incidentally, read the book. It is vastly superior and will make the film easier to understand.
Customer Reviews:
Two Great films!.......2008-03-07
These films are by far Russia'a best import since Vodka. Although the subtitles on the "Night Watch" DVD are only for the hearing impaired, its still a damn good film. I loved the new take on the vampire story and the special effects are very good and is a good fantasy story.
If you are not into reading subtitles in foreign films then don't but these films, they are better in Russian with the English subtitles.
nightwatch/daywatch.......2008-02-21
i much prefer the nightwatch disc, daywatch like many other sequels fails the impress..On the subtitles i can understand what the other reviewer's say but thats always the problem with subs -very basic..there is the option of dubbed which i sometimes choose if i can't be bothered to read,but then the lips synch annoys me, guess i'll just have to learn russian..4stars for nightwatch 2stars for daywatch... watchable
GOT TO BE SINGULARLY THE WORST FILMS EVER!.......2008-02-12
If only there were a negative star rating, I would have awarded these films it. Sadly the lowest I can get is 1 star. Not only were these films in Russian with the worst sub-titles going, but the films, which were hyped as the next "Matrix", were just about the worst I have had the misfortune to watch. Even my Husband who seems to watch a lot of "bilge" found these films to be just about the worst. I think you would have to be in a "cult" to enjoy them. As for buying the 3rd film of the Trilogy.... forget it! Sorry to sound so harsh but I was so disappointed I felt I must warn others.
Faulty subtitles - avoid.......2008-02-10
The version of Night Watch included in this double-disc package only includes "English for the hearing impaired" subtitles - there is no option to see the English subtitles from the theatrical release.
As a result, you've either got to learn Russian or put up with continual information like [THUNDER RUMBLES], [INAUDIBLE DIALOG] and [YELLING] along the bottom of the screen, which the non-hearing impaired amongst us can guess, even when watching a Russian film! Too annoying for me.
Customer Reviews:
Twilight of expectations.......2007-10-30
A film out of the ordinary which follows one night in the life of Victorm the 20 year old street hustler in his rounds. The original title of the film "Rondo Nocturna" cleverly plays on the musical form of the rondo which here intertwines as the memories of the past which come to interact with the present, the theatening strangers and the lover who attempts to kill him. As the night turns into day Victor sees himself and life in a new light.
Very well acted with sparse dialouge, the film conveys much through imagery and the viewers imagination. Excellent viewing.
Customer Reviews:
I have to concur with the majority of reviews for this item..........2008-03-03
...this film is amazing, but take watch out for this version, which removes one of the most interesting and attention-arresting elements of the English-language release: the animated subtitles. True Night Watch fans, avoid this copy!
dodgy subtitles..........2007-10-01
Every scholarly review of NIGHT WATCH that i've read raves about the high-tech english language subtitles and how they add to the film. Well guess what? This dvd doesn't have them. Infact if you're not familiar with the russian language you only have the choice of (i) english dubbed voices - argh!, or (ii) english for the hard of hearing, useful in its own way for sure, but do you really want 'door slams', 'fly buzzes' etc and the dialogue in very small text? I wouldn't advise it, make sure you buy the other version. The film itself is pretty good by the way...
Five black holes really.......2007-08-27
This was so appallingly bad, such utter piffle, that I couldn't finish it. Avoid like the plague.
Not the original subtitles.......2007-08-07
Just to let people know - this dvd is not the film with the original integrated subtitles. That was a really important part of the film for me, so watching it in Russian with 'English for the hard of hearing' subtitles isn't really the viewing experience I was after!
This film was great during the first ten minutes and so....., .......2007-07-05
And after that it went all over the place. A number of reviewers stand correct on this film regarding its ups and downs base on the production. There are a number of movies you can describe this to. To me personally it was a blend of `The Matrix,' a dash of `Constantine,' with a hint of `Under World,' place it the oven you get `Night Watch' done in one hour and fifty four minutes.
It's hard to believe that this film was only done with $4 million, that's like pocket change compare to other production cost out there. To explain "Night Watch' in its entirety would be pointless, only raising more question than answers. Then afterwards you would be looking at this review like I'm crazy.
Unfortunately, the director is clearly a veteran of music videos, and he makes the action sequences hyper kinetic and often incoherent. When he does manage to create an alluring visual, he quick-cuts, and you wish he would've had the patience to hold some of the shots longer. This hectic visual style is evident in the plotting as well, which clearly is setting up for sequels with the introduction of many characters, though some of the subplots (especially involving the cursed virgin woman and her evil vortex) seemed unnecessary. Likewise, the rushed finale seemed oddly anti-climatic and didn't pack the wallop I feel the filmmakers intended.
I'd never shook my head so much with a questionable look on my face on a film for quite some time. I also felt that they could have done a way better job towards the ending. Bekamambetov hasn't confused me too much for me to abandon his epic, but I'll probably have a better understanding when the rest comes out, if I do choose to watch it. If you're curious about this film and into Horror/Action/ Fantasy, then by all means give it a try.
UK DVD:
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- Out of the Ashes [2003] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Parting Glances [1986]
- Phoenix [2006] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- P.S. I Love You [2008]
- Playboy - No Boys Allowed 100% Grils Vol.4 - Naughty And Nice
- Prom Queen [2004] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Proteus [2003]
- Queer As Folk: Series 1 [1999]
- Queer as Folk: The Complete First Season [2001] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
UK DVD List
UK DVD
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