Nochnoi Dozor

Night Watch, the big Russian hit that broke like alll records, was picked up by 20th Century Fox and given subtitles. It was released (limited) yesterday, and I took the 6 down to St Mark's and then walked to Houston and 2nd ish just in time for the 430pm show. I have absolutely no energy or time to write a review, so I'll just throw in some rottentomatoes links and let you go at it. Though I was confused a lot, I can't wait for the 2nd installment or for the English translation of the original novel to be released in the US.

It's fun, stylish, dark. It feels like a film based on a book, which I don't mind at all; rather than frustrate me with unexplained details, it makes me want to read the book and get the whole story. It has a natural progression rather than a rising action-climax-denouenment straight up formula, and also has a pretty Whoa There ending. The movie is sped-up and remixed during the credits, very fun to watch, and the Subtitles are fascinating: they dissolve, they grow big, they appear as dialogue is said. I'm very pleased that it was decided to keep the movie in Russian and not dub it. The main character, Anton, is easy to become attached to, and there are some great conflict moments of Anton and his Dark Other friend, underscoring the message that things aren't just Black & White like they may have been back in the day. Instead, it's modern and it's complicated, and thoroughly enjoyable. Sit back enjoy-- just don't try to understand the plot. And I mean that in a good way.

Positive Reviews:

• "A box-office phenomenon in Russia, the convoluted horror fantasy Night Watch might be described as Star Wars Meets the Vampires in Moscow." (NYTimes gave a positive but mostly ambiguous review).
• "While it echoes a host of CGI-heavy, action-oriented supernatural thrillers, it manages to retain its own distinct identity. Although this first chapter in a three-part tale is inevitably overburdened with back story, it ends on one hell of a cliff-hanger"
• "The filmmaking is highly seductive, from the stylish visual flourishes right down to the creative graphic treatment of the subtitles."
• "Mélange intrigant de science-fiction, d'horreur, de fantastique et premier épisode d'une saga grandiose."

Negative Reviews:

• "A fractious fiasco: whiplash camera movement set to raging blasts of death metal, a story so incoherent it made me wish I was watching, instead, the collected outtakes from Van Helsing."(I didn't notice the Death Metal. Does this guy know what Death Metal is?)
• "To learn the actual outcome of the epic battle, we'll have to wait for Leg 2, Day Watch, which has already been shot, and Leg 3, Dusk Watch, which will be produced in English by Fox. Wake me when they're here."(I really hope it isn't produced in English)