NOCHNOI DOZOR

Alternate Title: Night Watch (International Title)
Country: Russia
Release Year: 2004
Genre: Action / Adventure / Thriller
Language Format: Russian
Running Time: 114 minutes

[Cast]
Konstantin Khabensky ......Anton Gorodetsky
Vladimir Menshov ..........Geser
Valeri Zolotukhin .........Vampire, Kostya's father
Mariya Poroshina ..........Svetlana
Galina Tyunina ............Olga, sorceress (owl)
Yuri Kutsenko .............Ignat (as Gosha Kutsenko)
Aleksei Chadov ............Kostya (Anton's young vampire neighbor)
Zhanna Friske .............Alisa Donnikova
Ilya Lagutenko ............Vampire Andrei
Viktor Verzhbitsky ........Zavulon
Rimma Markova .............Darya Schultz, witch
Mariya Mironova ...........Yegor's mother
Aleksei Maklakov ..........Semyon
Aleksandr Samojlenko ......Ilya (Bear), mage-transformer
Dmitry Martynov ...........Yegor (as Dmitri Martynov)

[Writer / Director]
Timur Bekmambetov

NOCHNOI DOZOR is the first of the planned trilogy by director Timur Bekmambetov. It is important to know this fact because the movie ends very abruptly. It will remind many moviegoers the first time they watched THE LORD OF THE RINGS FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, the sudden abrupt ending can also be seen in NOCHNOI DOZOR.

Although it did provide few interesting action scenes here, and there. However none of it was really memorable.

You know kind of like the first time you saw ONG BAK, or Jet Li's FIST OF LEGEND, how after watching the movie the action scenes were so awesome, so memorable that it stuck with you long after you've seen it? That's what I meant.

NOCHNOI DOZOR has none of that! But it does have an impressive array of visual eye-candies!!!

The three very important reasons why one should watch NOCHNOI DOZOR is that it's from Russia. Second, that it broke all the box-office records in its native homeland. Third, the most important, is the awesome almost surreal like visuals. This is evident the moment the movie begins. You'll notice right away the microscope-type camera angles, and the visually pleasing cinematography.

However the director for some reason has a thing for mosquitoes, both its image, point of view, and its annoying buzzing sound. There's shots where you almost feel like your riding the mosquitoe on its back. Really abstract camera placements. Perhaps the symbolism contains a philosophical message hidden within its artistic, and visual context.

Who knows...besides the director!

The epilogue is read in english. I don't know why english was chosen but personally I believe it would've been better had it been read in Russian. But what do I know right?

Whatever.

Anyways the story goes something like this:

In the beginning there was a war between the armies of the Light(Good), and the armies of the Dark(Evil). There have been so much bloodshed between the factions being that the war has been ongoing since the beginning of time itself. The time came finally(in the middle of battle no less)when the leaders from each factions came to terms with an agreement. The agreement is that both factions may not murder each other.

The armies from the Light may issue licenses only to the armies of the Dark. If anyone from either factions broke this agreement. The truce is over. Oh one more thing, no one may hurt a human. Period. No others from both factions may interfere with human existence, and no other may exploit a human. Not without license anyways.

Huh, licenses you may ask? Yup, licenses. The armies of Light may only issue a license under special circumstances that will allow a Dark other to commit an otherwise forbidden action. For example interefering with a human life.

Just to make sure that both factions follow the rules, each of them has watchers of sorts. During the day, the Dark armies has their Daywatchers to watch the activities of the Light, and the Light armies, has their Nightwatchers to watch the activities of the Dark. Hence the title. NOHNOI DOZOR, Night Watch in Russian.

Also, every now and then an "Other" is born from a human. This special human is what would be considered an 'Other'. A human with special abilities. Part of the truce between the Light, and the Dark is that. Both may neither convince the other to join. In other words, the other would have to choose which side to join. On their own free will. Now, legend has it that one day a powerful other will be born. Depending on which side he or she chooses will determine which side will we win.

Simple enough for ya?

I know it is a bit convoluted however it is still worth seeing for sure. The CGI effects is definitely impressive in both aesthetic, and its visual presentation. For scenes like in the 'Gloom' a dark portal-like place that only an other can traverse in is done very well. The night battle scene atop the cityscape is visually impressive.

The big budget is definitely present in NOCHNOI DOZOR no doubt about it.

The sound is equally as impressive. The ominous music, and sounds is well executed. It definitely adds a serious impact in the storytelling agenda. Very absorbing throughout.

Another thing to point out is that, the main character Konstantin Khabensky (Anton Gorodetsky) is the complete opposite of what a cool character should be like. He's sweaty, dirty, filthy, and always drinking...probably vodka. He keeps a flask in his vest pocket. In fact, the moment you see the hero, you'll see that there's nothing hero-like about him.

Just an ordinary looking guy. With an ability to "see" the Dark others. He doesn't have any super strength either. No extra special abilities whatsoever. Just that he can see the Dark others. What seperates him from the rest however is his 'iron will'. That's it! He's also the MacGuffin, he's actions definitely carries the whole story.

There's also a great, unexpected mind fuck at the end(just before it abruptly ends) I swear I was like..."ooh....okay....cool!" When you see the flick, you'll know what I mean. For sure!!!

NOCHNOI DOZOR is a very refreshing ride in the realm of Good, and Evil. I surely can't wait to see the 2nd installment of this planned trilogy. I caught a glimpse of the second movie on the Thai DVD, it's aptly titled: DNEVNOY DOZOR which means Day Watch in Russian.

The preview looked promising, it seems as though the second movie has quite a few more intense attention grabbing action scenes(at least I would hope so anyway!)

NOCHNOI DOZOR, is certainly one of Russia's greatest box office record smashers.
Currently, it is indeed one of Russia's greatest visually aesthetic cinematic achievements.