Night Watch: Nochnoi Dozor
Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: February 17, 2006
6.4
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 78 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
47
Mixed:
16
Negative:
15
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
8
JBYoungJul 6, 2006
not a classic but better than Van Helsing or Underworld 2.
1 of 1 users found this helpful
10
AndyHOct 7, 2007
This is an excellent film if you have the brains to understand what's going on. A perfect blend between hi-tech, trickery (the subtitles are excellent) and character development (how anyone could say the character of Anton is shallow is This is an excellent film if you have the brains to understand what's going on. A perfect blend between hi-tech, trickery (the subtitles are excellent) and character development (how anyone could say the character of Anton is shallow is insane). Definitely watch this excellent film. And then go see 'Day Watch'.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
0
HanselH.Mar 9, 2006
Waste of time. Must appeal only to Russian Vampire nerds. I walked out of the theatre becuase it's so corny.
0 of 1 users found this helpful
3
GaborA.May 13, 2007
Yeah its weird, but not in a David Lynch type of way. More like in a Vanilla Sky type of way. Its not that all the random unexplained occurrences of this movie don't have a point. They do, it is an allegory after all. The problem is Yeah its weird, but not in a David Lynch type of way. More like in a Vanilla Sky type of way. Its not that all the random unexplained occurrences of this movie don't have a point. They do, it is an allegory after all. The problem is that all the random events don't tie together into anything even resembling a story. And for just stringing together a bunch of special FX scenes without being bound by them having to make any sense as a whole none of them really are that impressive. Some of them flat out cheesy.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful
6
BroyaxSep 2, 2020
ça fait penser aux Underworld mais sur un traitement plus original encore et le film sait distiller (entre les bouteilles de vodka vidées par les scénaristes) une ambiance unique, prenante, fascinante sur le thème vieux comme le monde du biença fait penser aux Underworld mais sur un traitement plus original encore et le film sait distiller (entre les bouteilles de vodka vidées par les scénaristes) une ambiance unique, prenante, fascinante sur le thème vieux comme le monde du bien et du mal...

Les forces des deux camps ont conclu une trève et se surveillent donc mutuellement parmi les humains : les "night watch" servent la lumière et surveillent les autres crevards d'en face mais d'un côté comme de l'autre, tout n'est pas aussi noir ou blanc mais plutôt en nuances de gris... car "un autre" pourrait faire basculer l'équilibre fragile ! Le scénario reste en tout cas assez tortueux, pour ne pas dire un brin décousu (cf les bouteilles) mais retombe éventuellement sur ses pieds juste à la fin. Les effets spéciaux sont de bonne facture mais la réalisation est trop souvent désordonnée, un problème récurrent et connu chez le réalisateur qui abuse d'un montage très cut tout en secouant la caméra comme un malade de Parkinson.

Voilà qui rend le visionnage désagréable et met à mal un film pourtant indéniablement intéressant par son ambiance et son originalité ; c'est donc un film gâché... mais pas entièrement, Dieu ou Diable merci.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
All this user's reviews
10
NateB.Feb 20, 2006
This movie is easily one of the best i've seen and a breath of fresh air from a lot of the junk Hollywood puts out (Big Mamma's House, UV, etc.). It's saturated with story, is funny, has great acting, great music, is smart and This movie is easily one of the best i've seen and a breath of fresh air from a lot of the junk Hollywood puts out (Big Mamma's House, UV, etc.). It's saturated with story, is funny, has great acting, great music, is smart and has a great ending. I also loved the way they incorporated the subtitles too. Also, having Entertainment Weekly give this film a 0 validates that this film is great, as this is the same source that gave Drawn Together an F, Family Guy a D and rates Big Mamma's house higher than both of those. A smart film that requires some IQ and the ability to pay attention. It felt like the movie was much longer than it is and for the right reason: there was just a ton of great substance.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
8
DamonC.Feb 18, 2006
I differ from most of the opinions here. I think this is an intelligent, sophisticated thriller that doesn't bow to the usual Hollywood formula. The setting is of course the battle between good and evil, but this is completely I differ from most of the opinions here. I think this is an intelligent, sophisticated thriller that doesn't bow to the usual Hollywood formula. The setting is of course the battle between good and evil, but this is completely personalized, and instantiated in a simple act of human (or inhuman?) nature. There is a definitely moral viewpoint here, which, if not terribly original, is nonetheless unique within the usual Vampire lore. Watch is for the visuals, but take away the unexpected message.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
8
DanC.Mar 6, 2006
A very entertaining flick with a very intriguing story behind it. The "F" grade given by Entertainment Weekly mystifies me and is the most undeserving review of any movie I've ever seen (I usually love EW's reviewers for their A very entertaining flick with a very intriguing story behind it. The "F" grade given by Entertainment Weekly mystifies me and is the most undeserving review of any movie I've ever seen (I usually love EW's reviewers for their intelligence and taste). A little strange at times, but a great atmospheric look at modern-day Moscow from a slightly tilted angle. Anyone who has read Bulgakov's great novel "Master and Margarita" will recognize a certain similiarity in the sensibility of this film. Definitely worth checking out.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
TysonB.Mar 7, 2006
The fact that Entertainment Weekly gave it a 0 should automatically let any intelligent person know that this is an unbelievable film. Metacritic, don't let ET rate films for us...PLEASE!
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
AnnK.Mar 7, 2006
Very nice film actually, part 2 of the series is already filmed and had big success here, in Russia. CGI is much better, story is getting clear and you'll see much more of picturesque details. Of both post-Soviet Russia and Asia (Timur Very nice film actually, part 2 of the series is already filmed and had big success here, in Russia. CGI is much better, story is getting clear and you'll see much more of picturesque details. Of both post-Soviet Russia and Asia (Timur Bekmambetov is actully of Kazakh origin, don't mix up it with Cossack). Although many reviews here stated it is a three-part saga, it is not. Second film is the last one, actual ending differs from the novel series (4 books right now). Reviews are quite funny, judging from a Ruissian standpoint. Personally I like the film very much. Lukianenko (novel author) worked on script, Bekmambetov is a nice director, so it's a nice film with a nice story. Nothing is related to Matrix, really ;). Furthermore you'll get a grip of contemporary Russia. Without ununderstandable national conotations.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
ByaaMay 20, 2007
I loved this movie. It was just a cool film. and even tho it was a low budget film, it takes that to its advantage. I swear, I have never wanted a flashlight more than when I saw this movie. This movie was good, the director was good, and I loved this movie. It was just a cool film. and even tho it was a low budget film, it takes that to its advantage. I swear, I have never wanted a flashlight more than when I saw this movie. This movie was good, the director was good, and the books and author were good.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
7
SteveP.Jun 13, 2007
I found that to fully appreciate the movie you need to have either, read the book, (FYI the book is much better than the movie) or watched the movie more than once. Fun and absorbing to watch, but the product placement gets in the way a bit I found that to fully appreciate the movie you need to have either, read the book, (FYI the book is much better than the movie) or watched the movie more than once. Fun and absorbing to watch, but the product placement gets in the way a bit though. My suggestion is read the book if you have the time, then watch the movie. Overall, it seems to have been done very intelligently, with the added bonus of not having to hear an American accent throughout the course of the film.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
flNov 19, 2006
I loved this movie. i am learning russian, it was kinda a distraction to learning because it was so awesome. but i love this movie and the book as also good.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
AliC.Feb 16, 2006
This film is appalling, nonsensical, purile, inane and pointless. Wait for the Hollywood remake - the first in history to be better than the original.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
AnnaM.Feb 20, 2006
Brilliant. Great break from high budget dumbed down Hollywood fare typically available in this genre.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
RyanJ.Feb 20, 2006
An absolutely excellent piece of cinema. A unique storyline that keeps the viewer thinking throughout. Instead of being hindered by subtitles, this movie uses them as an art form itself, making it easier to read the subtitles and also catch An absolutely excellent piece of cinema. A unique storyline that keeps the viewer thinking throughout. Instead of being hindered by subtitles, this movie uses them as an art form itself, making it easier to read the subtitles and also catch the action on the screen. A beautiful ending, a brilliant cliffhanger, and I can not wait for the next two installments. P.S: I do not give out 10s very easily at all, I am VERY critical of what I watch, so kudos to Night Watch.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
8
KenG.Mar 12, 2006
Dark, edgy, fun, orginal, done in great style, and not as hard to follow as some have it out to be.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
NicM.Mar 15, 2006
Awful film - it kills you to have to sit through such rubbish - all the critics who say it's good are very very wrong. The only thing worth watching about it are the cute little subtitles which do weird things that they don't Awful film - it kills you to have to sit through such rubbish - all the critics who say it's good are very very wrong. The only thing worth watching about it are the cute little subtitles which do weird things that they don't usually do. The rest of the film is cheesy and boring as hell. … Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
8
JeffreyT.Mar 9, 2006
Nice little horror fantasy movie, with elements of the matrix. Deep and from Russia. The subtitles are a character in itself.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
8
DrewF.Jun 4, 2006
Wow, i suppose the 10's and the 0's shouldn't surprise me. You're either onboard with this film's absurd sense of style or you're not. Think alot of people don't understand that this is the first chapter of Wow, i suppose the 10's and the 0's shouldn't surprise me. You're either onboard with this film's absurd sense of style or you're not. Think alot of people don't understand that this is the first chapter of what is intended to be a trilogy. As such, there a alot of storylines that are introduced, but very little is actually resolved here. By the end of the film, i was DYING to see the next chapter, DAY WATCH.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
EddieB.Jul 14, 2006
Night Watch doesn't make much sense. Often during the film, I admit I had trouble understanding what exactly was going on. There are just too many subplots, unexplained resolutions, confusing character motives (or lack of them). Night Watch doesn't make much sense. Often during the film, I admit I had trouble understanding what exactly was going on. There are just too many subplots, unexplained resolutions, confusing character motives (or lack of them). Unfortunately, the movie can't make up for those weaknesses with genuinely scary scenes. The director's nervous and jumpy camera style may have been the most interesting thing about the movie.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
AmurabiM.Aug 5, 2006
This is the firs part of a trilogy and the movie just works as a presentation of a lot of characters and a definition of style. This is just the first effort to take some people to the cinemas to watch an ambitious mix of science fiction, This is the firs part of a trilogy and the movie just works as a presentation of a lot of characters and a definition of style. This is just the first effort to take some people to the cinemas to watch an ambitious mix of science fiction, horror and indie filmmaking, so the audience must get this film as that. "Night Watch" must not be taken seriously as a film, but as a part, a fragment of a whole. Because the film has the looks of a simple sequence and its reaches don´t jump more high.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
BillAug 6, 2006
I really liked this. Not sure why people found it so hard to follow. Okay, so its hardly original, but very well done and the effects and imagination are excellent, clearly done by a mind unconditioned by hollywood.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
SarahM.Mar 15, 2006
If you don't understand why this is a great movie, it's probably because you resent having to ever think or be presented with anything new and prever to be spoonfed chewed up hollywood garbage.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
ERG1008Sep 13, 2010
Russian film where the the Forces of Light battle the Forces of Dark in a nutshell. Vampires, decent effects & general all round mayhem.
Borrowing from Star Wars, LOTR & the Matrix to name a few, it is very slick & well directed.
I can seeRussian film where the the Forces of Light battle the Forces of Dark in a nutshell. Vampires, decent effects & general all round mayhem.
Borrowing from Star Wars, LOTR & the Matrix to name a few, it is very slick & well directed.
I can see why it is considered a "cult" classic but really not my thing at all.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
4
HalfwelshmanJul 4, 2012
Night Watch has a strong central performance from Konstantin Khabensky playing Anton, a troubled soul tasked with protecting the world from the forces of evil. The film has a strong central theme, not only of good vs. evil, but of the complexNight Watch has a strong central performance from Konstantin Khabensky playing Anton, a troubled soul tasked with protecting the world from the forces of evil. The film has a strong central theme, not only of good vs. evil, but of the complex relationship between these moral extremes. The story also incorporates some interesting ideas in terms of representations of the supernatural on film. Vampires in Night Watch, for instance, have the ability to appear invisible and are only forced to reveal themselves in the reflection of a mirrored surface, and the practice of black magic is shown through the miraculous appearance of swarms of mosquitoes and swirling clouds of ravens. The film is notable for being one of the first true Russian blockbusters, and its relatively glossy appearance shows this. There are some impressive effects, particularly those incorporating sorcerers shape-shifting from human to animal form, though extended CGI-reliant sequences tend to look a bit jarring and unrealistic due to the film's limited resources. The narrative of Night Watch is incredibly unevenly paced, the story is convoluted to say the least, and it becomes utterly incomprehensible at an alarming rate. The film for the most part feels incredibly disjointed, with many scenes seemingly having no relation to anything we've seen previously. You do have to acknowledge that at least writer/director Timur Bekmambetov has some definite talent in terms of artistic vision, and he appears to be trying to produce a supernatural/vampire thriller that is just a little bit different from the norm, though the end result doesn't quite work.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
AquamantorJun 21, 2011
One of the major problems with sci-fi/fantasy as genre in movies is that most good made up worlds have complex rules behind them, and over the course of an entire movie length, it's difficult to explain all these rules. This is why the genreOne of the major problems with sci-fi/fantasy as genre in movies is that most good made up worlds have complex rules behind them, and over the course of an entire movie length, it's difficult to explain all these rules. This is why the genre has caught on so well in novels, graphic novels, video games, but never film.

In this sense, **** is ambitious. It's universe is EXTREMELY complex, and takes things from all kinds of different mythologies. Unfortunately, because the movie wants to explain everything while at the same time not getting bogged down with too much exposition, it feels like you have to pause every once in a while and seriously think about what is happening to understand it. If you leave it entirely to the movie itself to explain the plot, you'll end up confused. You'll need to remember every word that is said, and even then you'll have to think about what it all adds up to to grasp it. If you do, you'll be rewarded with a very interesting and well thought out setting and plot.

The unfortunate part is that it all becomes convoluted. And at some points, it breaks some of its own rules. For these parts, even I'm at a loss. But there is a good deal of entertainment to be found here.

The entire direction of the movie is stylistic. While there isn't really that much action, everything is shot in an action-packed way, and there's a strange sort of surreality to the world the film presents. A lot of the time, it's cool. But sometimes, the stylistic nature of the movie is so over-the-top that it becomes silly, like when Dark Others, upon using a lot of power, will suddenly start screaming while twitching like they're having a seizure. Maybe it was supposed to be weird or disturbing. It ended up laughable.

Another gripe is the ending. I know this is the first movie in a trilogy, but the ending feels so awkward, rushed, and haphazardly crafted that it feels like it needed a subplot or two removed (one of the many) to get the movie a little bit more time to explain it.

Overall, however, **** is fairly entertaining. If you're a horror or urban fantasy fan, this movie may be up your alley, and for better or worse, you'll never see anything like it.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
Kai82Jan 4, 2020
I never want to be „The books are better guy“ even less when the movie is good and they did not change so much that it is an “In name only adaptation”. Lets assume I did not read the books by Sergei Lukyanenko. The movie has a dark setting inI never want to be „The books are better guy“ even less when the movie is good and they did not change so much that it is an “In name only adaptation”. Lets assume I did not read the books by Sergei Lukyanenko. The movie has a dark setting in a masqueraded world scenario (Magic with all implications exists but humanity should never know because only a small minority called the Others can use it). The main setting is that in the past good and evil had a terrible stand off and made a truce because they realize that this will start their final battle that will put the world to ruins. They crate 3 organizations to keep the balance / status quo in check and made sure the normal humans don't know the truth (With modern technology they will wipe all magic users out. A sharpshooter can easily kill an unexpected wizard of any power level). The Night watch (The good guys policing the evil ones), the Daywatch (The bad guys policing the good ones) and the neutral Inquisition (Not that one) with members from both sides. The main appeal is the setting and gray morality. I consider many things the good guys do (especially the higher ups) unmoral and there are conflicts about it (more in the books than in the movies). Also the evil guys are not chaotic evil (Evil and destruction for evils sake). They are more like: We are the honest representation of humanity; We want our freedom and not be chained / enslaved by the good guys ideologies. This makes an interesting setting. For the movie: The special effects are awesome as are the setting, costumes and world building. You see the production value at each corner (Was one of the most expensive movies of all time from Russia). The actors are also good and I like their representation of the characters. The story line keeps close to the book. Then there are some changes. Warning! Cant resist complaining / Fan boy rage incoming. The changes they did are like a red rag to a bull for fans. The character relationships are quite different. A side character with not much purpose became the focus of the movie and I think some set ups should be made different or improved. But enough with the fanboy range. Overall this is a good movie that I will fully recommend for people who haven't read the books and partically recommend as alternate version for book readers. I recommend the books for their world setting, characters and philosophies about the meaning of good and evil.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
KelvinSelimorMay 5, 2022
Night Watch. Cracked the world in half. A real and unusual Russian blockbuster. Well-played characters and tension almost throughout the film.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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