Nochnoi Dozor (Night Watch)

[winter]

I’m very much behind the times on Russian sf&fantasy (I still have several seminal books by the Strugacki brothers to read), but I’ve made it through several of Sergey Lukanyenko’s novels – all enjoyable and with a fresh charm that’s a welcome relief after all the post-modern, self-referencing Western stuff. I’ve yet to read „Nochnoi Dozor” and its sequels, but after seeing the movie, I know it’ll be good.

It’s an urban fantasy, with the forces of light and darkness (vamps on the left, weres on the right, as usual, but they are by far not the only players) living in present-day Moscow. The whole thing is set in cyberpunk aesthetics, with everything dirty and beat up and edgy. This is staggered with wild, pulsing editing, and bloody astounding effects. The visuals are gorgeous in a gritty, real way.

What really made the movie for me were the actors. They’re all talented and very much into it – no winking across the fourth wall. Of course, they have the advantage of a superior script and no too-long moments – the pacing is very good. The ending might be a little weak, but only because they needed to set up part two of the trilogy, of course :)

And then there’s all the Bulgakov flavour – Russian reality at its best. Supposedly, the books have even more, so I’m off to the bookshop, and since the Fox Searchlight division is distributing the movie, everyone else should go see it already :P

Comments

[-leareth.livejournal.com]

See-ing it to-mor-row *singsong* =^.^=

[winter]

Have fun then :) And don't take your eyes off the screen, because there's something neat in every take.

[ariss-tenoh.livejournal.com]

Is this movie new or is it already out on dvd?

[winter]

Depends on the location - I think it was made in 2004, and it only got picked up by Fox Searchlight this year. In Russia it's already out on DVD.

[ariss-tenoh.livejournal.com]

I've found 2 hits for it on Amazon. A foreign language 1994 edition and a 1998 American remake version.

I'm guessing it's the 94 one you saw?

[winter]

That's not the right movie - the book was written in 2003 and the movie made in 2004.

[arabwel.livejournal.com]

I really want to see it.... too bad I lack access to movies so bad... I have yet to see Episode 3 ffor chrissakes....

But must add this to the list of movies as long as. oh., something very long.

[winter]

*pats* Here's hoping you get to watch all of them soon :)

[arabwel.livejournal.com]

Indeed.... I swear, if this keeps up, when I finally get the chgance I will be fused into the couch before I am done with all the movies I want to/should see...

*hug*

[corneredangel.livejournal.com]

Well, unfortunately, IMHO, the movie is only rather superficially related to the books. And leaps into the obvious trap - which Lukyanenko not only avoids but in fact *denies* - of assuming that 'light' and 'dark' and synomyms for 'good' and 'evil'.

There's a reason the other two books are Dnevdoi Dozor and Sumerechnyi Dozor

[winter]

Uh, have we seen the same movie? Because the one I saw made it pretty clear that this is just an illusion that Anton clings to, and tries to feed to Yegor.

Anyway, I'll have the book in a week due to unforeseen circumstances. You'd think they'd reprint it when the big-name movie hits the cinemas... not in this backwater.

[merentha.livejournal.com]

I couldn't get anyone to watch it with me when it was shown in Singapore last month. None of my friends are keen to pay money to keep up with subtitles. Guess I'll have to wait for the DVD.