Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16021 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-10-20
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Formats: Box set, Director's Cut, PAL
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 249 minutes

Synopsis
This set contains sci-fi action thriller NIGHT WATCH and its sequel DAY WATCH, both made by Russian director Timur Bekmambetov.
NIGHT WATCH is an old-fashioned good vs. evil parable that relies on some thoroughly modern special effects to ensnare its audience. Set in present-day Moscow, the movie begins with a quick skip back through the centuries to inform us how a delicate truce was struck between the forces of Light and Dark. These forces still exist in Moscow, with both sides keeping a close eye on each other as they attempt to disguise themselves from the earth's mere mortals. NIGHT WATCH's central character is Anton Gorodetsky (Konstantin Khabensky), who is defined as an 'Other' by the legions of Light and Dark. Anton and his cohorts live as vampires, and await the arrival of a virgin who will announce the resumption of hostilities between the forces of Light and Dark; as the film progresses, it becomes apparent that an epic battle is just around the corner.
DAY WATCH centres on an epic battle between forces of good and evil. An uneasy truce has kept the armies at bay for centuries, but that peace is about to end, and it will pit vampires, psychics, and witches against one another. Both factions, the Day Watch and the Night Watch, have beings of extraordinary power called 'Great Others', and if these two people meet, a supernatural war will begin. Anton Gorodetsky (Konstantin Khabensky) finds himself torn between his son, the dark side's Great Other, and the woman he loves, the champion for the Light Others. DAY WATCH (DNEVNOI DOZOR) explodes in the mind-bending space between THE MATRIX and UNDERWORLD.

Customer Reviews

Specifications
Night Watch 109 min 16:9
Language: Russian, English, French, German
Sub: Danish, Dutch, English, Finish, French, German, Norwegian, Swedish

Day Watch 139 min 16:9
Language: Russian, English, French, German
Sub: Danish, Dutch, English, Finish, French, German, Norwegian, Swedish

Excellent Blu-rays for Nightwatch and Daywatch
First I should note that I got this double pack for under ten pounds, which has rather coloured my positive view of the whole package. Second I have access to a Russian native which means I've had a lot of the subtler cultural meanings explained to me that I think would be completely lost on most audiences. However to my taste the films are original and interesting. Sadly Nightwatch is the international version and has a number of scenes added, I guess to make the unusual story a bit clearer for an international audience. Some of the mystery is taken out so it would have been nice to have the original Russian version included. Daywatch is far easier to follow than Nightwatch (although probably wouldn't make much sense at all without seeing the first film). The transfer itself is very strong. The picture on both films is sharp, richly colourful and detailed. Daywatch does look the nicer of the two though. The soundtracks (I listened to the Russian versions with subtitles) are both strong and hard-hitting. The sound has been re-created for the added scenes in the international version of Nightwatch but this doesn't affect the quality, just the lip synch. If you know the films and like them and can get this double pack cheap, I'd highly recommend it over the DVD versions in particular. If you're unsure about the films themselves all I can say is that the package is very strong and is the best way to see them, so perhaps rent them first to be sure.

pleasing alternative to Hollywood rollercoasters
Two Russian films with English subtitles (English soundtrack provided in options). Excellent entertainment for those bored with off-the-shelf Hollywood characters and storylines. The plot developes at an edge-of-seat intensity, constantly throwing up surprises, never standing still or allowing you to assume you know what's coming next. The Moscow portrayed here is a far cry from the glamour of spy thrillers. Intriguing if not exceptional special effects help keep these two films in the arthouse arena. The dialogue can be a little tricky to follow at times - perhaps it loses something in translation.