NIGHTWATCH: COPYCAT WATCH
Nightwatch is Timur Bekmambetov’s first part of his successful trilogy in Russia. Bekmambetov’s is obviously influenced by American cinema. This is apparent in the film as he borrows heavily from recent successful films. It is an action packed story of good versus evil. But we have seen it all before.
Anton (Konstantin Khabensky) goes to a woman who claims she can help him get his wife back. The woman tells him he must agree to the burden of her killing his wife’s unborn child with another man. Anton agrees. What Anton doesn’t realize is that this woman is a “Daywatcher”. Before she succeeds, the woman is stopped by the “Nightwatchers”. Anton can see them, which is rare. He comes to learn that there is a battle between light vs. dark.
Nightwatchers are the soldiers for light who watch the “Daywatchers”. Daywatchers are vampires. Fast forward 12 years. Anton is now a “Nightwatcher” and is sent to save Yegor (Dmitri Martynov), a 12 year old boy who is an “Other” who must decide if he wants to become a Nightwatcher or a Daywatcher. While tracking him Anton comes across a woman who has a vortex above her. He comes to find out that she is cursed. This woman began the battle between light and dark. The Nightwatchers must stop her before it is too late.
The story is filled with elements of past movies. The plot regarding Yegor echoes of The Terminator and the race to take John Connor as he is important to both sides. The struggle between Light and Dark reminds you of Underworld and the fight between the vampires and the werewolves. It is fast paced as an action film should be. Khabensky as Anton is an unlikely hero. He is at war with himself. The special effects are the star of the show. The fight scenes are straight out of The Matrix. The images go back forth from science fiction and fantasy. There is even a reference from Harry Potter with Olga (Galina Tyunina) the sorceress-we first see her as a snowy white owl, not unlike Harry’s pet Hedwig.
The plot regarding the Vortex and the cursed woman is inventive. More of that would have made the film a true original and worthy of its success as opposed to the writers relying on past films. There is also use of a videogame that foreshadows the ending fight which is cheesy.
Using basics of past successful movies have made Nightwatch a hit in Russia. These borrowed elements are glaringly obvious. More innovativeness would have made this film unforgettable as opposed to just forgettable.
Report Card:
Story-C
Acting-B
Visuals-B+
Originality/Innovation-D
Enjoyability Grade–C
DVD Extras-C+
Overall Grade-C+
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