Bravo to the filmmakers who have given us a film rich in fantasy and imagination, and moderately slick in execution too. Though inferior to The Matrix, or to Star Wars: A New Hope, two shining examples of movies that invented entirely new worlds to tell their stories, it is still good and a welcome change from the eight or nine same scripts that come out year after year. See it before it’s too late.
The Upside:
Great imagination and generally solid execution. The story leaves you wanting more.
The Downside:
Some of the locations could have been better chosen to enhance the feel of the film. Some of the details struck me as silly. At times the camera work is too complicated for its own good.
On the Side:
The sequel to this film, Daywatch, is already playing in Russia, and the third and final chapter, Duskwatch, is in the works.
Breaking Down the Film:
The Story: A-
The Acting: B
Behind the Scenes: B-
Final Grade: B+
Film Stats:
Starring: Konstantin Khabensky, Vladimir Menshov, Mariya Poroshina
Directed by: Timur Bekmambetov
Writing Credits: Timur Bekmambetov (screenplay), Laeta Kalogridis (screenplay), Sergei Lukyanenko (novel)
Release Date: February 17, 2006 (limited)
Country: Russia
MPAA Rating: R for strong violence, disturbing images and language.
Run Time: 114 min.
Studio: Fox Searchlight
By Matthew Alexander, a Staff Writer for Film School Rejects.
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