Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with a review of the sequel to big geek cult favorite NIGHT WATCH. I've been pretty outgoing with my dislike for the original, an opinion not held by many of the AICN folks... I want to give it another go, I just remember feeling it was way overhyped, overblown and a rat's nest of a movie. Hopefully I'll "get it" on the next viewing. I'm still somewhat interested in seeing the sequel, especially if it's as big, yet easier to follow as the below review suggests. Keep watch for spoilers below. Enjoy!!!
Hey Harry, I got a chance to see Day Watch(the sequel to Night Watch) the other day, and I thought I'd chime in with a review.
First of all, I'm a big fan of the first film. I know it was somewhat difficult to follow, but I enjoyed every last second. Needless to say, I was overjoyed when I found a way to see the sequel.
Let me just say, first, that there is no way there will be a 3rd film. The film has a solid, final, conclusion, making it impossible for there to be any continuation. This isn't Empire, it's more like Empire and Jedi wrapped up in one package.
The story centers around Anton again. This time he must avoid a frame-up job by the Dark Others, while searching for the Chalk of Fate, a piece of chalk that can alter time. He's joined by the Bad Luck Lady, Sveta, from the first film, as well as his female(former Owl)partner Olga.
The first thing you notice about Day Watch is the change in tone. While the movie deals with serious issues, it IS much lighter than Night Watch. There are moments of comedy(SPOILER: Anton must switch bodies with Olga), along with some fairly Russian goofiness(FUR hats!) that change the dark, dank tone of the first film. While it never feels like a parody, Day Watch reaches different levels of entertainment than the previous film.
The second thing that is apparent is the scope of the film. The film is EPIC! It travels from place to place at breathtaking speed, while creating deft suspense through characters and settings. It ranges from fantasy to SciFi to even a disaster film. In a way it reminds me of earlier HK films, in which the studio felt that they had to cram just about every type of film into one movie.
The characters, this time, are a little more fleshed out. We get to really understand some of the Dark Others, while the first movie focused on them as more of a standard Bad Guy stereotype. Especially apparent is the relationship between Anton's Father-Son Vampire Neighbors. The Father plays an intergal part in the film, while the Son becomes a pawn in Zawulon's(Leader of the Dark Others) plans to shatter the peace.
The film does ramble, and at times it feels that the Frame-Up subplot will overtook the main story, but Day Watch makes sure every moment is important. There is NO wasted story here. At a little over 2 hours, the movie makes the most out of the material given, and manages to cram what is essentially two stories into one.
You become emotionally attached to both Anton and Sveta, as well as feel Yegor(Anton's son) has for his father. They become a Trinity of sorts, which is really fleshed-out towards the conclusion of the film.
The ending may be cheap to some, but I found it wildly appropriate. It concerns forgiveness, and correcting the one mistake that sends the world on a downward spiral to damnation. Millions die, buildings and cities are destroyed, and it all lies on the shoulders of one mistake by Anton.
It still have some confusing elements, but Day Watch is far more Viewer-Friendly, as far as the plot is concerned. You know what Anton must do, you know what is happening in the situations he's facing. I honestly understood about everything in the film, while(with Night Watch) I had to do a little research to "GET" all the things that were happening. Day Watch is right there, before you, a far more focused goal.
Who knows when this film will be released in the States, but it will be well worth the wait to see this imaginative film in theatres. Probably the most amazing thing about Day Watch is that it is something we've never seen before. Sure the story may sound familar, but the approach, execution, and method are completely original and creative.
What to watch out for:
1. The second level of the Gloom
2. The Red Car
3. The Russian Yo-Yo of Doom
4. The Frozen Security Guard
5. A Whole New Meaning to BIRD MAN!!
6. The written word "Het" means "No" in Russian.
Thanks for your time. You can call me Onitafreak.
