alexandral (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
alexandral) wrote2007-03-22 06:02 pm
alexandral) wrote2007-03-22 06:02 pm
Day Watch!!!!!!!!!!! Sergey Lukianenko!!!!!!!!!!
"Day Watch" is the part of the film adaptation of Russian fantasy book series "Words of Watches" ("Night Watch", "Day Watch", "Twilight Watch" and "The Last Watch") . I am full of happiness because I discovered only today that "World Of Watches" is written by one of my favourite Russian fantasy writers, Sergey Lukianenko (with Vladimir Vasiliev). I think Lukianenko's previous book series Labyrinth (Labyrinth of Reflections, False Mirrors and Transparent stained-glass windows) is exceptional among Russian cyberpunk wave.
Oh, I am going to dive into the book-world of Watches starting from today and may be you will never see me again!
Storyline
There was a battle long time ago between the forces of Light and Darkness. This battle lasted thousands of years and at the end the whole world was in danger of collapsing because the powers of Light and Darkness were equal. At the end they signed a contract of co-existence. In the present day, two guard-forces consisting of people with supernatural abilities (or "Others") exist: Night Watch and Day Watch (Light forces and Dark forces accordingly). These forces try to maintain a balance between Light and Darkness. Others have an ability to access a special time-space continuum, "Twilight".
Films:
The first film "Night Watch" left me with the mixed feelings. There were some good ideas as special effects concerned, but these ideas seemed to be repeated so many times.. All originality was lost in repetition and the story was lost in the special effects. Though I loved the Russianness of "Night Watch", it was full of Russian cultural and fairy-tale references that made me feel back home. I also liked the main characters, especially Anton played by Konstatntyn Khabensky for they were complex and non-black-and-white.
BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "Day Watch" was so much better for me. It was a very very good film. I only have one doubt in recommending it: it was again full of Russian cultural references that could become lost in translation and subtitles.
So many things were good in Day Watch
Special Effects and cinematography: Were AWESOME. I am may be a little biased here, but I haven't seen anything like it yet. I even **gasp** liked special effects and cinematography in "Day Watch" more then in LOTR. Effects were very original, and made me feel that fabric of the story is real.. And there was just the right amount of the effects so that they were not distracting from the story..
Story: It all started on a not-so-original note of Tamerlane and "the chalk of destiny" but during the progress of the film I felt that this storyline was a part of an intricate parody. I had a feeling that the creators were including parodies on Russian and Western films and books into the flow of the story and into the black humour that was going on throughout the whole film, but was very cleverly done. And the ending was great..
Characters: were complex, interesting and deep. I cared for all of the them: Anton, Svetlana, Olga, Alisa, young vampire Kostya, Kostya's father, even for the devious leader of Moscow forces of Darkness Zavulon. Who is always a tiny bit lagging behind the leader of Moscow forces of Light Geser in deviousness and this is such a reassuring thing.
Forbidden love story between Anton (who is an average level mage) and Svetlana (who is the Greatest mage of them all) . Oh, this was so well-done. Their scenes were my favourite in the film.
Anton:
Svetlana:
Geser, the leader of the Moscow forces of Light:
Zavulon, the leader of the Moscow forces of Darkness:
Olga:
Alisa:
Screencaps, non-spoilery
A VERY fabulous trailer in the trailer_spot's LJ
PS: I have heard that the next film, "Twilight Watch" is going to be filmed in America. Oh, I hope not!!!!!!!!!! (Though it might be selfish of me)
Oh, I am going to dive into the book-world of Watches starting from today and may be you will never see me again!
Storyline
There was a battle long time ago between the forces of Light and Darkness. This battle lasted thousands of years and at the end the whole world was in danger of collapsing because the powers of Light and Darkness were equal. At the end they signed a contract of co-existence. In the present day, two guard-forces consisting of people with supernatural abilities (or "Others") exist: Night Watch and Day Watch (Light forces and Dark forces accordingly). These forces try to maintain a balance between Light and Darkness. Others have an ability to access a special time-space continuum, "Twilight".
Films:
The first film "Night Watch" left me with the mixed feelings. There were some good ideas as special effects concerned, but these ideas seemed to be repeated so many times.. All originality was lost in repetition and the story was lost in the special effects. Though I loved the Russianness of "Night Watch", it was full of Russian cultural and fairy-tale references that made me feel back home. I also liked the main characters, especially Anton played by Konstatntyn Khabensky for they were complex and non-black-and-white.
BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "Day Watch" was so much better for me. It was a very very good film. I only have one doubt in recommending it: it was again full of Russian cultural references that could become lost in translation and subtitles.
So many things were good in Day Watch
Special Effects and cinematography: Were AWESOME. I am may be a little biased here, but I haven't seen anything like it yet. I even **gasp** liked special effects and cinematography in "Day Watch" more then in LOTR. Effects were very original, and made me feel that fabric of the story is real.. And there was just the right amount of the effects so that they were not distracting from the story..
Story: It all started on a not-so-original note of Tamerlane and "the chalk of destiny" but during the progress of the film I felt that this storyline was a part of an intricate parody. I had a feeling that the creators were including parodies on Russian and Western films and books into the flow of the story and into the black humour that was going on throughout the whole film, but was very cleverly done. And the ending was great..
Characters: were complex, interesting and deep. I cared for all of the them: Anton, Svetlana, Olga, Alisa, young vampire Kostya, Kostya's father, even for the devious leader of Moscow forces of Darkness Zavulon. Who is always a tiny bit lagging behind the leader of Moscow forces of Light Geser in deviousness and this is such a reassuring thing.
Forbidden love story between Anton (who is an average level mage) and Svetlana (who is the Greatest mage of them all) . Oh, this was so well-done. Their scenes were my favourite in the film.
Anton:
Svetlana:
Geser, the leader of the Moscow forces of Light:
Zavulon, the leader of the Moscow forces of Darkness:
Olga:
Alisa:
Screencaps, non-spoilery
A VERY fabulous trailer in the trailer_spot's LJ
PS: I have heard that the next film, "Twilight Watch" is going to be filmed in America. Oh, I hope not!!!!!!!!!! (Though it might be selfish of me)
no subject
Zolotuhin... he was very funny with those vampire's canine teeth. He he, I just realized I've got his autograph!
Yes, they do. They've got a daughter. Svetlana quit Watches so she wouldn't outgrow Anton (remember, he was afraid of it). That was a HUGE spoiler from me but I hope you won't be disappointed when you start reading.
About the changes they've made, you see, the books the filmed are just 2 parts of book 1st - "Night Watch" (it consists of 3 parts). The second book - "Day watch" - was not filmed.
I hope I've managed to intrigue you...
Not exactly. Are you talking about all the music in the film? Then you must like russian rock or something like that because there was a lot of heavy music.
I was talking about two music-themes, all about Svetlana/Anton (I liked Alice/Kostya too, but I can't find it yet).
You can click on play button here to hear the music.
So, this one is main theme and it was used in 'towel scene'. this one was composed by Yury Poteenko - a russian composer who wrote music for one russian-american project. It's a mini-serial called "Leningrad", maybe you've heard something about it? It's about blockade of the Leningrade during World War II. It's a very good movie but I think it will be less interesting in english version. You see, producers decided to make two versions: one for russian people - and it's about the Blockade and the people caught in it, and american version is mainly about one american journalist in Leningrad and her love life.
The second music theme I liked was the melody that sounds right at the end of the film - when Anton and Svetlana meet again. It was written by Mummy Troll and I think you know about him. I was very surprised it was his music because I considered him a composer of another style. So... happy surprise.
He was the one plump man sitting to the right of Olga/Anton. He's got a mustache.
no subject
That was a HUGE spoiler from me but I hope you won't be disappointed when you start reading.
Oh, I am such a spoiler-loving person that I often look at the ending before finishing a book.
I hope I've managed to intrigue you...
Oh, of course you did! ** makes calculations ** I hope this means they will make at least 8 films!!!
Not exactly. Are you talking about all the music in the film? Then you must like russian rock or something like that because there was a lot of heavy music.
I do indeed like Russian rock. :D I thought that some of the heavy music was very well-placed and gave an energy to the film. But like you, I liked Svetlana/Anton's theme (so very exotic) and Alice/Kostya's theme (so very heart-breaking) the most. And thank you very much for the music! I will definitely try to find OST.
It's a mini-serial called "Leningrad", maybe you've heard something about it? It's about blockade of the Leningrade during World War II.
I haven't heard of it, but I am very interested now!!
He was the one plump man sitting to the right of Olga/Anton. He's got a mustache
YAY! For some reason it is not how I imagined he would look. :D