Cinema review
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov
Starring Konstantin Khabensky, Mariya Poroshina, Vladimir Menshov
Release date 5 October 2007
With an uneasy truce just about holding between the Light and Dark Others, Anton searches for the Chalk of Fate, a magical artefact that has the power to re-write history. Then Anton finds himself framed for murder by the Day Watch…
It's probably a good idea to see the original movie, Night Watch, before coming to this sequel, as from the very start the narrative moves at a breakneck speed, thrusting you right into the action without explanation.
The initial hour of Day Watch is actually quite entertaining as the seeds of an intriguing story are planted. A strange mix of buddy buddy police thriller and sweetly played romantic comedy, it’s a promisingly humorous and irreverent start.
Sadly, as the narrative unfolds, it becomes a rather excessive, noisy action romp that drops story and character in favour of overly stylised visuals and flamboyant but empty action sequences. Day Watch serves to prove that it’s not just Hollywood that can deliver spectacle without content.
At just under two and a half hours in length, this sequel is also too too long. The story seems to be building towards a big climax which, unfortunately, never really materialises.
Despite its flaws, fans of Night Watch will probably find much to enjoy. The effects are impressive, with scenes of a car blasting across the side of a building and time stopping and starting shown in exquisite detail, and the novel way that subtitles are displayed is still creative and witty. Jonathan Wilkins
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