Night Watch (Nochnoi Dozor)

this film is the first in a trilogy of horror/vampire/sci-fi/action/period piece/epic films that are already a HUGE hit in russia. the basic premise of the movie is that long ago, there was a fierce battle between the forces of light and the forces of dark. in order to stop everyone on both sides of the battle from being killed, the two leaders got together and formed a truce that would allow both sides to live in peace, each with their own perks. the darks can live their lives but they have to be given licences to turn others into vampires. the lights are the ones who control these licences and also make sure that the truce is upheld. this is a very VERY brief summary of the film, but i wouldn't ever be able to get it all into this blog. it is one of those films that is very visually stunning, and to watch it in russian with english subtitles just adds to the visual effects as they turn the subtitles into a part of the film. it's not just subtitles... it's art. if you like those kinds of films where you like to be visually stimulated, then totally go check this movie out. i'll admit that nothing in this film will surprize you, the "twists" are kinda predictable, but just watching it all unfold is a pleasure in and of itself. 4 out of 5 stars.