Originally posted by toddly6666

Third, it's not another dreary Russian drama or low-budgeted B movie (The Cukkoo, House of Fools, Brat 1 & 2, The Return, Father & Son, Anti-Killer 1 & 2, Tycoon).

Originally posted by flashburn
It would be nice if the link to buy it, worked...

Originally posted by hardtack
Try this link.

Originally posted by toddly6666
FLASHBURN...if you want something else to order from that site, order the BARBER OF SIBERIA DVD...it's one of the other best recent Russian movies, that hasn't gotten released yet in the USA....I have the PAL Special Edition which is of excellent video and audio quality and a bunch of extras....I don't know if you have a multi-region player, but i think there is a PAL and NTSC dvd version of this disc, both with English subtitles...

Originally posted by toddly6666
DVDDUDE, I don't think there are any other new horror/sci-fi russian movies except for NOCHNOI DOZOR...well, any Russian drama movie is like watching a psychological horror movie...

Originally posted by toddly6666

INDYCHOHIBA, there's always bad reviews for every good review - it's an action/vampire/fantasy movie anyway...not the type of film that's gonna be on any 100 Best film lists...The main thing is that this is a groundbreaking film for new Russian cinema. And dude, You've got every single dvd in the planet, the bad reviewed ones and the good reviewed ones. According to your dvd collection, I have a feeling you will like it..just buy it!! 25 dollars is nothing!

MOVIE: 9
DVD Video: 9
DVD Audio: 9
EXTRAS: 5
OVERALL: 10

For Russian Filmmakers, Blockbuster Heralds a New Era


By Sonia Oxley
Reuters
Wednesday, August 11, 2004; Page C10


MOSCOW -- Russia's fastest-grossing film has all the ingredients of a Hollywood blockbuster but is outpacing them in the box office and was made for a fraction of the price.

Blood, action and suspense helped "Night Watch" rake in $13 million in the first three weeks after it was released July 8, almost as much as the last "Lord of the Rings" film made in two months in Russia.

The previous best-performing Russian film made $3 million.

"This is a big movie for a big audience," said director Timur Bekmambetov.

It may be a big movie, but the $4 million budget is small.

"In the United States it would have cost at least 10 times more," Bekmambetov said.

Bekmambetov says the film -- the first part of a trilogy based on books by Sergei Lukyanenko -- has benefited from a revolution in the film market, which suffered from a loss of state funds after the collapse of communism.

"The film market is growing in Russia. If our movie had appeared a year ago, we would have made maybe 30 or 50 percent less in the box office," he said.

Russia's box-office figures are still paltry compared with other countries, mainly because there are only about 400 cinemas and film piracy is rampant.

But Bekmambetov said this was changing, with about 40 movie houses opening each year and filmmakers getting better at distribution.

"We didn't have a distribution system during the '90s -- it was destroyed by perestroika," he said, referring to then-President Mikhail Gorbachev's policy to reform the Soviet Union.

"Night Watch" was shown at about 80 percent of cinemas, he said.

The film pits good against evil, features vampires and stars some of Russia's top actors.

Fans of the books have complained that it bears little resemblance to the original and many say the product placement -- lingering shots of coffee and mobile phones -- is distracting.

But others heralded it as a new dawn for the industry.

"It's our film -- a Russian film. It's a new stage for Russian films," said Sergei, a Moscow security guard.

The past 12 months have been fruitful for Russian films.

Last year, director Andrei Zvyagintsev's debut "The Return" won two Golden Lion prizes at the Venice film festival. It was made on an even tighter budget, about $400,000, but was not a big box-office success.

Bekmambetov says Russia's success at film festivals has failed to translate into ticket sales because the films have not been aimed at a wider audience.

That is what sets his film apart, he says. The special effects compare with those in Hollywood blockbusters such as "The Matrix," "Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter," and, like those films, it has broad popular appeal.

Hollywood has swooped down on the film, with firms offering to hold talks on possible future cooperation, Bekmambetov said.

Any joint project with Hollywood would concern the final part of the trilogy since the second "Night Watch" film is almost complete and scheduled to be released in March.

Bekmambetov hoped the films will help Russians shrug off a cultural inferiority complex in which they see foreign lifestyles as better than their own.

"When we produce famous Russian movies, good Russian movies . . . Russia's streets and Russia's reality will become fashionable. People will be proud that they have this kind of chair, this kind of wall or car."



© 2004 The Washington Post Company

Originally posted by Chuck Tatum
Has anyone purchased this DVD, and seen/heard the quality of the transfer?

I highly doubt a NTSC version will get released, but maybe a R2 -- if it successfully plays in Western Europe.

Although, if a Hollywood studio pumps funds into the third film -- it might not come to the States in its original running time.

As we've seen with HERO, and countless other films that are "too slow" for American audiences. I guess we really need those rapidly paced films like LOTR:Return Of The King