There’s a growing number of fans of Russian-Kazakh film director Timur Bekmambetov, and you can count me as one of them. There’s the superb vampire-flick Nochnoy dozor (Night Watch) (2004), which was followed by the equally superb sequel Dnevnoy dozor (Day Watch) (2006). We can hardly wait for Twilight Watch, due to be released in 2009 (although rumored to be dead in the water). (The films are based on the three volumes of Nightwatch by Kazakh writer Sergei Lukyanenko.)

In 2008 Director Bekmambetov introduced himself to a wider audience with the film Wanted, starring Scotsman James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, and Angeline Jolie. It opened to generally favorable reviews, although at least one review seemed unnaturally focused on superstar Angelina Jolie’s mere supporting role and the question of whether James McAvoy was miscast against her. Not for children but strongly recommended on all accounts. We look forward to even bigger and better things from this creative and daring director.