The Time Guardians (2020) User Reviews

Trapped in Wells

[nogodnomasters · 4/10 · 5 May 2022]

An orphan girl who is adopted is told a story about a town clock that needs to be wound to prevent things from going into a time loop and people turning into ghouls. Her dad is a time guardian who gives her a key. There is also a witch that wants to prevent the time guardian from winding the clock.

The story is a modern day fantasy. It is Russian and dubbed. Clearly there was something lost in either the translations or something cultural. You know there are scenes where they are attempting to be funny or create a certain emotion and it doesn't work.

I would think most kids might be bored with it as I was.

very under rated

[shoaibvi · 7/10 · 30 January 2022]

Though its for age group that may lie 10-12 years, but pretty much enjoyable by an adult. The dubbed version does not make any issue, CC is distraction. Fantasy film with excellent CGI and visual effects.

Not A Sci-Fi!

[gab-67599 · 7/10 · 29 January 2022]

Labeling this movie as such added to my confusion when I first started watching this. Some one else complained about this being translated from Russian to English. I hate reading subtitles so it was like any other Netflix movie that is from another country being dubbed in English. As long as I can understand a movie it bothers me none! That being said this movie was hard to follow in the beginning. You never knew if the director was keeping things real in this movie or leaning towards fantasy. Everyone needs to go into this movie knowing that it is a kids movie with a darker side. So yes the beginning starts off real, but then moves over to a fantasy quickly! As long as you keep your mind open, it was not half bad at all. It did feel like it dragged on at times and you wished the inevitable would just hurry up and happen. But I have seen worst movies so I say at least give it a try if you have kids age 8 - 11yo. Possibly younger if they are mature.

Decent if you don't mind the English dubbing

[imranzain79 · 6/10 · 4 January 2023]

I watched the English dubbed version of this movie as the original Russian language wasn't available. As a movie targeted for children, it's on the darker side and can be suspenseful at times. Plot-wise, there is not much mystery wrapped around it as I would have liked and as and adult I didn't find it engaging enough, but my 10 years old daughter seemed to like it. I did however, enjoy the stunning visuals on this movie.

Probably would've rated this movie higher if it's in its original language as I find the English dubbed version slightly distracting and nearing annoyance. I don't mind reading subtitles.

Much better than the nasty rating here, but not good

[siderite · 6/10 · 13 December 2023]

There are two problems with this film. First is the atrocious dubbing. It takes you out of the movie completely. On the other hand so many people wouldn't have watched it unless in English, so win some, lose some. The second is the editing. The scenes just jump from one to the other jarringly, no transitions, making it really difficult to invest in the story.

But then there's the story, which makes little sense, yet it feels like a proper fairy tale. The random fantastic characters are just like in familiar tales, but are built on a darker subplot where an orphan must save her adoptive parents from a former flame who wants to separate them for her own gain. You can see how the imagination of the child fills the space in that rather mundane story with magic and fantasy and what dark emotions push her to do this. The participation of the father is a complete deviation from that very simple and clear direction and I feel it was a mistake.

So in conclusion it's a much better movie than the rating, and in truth we should applaud any attempt to create something different, but it is also a very flawed production.