Rating: Summary: Watch it Once: Never Again Review: Ohh man. I saw this movie in the theater once, and I thought it was a pretty good movie! I gave the movie 3 out of 4 stars (which is also what I gave Gladiator just for the record), 9 months later, I bought the DVD because I enjoyed it the first time and thought it was good.Wow, I saw it again, and I just didn't like it. The parts I enjoyed lost something watching it for a second time, it's not worth 2 viewings or more viewings, and buying the DVD is not worth it either. The DVD is alright. If you're a big fan of Polanski and Johnny Dep (Big enough that you would buy a movie that you would watch maybe once and put it on the shelf for the rest of it's life) then pick up the DVD. If you loved the movie, then pick it up, but you may not like it as much, after the second viewing. Bottom line: Rent it, don't buy it.
Rating: Summary: Interesting and that's about it... Review: This movie is curious at best. Ultimately it pretends to be a little more intricate and tricky than it is. The "plot twist" at the end of the film is really not that wild. Johnny Depp gives a good performance but the movie never bothers to explain a lot of different things. The movie postures as if it is an entirely plot based film but, in my opinion, fails to deliver anything new in that arena. There was really nothing new about this film at all. That being said, it was spooky and pretty entertaining. At times, however, it definitely lags.
Rating: Summary: One of the best movies of recent times. Review: This and The Matrix are the 2 movies recently made that I cant get enough of. Each time you watch this film, you find something new. This is a very artfully made film. Polanski deserves much praise for his work here. As do the cast. Johnny Depp and Emmanuelle Seigner are excellent in this flick... I cant recommend it enough.
Rating: Summary: Try the book Review: The movie was alright, interesting but not completely engaging. The best part of the movie was that it turned me onto the book, which is very, very good. The depth of the book is almost impossible to translate into a film.
Rating: Summary: Atmospheric, but unsatisfying Review: "The Ninth Gate," directed by Roman Polanski, is one of the latest in the "Satanic" genre of horror films. The story involves a rare books dealer named Corso (played by Johnny Depp) who is hired to track down variant copies of a Satanist ritual book. He encounters sex, danger, and mystery along the way. There is much I liked about this film. Beginning with the haunting music to the opening credits, Polanski really creates a sinister, yet sensuous atmosphere. Depp delivers a fine performance: he brings a bewitching combination of sleaziness and sexiness to his character. There are some good supporting performances. And, as a lover of books, I find myself particularly intrigued by a movie that is, at its heart, all about books. But ultimately, "The Ninth Gate" is a disappointment. The film is all setup, with no payoff. In fact, the closing scenes of the film struck me as silly--even laughable. If you want a more satisfying cinematic portrayal of Satanism, I recommend Polanski's own classic, "Rosemary's Baby." Nevertheless, there are enough positive elements in the "Ninth Gate" for me to say that I'm glad to have seen it--and wouldn't mind seeing it again. If you are a fan of Satanic cinema, give the film a try.
Rating: Summary: Johnny Depp would probably like to forget this Review: A movie about a rare book dealer who gets caught in a web of supernatural happenings and devil-worshippers? Let me at it, it sounds great! Don't be sucked in like I was. There is nothing compelling about the story or the characters in this awful film. Depp plays a rare book dealer who has the strange habit of smoking cigarettes over priceless books. Odd. His love interest seems to be a sort of devil/angel thing, and there is no character in the entire film that is worth being sympathetic toward. The plot is based on gaining keys in the form of pages from various rare copies of the same book. Lots of people die, sometimes in unintentionally funny ways, and very little action ensues. The dramatic tension created here is just about on par with a documentary on cheesemaking. Don't worry, Johnny, even DeNiro and Nicholson have made movies they are not so proud of. It happens.
Rating: Summary: Where's the Beef? Review: I am always up for a "movie challenge" but this film had me in stitches. Johnny Depp and the mystery woman ride away on their bike..hair not moving...background that's obviously fake...Was this made in the 70's? Also, the sex scene at the end with the mystery woman...the wild face...the terribly fake and overdone background coupled with even more hilarious music...I just could not get past the cheesy effects without howling with laughter...even the scene showing the dead Baroness in the wheelchair...more humor than fright. Sorry, I wasn't impressed, but if you like campy...it's great!!!
Rating: Summary: An Understated Film Review: The film sets set forth the story in restrained terms. The viewer actually has to think. The ending does not live up to its promise of what could have been.
Rating: Summary: I understand the bad reviews. Review: The Ninth Gate begins promisingly enough, a tale about the search for a book that was written by the devil. After the first 10 minutes, the movie goes downhill, but slowly, considering the snail's pace this film moves. Add to that an incoherent script and you've got a camp classic.
Rating: Summary: the biggest disappointment I know since macaroni and cheese Review: maybe i expect too much from Polanski,Depp,and Seigner but this left me breathless in its lack of storyline.And both Depp and Seigner seemed to be waiting for a bus to take them out of this mess.There isn't the supernatural psychological horror of rosemary's baby nor the quiet detective noir of chinatown.All there is a whacked up editing job that Polanski must have forgotten to view before releasing.I cannot describe how dreadfully boring this film is and how deriative it seems from far better ripoffs of satanic yarns.Believe me this is the only polanski film that made me feel weary with disbelief.
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