Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating...
Review: This film was perhaps more generally fascinating as a subject and as a theory rather than as a movie.
It builds up with the help of Roman Polanski's unique creation of slicing atmosphere, but never quite climaxes the way you would expect a Polanski film to do.
It seems to have a unique, dark, unpredictable air, but its ending doesn't reflect that and frankly spoils the good work laid down by Johnny Depp. Not one of his best films, it must be said, but a truly awe-inspiring take on the occult, Satanism and the workings of Beelzebub.
You cannot help but be stricken by the clever interpretation of pure evil, the sickening graphic scenes of murder and destruction and Polanski's incredible ability to grasp your attention. It's just a pity that through an intricate, gripping plot comes an inadequate and disappointing end.
fascinating but, ultimately no match for some of Polanski's other films, and other movies of Depp's.
Rating:
Summary: Not a review of the movie, but a review of other reviews
Review: I wasn't going to write anything (I'm researching, just read an online version of the movie script, with a few things that changed by the time it got to film), but I was dumbstruck by so many people griping they were never explained who the mysterious "girl" was.So the clue in the Baroness' handwritten notes in her copy of the book wasn't enough for you? 'I will recognize your servants, my brethren, by the sign that adorns some part of their body, a scar or mark of your making...' Geez, guys, is it too much of a stretch of the imagination to see that girl (and the jarring colour of her eyes) as a demon sent by the devil to assure that the people trying to become immortal (or "summon him", selon the person in question) don't succeed? And somewhere in the proceedings, she decides (or the devil has already decided) that Corso would open the Ninth Gate to obtain immortality? Pity he doesn't have more of a personality to entertain throughout the ages... although he'll have more than enough time to develop one. I won't say I enjoyed the movie when I saw it (I was too upset, especially considering the person with whom I was watching it, in retrospect... funny we're talking about the devil), but I have to say that, the more I'm digging through this, the more I'm fascinated.
Rating: 
Summary: A brilliant, dark, creepy film- but not for everyone
Review: When you look at the average rating for this film you will probably think it is a dud that is not even worth a rent. Well I beg you to take a look at this film. Johnny Depp and Roman Polanski team up for this eerie tale concerning the occult and satanism, and... books. This might not seem exciting, but Polanski's signature syle and Depp's dead-pan delivery drive the action-depleted plot. The pace starts off slow and gradually builds into an intense piece of cinema. I will not go into plot details, since the other reviews will most likey cover it extensively, however I will say that this is NOT and action or horror film. The film is not filled with explosions, shootouts, and car chases. While I believe this is one of the best films in recent history, this is definately not a movie everyone can enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: This Was Marketed All Wrong
Review: I remeber seeing commercials for this film, several years ago, and thinking that this was surely another mindless, hollywood b-flick, designed to lure in young teenage couples, and diehard horror fans. I was way off, or rather, the commercials were way off. This is a mystery piece, dealing with the occult. I suppose I don't have to go into the plot, as you can read into that from other reviewers, but I'd just like to say that this is a quality psycological horror/mystery, that thinking people will appreciate.
Rating:
Summary: not a bad film but not a good one either
Review: This movie isn't atrocious but it's not what I'd call good either. Johnny Depp plays Dean Corso, a rare book dealer. He is entrusted with a book that is suppose to be able to conjure the devil. There are suppose to be two other books just like it in existence and the person who gives the book to Corso wants him to find out if one of the other books is authentic or if his is the authentic one. One problem with the movie is that it would be interesting for a little while but then it would slow down and get pretty boring for a while. Also, the character development could have been better. Depp's character kept meeting a blonde haired girl and the movie never bothered to explain who she was. The characters' motivations were only skimmed over. I was unclear as to why the characters were doing some of the things that they did. Depp's performance, while not being bad, isn't all that memorable either. It's not his fault though. The character just isn't as well written as some of the other characters that he's played. Overall, it's not an awful film. It's just not that good either. It's worth watching if you catch it on TV but I wouldn't recommend that you pay money to see it.
Rating:
Summary: Superb movie all around!
Review: This movie was made to make you think about things. There is good and evil in ths world. Polanski did a brilliant job in his portrayal of characters and scenery. (I think the movie could have been longer to bring out some other aspects the book offers). Movies like Spider-man and SWAT have their place in cinema, but The Ninth Gate takes you to a different place that most are not familiar with and this is why we have people giving it 1 star. As I understand this movie for the most part it still leaves me with questions in my mind. Polanski's objective. The sooner we can tell the difference between good and evil, the better. I think Polanski helped exploit our vulnerabilites and was trying to tell us to get up off of our butts and smell the roses. enjoy life. enjoy whatever the higher being has created for us. enjoy people. but most dont stop to enjoy even the small things in everyday life. they cant tell good from evil, they just care about money and what they can get for themselves. We need to wake up and pay close attention to all things in life because one day it will all be over.
Rating:
Summary: Polanski Refuses to Skew Anything for an American Audience
Review: It is quite sad that so many people can not get past the need to have everything spelled out for them. Do we really need to shout the purpose of the mysterious "guardian angel?" Is the difference of the twins really so mysterious? ***HINT*** Look at the illustrations in the book, and draw your own conclusions! The movie is pure Polanski- it has the perfect balance of eerieness, confusion, anticipation, and ambiguity that allows the viewer to internalize the story and bring their own interpretations to it!
Rating: 
Summary: DOESN'T ROMAN POLANSKI KNOW HOW TO END ANY OF HIS MOVIES???
Review: This is the second Roman Polanski film I've watched which had a good beginning, extremely good plot development and then, NO ENDING! What a let-down! As other reviewers have said, "The Girl" is never explained, & neither is whatever is supposed to be going on when the camera zooms in on her eyes. Her behavior at the end of the film is never explained. The clean sweep where Frank Langella re-enters the film shows absolutely no thought or creativity. The elderly twin book-dealers disappear but, again, no explanation. And then that ridiculous finale which comes out of nowhere! Johnny Depp is totally wasted in this film. His character is never developed in a direction which would make the ending make sense. No more Roman Polanski movies for me until he hires someone who knows how to create satisfying endings to good stories!
Rating:
Summary: 5 stars for the treatment of its subject matter
Review: If you know what a Rider Waitt deck is, this movie will make a LOT more sense then it does for most reviewers. Depps on the journey of the fool, The mystery girls actions are dependent on Depps use of free will - her roll is summed up nicely in the last scene. And this review will make no sense to most people reading it - like the movie made no sense to them. Its an insider thing.
Rating:
Summary: A stylish masterpiece: no wonder so many dullards dislike it
Review: Certainly the best and most stylish horror of the 1990s, it placed Roman Polanski back at his roots, allowing him to once again explore the dark depths of the occult and the human psyche, and providing the viewers with the pleasure of following the new protagonist on a thrilling journey in search of... ah, no, see the film and find out what it is that Corso wants and what he ultimately discovers. Having seen and loving this masterpiece, I immediately expected hordes of dullwitted mouthbreathers throughout the world to loathe it for its elegance, stylishness, unconventionality and darkness - and they did not disappoint me. I quickly saw them attack the film, complaining (their complaints always badly misspelled, with horrendous syntax, third-grade lexicon and short, monotonous sentences, regardless of the language used) that the movie was "confusing" (please stick to your level of entertainment, an X-Men cartoon), that "nothing happened" in it (nothing certainly ever happens in their heads; as for the film, the fate of the world being chosen and sealed was but one of the things that happened), that it was "too slow" (no, my "dears" - *you* are), or that "the acting was bad" (compared to their favorite pearls of cinematic performance, such as "Scream 3" or "Jason goes to Hell"), or that there "wasn't enough action" - and now we arrive at the real reason why dullards didn't like "The Ninth Gate", other than the fact that they are unable to understand it - not enough explosions! Not enough Marilyn Manson! Not enough kung-fu fights in slow motion! Not enough Sarah Michelle Gellar! Not enough clone syrup! Well, "dears", sorry - this is a thinking person's film. Not *your* kind of movie, but ours. Now leave us in peace, allow us to enjoy Roman Polanski's vision again, and feel free to go see an Adam Sandler "comedy" or "Charlie's Angels 2" - flicks of this kind should certainly match your "intellectual level" and provide you with enough infantile "entertainment" to last you the whole afternoon.
|
