Rating: 
Summary: Indiana Jones without the action
Review: This movie has some great plot twists but it has a hard time reaching a peak. Johnny Depp gives a wonderful perfomance of somebody whom the viewer hates in the beginning and is rooting for in the end. Frank Langella also lends an outstanding role as a behind-the-shadows badguy for most of the movie. This movie is worth seeing but it should not be on the top of anybody's list of must sees.
Rating: 
Summary: not polanski's best
Review: This movie blends two genres Roman Polanski has dabbled in before, horror movies (which he explored with Rosemary's Baby) and film noir detective flicks (which he handled in a breathtaking way with Chinatown). Normally the mating of these two genres produces some thrilling results, but not so here. I think the film is mainly crippled by Johnny Depp's character. Dean Corso is about as selfish as human beings come, so when his life is threatened I really didn't find myself on the edge of my seat. Corso is a rare book collector who is hired by a client to track down this weird text that supposedly will raise the devil. Seems there are 3 copies of this book in the world, only one of which is real. The client has one and Dean has to find the other two. ALthough some of the cinematography is quite beautiful, the movie just doesn't grab you. If Corso had been a more decent person, the movie would have been much more terrifying. Many horror films make the mistake of giving us main characters that we just don't care about. Filmmaker ought to realize it's more scary when the victims are LIKEABLE.
Rating: 
Summary: The World of Books meets the Devil
Review: Without being active into the World of Evil (I'll take God anytime, thank you) I was very gladly impressed by this movie. This is the story of a rare book specialist who becomes both entangled and fascinated in his search of the Devil. Johnny Depp stars as Dean Corso. He is subcontracted by publisher mogul Boris Balkan - played here by none other than terrorific Frank Langella. Balkan sends Corso off to Europe with an unusual task: to compare his own copy of "The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows" (a manuscript that has the particular quality of summoning the Devil) with the only two others in existence. And so the game begins. I never even considered Johnny Depp as a good actor, but I was obviously mistaken, to the point where he's much improved. From the very first scenes Depp shows us just how much in command of his acting he is - as much as any good actor can possibly be. Frank Langella is nothing short of genial in his role of the calculating magnate. Lena Olin plays the part of a consumate "dishy" - as Corso puts it -, rich widow who desperately wants to get her own hands on Corso's copy of the sacrosanct book, a copy that used to belong to her husband, who hanged himself not too long ago. So glad this is not a typical Hollywood movie. Johnny Depp aside, it is a Franco-Spanish production with local actors and sites, filmed totally in Europe. I loved the idea of the world of antique books as background for the story. Since I have a passion for book collecting, it was mother's milk to me. Just for that, the film will appeal to collectors worldwide. The leather bindings, the paper, the fantastic engravings... it makes one's mouth water. Moreover, there is superb acting from Depp and Langella; but every single role is extremely well personified, so kudos in numbers go to the casting director. The erotic scene of the castle in flames has to be one of the most impressive ones I've seen in cinema lately, and it will stay in your mind for a while, not because of what is shown but because of what is not. Typical of Polanski, his actual wife (Emannuelle Seigner) has a significant part too, but I won't tell, so you'll have to watch the movie. Enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: Shear Brilliance.
Review: The promotions for this film made it out to be a fast-paced, rock video devil hunter yarn. Instead, it is has a relaxing pace and a fairly quiet tone while still keeping the audience on their toes. The biggest complaints about this film always come from the MTV generation. If you want more action and demon-fighting, watch Spawn or End of Days. I actually enjoyed those two, but that's another story. There are always those who complain about films that don't take off as soon as they begin and last more than 1 1/2 hours. Here's my advice to them: just sit still and pay attention for Christ's sake. I always love a break from the pure, fair-haired, boyish hero type. The Ninth Gate gives the audience a protagonist that some may dislike, but grow to like him as he actually becomes an even worse person during the film's progress. No actor on this earth could have portrayed Dean Corso better than Johnny Depp. The gifted Depp seamlessly blends sarcasm, violence, style, and charm into the mercenary book detective. Corso's ally (Emmanuelle Seigner) appears in the form of a beautiful but plainly dressed wandering college student with supernatural powers. With time, she proves herself to be a trustworthy protector and a perfect match for Corso. Seigner's performance is comparable to Depp's, as her character's personality parallels Corso's to a certain degree. Frank Langella is also noteworthy of his portrayal of business tycoon Boris Balkan. Langella lends a strictly professional and calm attitude to his character, but also gives him a hint of eccentricity and a cold, forbidding, and dangerous side that Corso crosses midway through the film. The plot is very original and only grows greater with a well-written script and an eerie, beautiful soundtrack. The acting is superb, as already described. The special effects are masterfully done. Most do not understand the film's finale, and the commentary by Polanski makes it clear that he desires it to remain a mystery. In a nutshell, though, the image of Corso walking toward the castle suggests that his adventure is just beginning and he is entering even more dangerous territory than before. Corso's "angel" even tells him near the end that the game is over for Balkan, but not for him. In conclusion, this film is incredible and highly recommended to those who enjoy a leisurely paced thriller.
Rating:
Summary: Dark and Moody Tale of the Occult
Review: Roman Pulanski's Ninth Gate is an enjoyable psychological occult thriller that follows in the footsteps of other great films like Rosemary's Baby and Angel Heart. This is no blood and gore slasher flick. The film follows the dark quest of rare book detective Dean Corso, played wonderfully here by a mousey and rumpled Johnny Depp in one of his most enjoyable roles. Corso has been hired by wealthy publisher and self-styled demonologist Boris Balkan, played by a genuinely creepy Frank Langella, to authenticate his newly aquired copy of "The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows", a 17th century Satanic tome reputed to possess the ability to conjure the Devil himself. The most enjoyable aspect of the story is how Corso's character changes over the course of his journey to the darkside. He begins as a shady, self-centered mercenary, interested only in his share of the profit. He himself seems to be a disgruntled bibliophile who now buys and sells rare volumes without care or affection for the people he works with or the books he swindles from unsuspecting collectors. By the end of the film, however, Corso has himself become won over with the burning desire which consumes his employer Balkan in his drive to possess the very powers of Hell. A beautiful Lena Olin plays the equally obssessed former owner of the book who desperately wants to re-aquire it from Corso and will stop at nothing to do so. What results is at times a slow but darkly entertaining tale of brooding mystery as Corso finally discovers the true power of the book and the secrets it contains. There is a truly creepy feel throughout this film that compliments the subject matter quite well. It does not rely on cheap quick scares or bloody axe murders which has become the bane of lesser films in recent history. While I enjoy a good scare and plenty of good old fashioned gore, at times it is refreshing to find a movie that is intelligent enough to weave a good story and leave you wanting more. The film leaves many questions to ponder as we follow Corso's quest to authenticate the Nine Gates. What role does the Green-Eyed Girl, played by Emmanuelle Seigner, really play here? Is she Corso's protector or the agent of his doom? Is she the devil incarnate come to ensure the success of her satanic chosen one? And what role do the Ceniza brothers, the old twin bookbinders from Spain, have to play in this? Are they simply what they seem, helpful and knowledgeable about the book and it's unfortunate author Aristide Torchia? Or are they also more than they appear...agents of the Devil perhaps? This theme of being more than appearances runs throughout Ninth Gate, reflecting the fact that the Devil frequently works through seemingly innocent means and that appearances are often deceiving. It reenforces in us the notion that evil and darkness surround us and are always watching, and that Satan is always looking for a few good men.
Rating:
Summary: 25 Word Or Less Review
Review: Entertainingly low-key pseudo-supernatural mystery. Depp plays the chameleon again, this time as a morally ambiguous book broker. Very Polanski (appropriately). Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Being deliberate is not the same as slow
Review: In my opinion, this film is underrated. The pacing is perfect, as far as I'm concerned. This is simply a film that is not influenced by MTV. The ending, the first time I saw it, seemed too abrupt. However, the more I see it, the more I get it. If the story told you what happened next, you'd miss the underlying message of the ending: YOU are what happens next. The door opened for Johnny Depp's character is open to anyone brave enough (or foolish enough) to walk through. Regarding the woman who doesn't reveal her name, may God bless her thoughout this Age of humanity. If you need to know who she is, try looking in the Book of the Revelation of St. John the Divine.
Rating: 
Summary: eh?
Review: I saw this film with a fellow movie afficionado in the theaters, Having never before seen a Roman Polanski fim before,(no not even rosemary's baby, so crucify me! :) I couldn't wait to chomp on this one. The film clearly operates on a three act structure. As many of you readers already would have read chunks of the story, I won't repeat it here. The first act is really good but weak on some levels, glimpses are seen of a film director at his best with his creation. Some touches are brilliant and we can't wait to get more. This is where the thread starts unravelling a bit. The second act. The second act follows the first act the same way with excellent all round touches then going downhill. When the third act comes, With all that happens before the final minutes, this is a very good film which takes its time but when it was over. My first thought was "Huh?"
Clearly Polanski put care and love into this as it was to be his comeback kid and maybe somewhere in his fascinating mind,he got lost in a maze somewhere but this was one of the biggest let downs I have had ever watching a movie. I immediately dismissed it as "a piece of crock" the ending just ruined it all. But i kept hearing two stories..one camp stating my views, and the other one proclaiming a film at its best.
This intrigued me quite a bit, I certainly saw some magical touches with the music, the cinematography, sets and atmosphere which was very dominant and very classically executed shots but uh uh nope..bad movie.
I thought to give it another chance and oh boy this one is quite a thinker or a puzzle,and dont get me wrong , I like smart movies but am still trying to get this one. I purchased the DVD for cheap and saw it again. Yup, same good stuff I saw before but the ending really made me think. I still havent come to a conclusion. I might be an idiot or a smarty for buying this one. But this film really has something going for it, Im very sure of it so you should give this one a chance, even if its a letdown, just be sure to put your thinking hat on and watch this one very very carefully.
As for the DVD, this is one of the best video transfers I have ever seen, Artisan has done an excellent job. It has to be seen to be believed how the colors come out, no hints of grain or any scratches, the blacks are perfect and the hues are brilliant. Very little chroma key effects are seen in some scenes but these are few. The sound is your standard 5.1 dolby digital with an aggressive mix. no complaints there and the extras are neat..The commentary by Polanski is entertaining and oh for heaven sakes i wished he explained the end but no...the dude left it to us. maybe it makes movie watching more exciting he thought. :) give this one a go..see what you think but dont dismiss it too easily like nearly everyone else did.
Rating:
Summary: I had a very good time watching this...
Review: The Ninth Gate isn't Polansky's best (his best being Chinatown) but it's still a very good film. The settings are wonderful, the atmosphere is so strong that I could almost feel an old book smell. Johnny Depp is a talented actor (in Tim Burton's Ed Wood, especially), and he plays his role very well. Everything is mysterious in this film, especially ''The Girl'' (that's how she is credited), whose name is never revealed. The ending was the only deception in this film, and partly because it was the end of this very good film. The story reminds me many other movies, but it's not clear in my head which ones...A rare book dealer named Corso is paid by a collector to prove that his copy of The Nine Gates book is the original one. There are only three copies of this book in the whole world. One of them is in the United states, another one in France and the last one in Spain. But Corso (played by Johnny Depp, by the way) discovers that three parts of each copy are written by the devil himself...and three parts in three books make nine gates...and the ninth gate is the key to see the devil...A good film, especially for the settings...pretty enjoyable...
Rating:
Summary: Get Your Hardcore Porn Here!
Review: Hah, I thought that review title would get your attention! Actually this movie review is about the Ninth Gate, and has nothing to do with porn. There are 2 schools of thought on this film, that its a masterpiece or its a bomb. Which is the truth? Well, as far as the masterpiece goes, I dont see it. I see this as a mildy entertaining film that is best watched on a saturday afternoon when you have nothing to do. Its a quirky little mystery about some books that may or may not have some sort of supernatural ability encoded in them. Watching it a second time does reveal a bit of spooky clues, but there are no revelations that are buried deep within it or anything like that.
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