Rating: 
Summary: THE MOST FRIGHTENING MOVIE OF THE YEAR
Review: This is intelligent, and even a little disturbing. I was very surprised. After the reviews I had read I expected trash. I was just curious about it when I rented it. Anyone interested in smart, adult thrillers should check it out.
Rating: 
Summary: A bit better than average
Review: The good: The movie is more creepy and atmospheric than it is horrifying, but that's not so bad. The acting is good, Depp made a good sleazeball, toeing the line between respectability and going over the deep end. The most over the wall character acting is the actor playing Balkan, the man who hires Depp, but as I found his cornballing funny, I didn't really mind that he over played his part.The movie moves at a fairly decent pace, though it does tend to drag a little now and then. The unveiling of the plot is handled well, giving you a little bigger piece here and there as Depp begins to put together the information he is acquiring, and the way he spots the differences in the books, and begins deciphering the clues. The bad: Unfortunately, for all that we are told, there is still much we are not told. Though pieces of the plot are given to us, much is still withheld, with holes big enough to drive a car through in the plot. The ending itself, without giving anything anyway, which isn't hard not to since we ourselves are not told what's happening at the end, leaves us hanging. I don't know about anyone else, but when I plunk down good money on a movie, I like to be told what's happening, not given just a vague possibility about what might or might not have happened. Even a bad ending is better than a vague ending. Problems with the plot notwithstanding, I'd say this movie is at least worth a rental, so you can see whether or not it's worth it to you to buy.
Rating: 
Summary: What Happened?
Review: This film started out as a very interesting and complex thriller. The first 3/4 of this movie are very well acted, exciting, and extremely interesting. The first 3/4 of this film will hook the viewer into an intelligent thriller. I also enjoyed seeing the great locations much of the film takes place in in Portugal and France. However, for all the films great acting and intelligence so clearly seen for most of the movie, it takes a turn for the worse. And I mean really bad. What makes me so mad about this film is how curious the story made me about this book and yet the final 15-20 minutes are nothing short of a cheesy horror movie cop out. To be honest the ending stinks. Again what is so horrible about this film is that for over an hour and a half this film is very good. It is a great film that piques your interest. I could not wait to find out what this book was and why it was so important. And what does the film do with this intelligent plot and our interest? The film breaks down into a poorly acted and stupid ending. The film looks good. The DVD package is good. The extra stuff is pretty cool. But the bottom line is that a potentially great story is taken out from under us and we are left with a very cheesy and not much better than a Friday the 13th Part whatever type ending. What a waste of a movie that was almost very good.
Rating:
Summary: Where The Hecks The Ending?
Review: I think the idea here ws to create a commentary on human greed or 'evil' or some such. There is little action, OK acting and the plot drags on. Also, there is no ending, really; no climax, no nothin' after making you wait for SOMETHING to happen for 2 hours. It doesn't even fly as as an 'art' film; I like art films, and this doesn't cut it. I give 2 stars instead of 1 because the film locations are nice...
Rating: 
Summary: If you want CGI monsters then spend time with "End of Days"
Review: Many people (including mainstream reviewers) don't comprehend that "The Ninth Gate" is geared as a black comedy and not a straight-on supernatural horror fest such as "End of Days" or "The Omen" or such. It's full of Polanski's wonderful macabre wit and penchant for detail and always steers clear from the typical. It's also jaw-droppingly gorgeous to behold--from camerawork to art direction, costume, editing, music, etc. Everything works. From Langella's "666" code to the gray streaks in Depps's hair to the hilarious coven of bored, wealthy satanists. It's only slow moving if you're expectations are seeking the obvious. Absolutely brilliant film. And the DVD's terrific as well.
Rating:
Summary: Outrageous Fun
Review: Imagine Polanski directing a hammer horror film. The result is one of the most entertaining films I've seen for ages. Rare books, latin chanting, train journeys across europe and a genuine sense of fear at what lurks outside the frame. Unbelievably this film actually manages to be scary, if the illustrations in the book don't give you shivers you're a braver man than I. This could also be something to do with the fact that Polanski revels in giving us an amoral hero (if hero is the word).....things I could have done without: Boris Balkan's glasses, Boris Balkan's name, Seigner flying and that annoying trumpet motif that's vaguely reminiscent of Ghostbusters....
Rating:
Summary: One of Polanski's best!
Review: I absolutely loved this movie. Full of beautiful and disturbing imagry as well as great performances by Depp and Langella. People with big imaginations and open-mindedness will enjoy this movie the most as there are a lot of strange and odd occurrences talking place that lead to some unanswered questions at the end of the film. Overall, a very effective film depicting evil and how it can influence people to stop at nothing to gain ultimate power.
Rating:
Summary: Ok.....no point really......
Review: Well I rented, this it looked good, the starting was pretty boring but the end gets better, Sleepy Hollow was good.
Rating:
Summary: decent
Review: The only thing more bizarre than the ending...are the reviews on this page. It is always interesting that people are able to convince themselves that they know exactly what was going on, and anyone else thinking in an opposite direction...well, they're stupid. You can read all the reviews you'd like to read here - but that's about what they boil down to. This movie is fine. Not great, not bad - certainly not a masterpiece. Many parts of it are interesting - many parts of it are not. Johnny Depp was fantastic...on the other hand, Lena Olin slinks around this movie looking like Cat Woman from a bad old Batman rerun. It is interesting to see Depp get pulled into this evil, and to realize that someone that is not "evil" themselves...is actually the one that is the driving force bringing us to the 9th Gate. But again, the good is almost always counter with the outright goofy in this movie - and it comes in as being above-average, worth watching, but not fantastic.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: The various tepid or insulting reviews this film has received from both critics and viewers alike simply astounds me, for this is easily one of the best films I've seen in years. If you had to suffer the moronic platitudes of 'End of Days' or 'Stigmata,' and pine for a brooding, quirky, and entirely unconventional supernatural tale, this is just the ticket. Also, book collectors and bibliphiles in general will relish the emphasis upon rare book collecting. If you haven't enjoyed other Polanski films you should look elsewhere, but for those who find the style of 'Fearless Vampire Killers,' 'Rosemary's Baby,' 'The Tenant,' etc. endlessly intriguing, there's plenty to love here. This is actually the funniest and most sexually-provoking film I've seen him do, punctuated by the pervasive weirdness and European flair you might normally expect. I don't want to spoil it--see it for yourself. This is the perfect antidote to the parade of trash Hollywood typically issues.
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