The Ninth Gate

While not a masterpiece, this pulp film has inspired me since I first saw it as a teen. In fact, I can trace my interest in alchemy and the occult back to the impact this film had on me. I have yet to see a film that flatters the concept of Satanic worship and indulges in the intrigue of esoteric occultism half as well as this one does. I since read the book on which it was based ("The Club Dumas" by Arturo Pérez-Reverte) while listening to the iconic film score by Wojciech Kilar, of course. The book is different enough to make it a separate experience and I think equally enjoyable. It's also a great opening to a genre of esoteric thrillers.

I remember paying actual money to watch this in the theater out of pure boredom. I recall how my friends and I complained about how terrible the film was due to ... just about everything. The acting is laughable, the soundtrack is cheesy but worst of all was the swiss cheese sized plot holes that appear everywhere. It was like Polanski was sniffing glue when he was making the film. I have seen the film several times to this day on TV and still get a nice laugh from the film, especially the absolutely demented ending that is the stuff of comic legend.

I bought this because I never get tired of watching it. I luv original plots, intrigue, casts that have not worked together and each with a unique, quirky angle. Also, it doesn't hurt that Polanski is one of my favorite Directors. Engaging, mystery, Bible-implicated distraction.

This made no sense. The reveal was so transparent.

It's great to watch a movie without gun fire every 5 minutes or cursing every sentence. This is a gem of a movie.

I'd LOVE it if the soundtrack was available for purchase in the itunes catalog!

Good thriller, follows the Polanski formula. One just has to look past a couple of cheesy scenes.

This movie is brilliant and it's one of Roman Polanski's best movies. The acting is great especially from deep and langila and I think this film will gain popularity by time.

I'm someone who enjoys slow, European movies. This one definitely had a slow burn... a subtle suspense... but after two hours it was just more of the same, and without any trippy devil scenes or fiery otherworldliness, rather mundane in it's bookishness. For a moment, I thought I was smack in the middle of Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut" and well, we all know how that ended. I certainly don't regret watching Johnny Depp but really... um... just not that good. The Devil's Advocate was SO much better, as was Constantine. This film felt like it was created in the 70s. I thought I'd be writing a good review of this film, despite the critics, but nah, they were right. Pretty much went nowhere, slow.

This is one of the best movie I seen and the only movie I like Johnny depp in . The story line fits prefect for the movie.