The Ninth Gate (1999)

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

I was not thrilled, but I like this type of stories and I love Johnny Depp, so this movie was quite enjoyable for me.7/10

The first time I watched this movie was years ago, and as I recall it left me a good impression so I decided to re-watch this movie more carefully this time. Polansky has done a great job in this movie. Despite some goofs, the movie is really well made. I loved the background music that gave a more intense feeling in every scene and highlighted the mystery part of the movie. The acting is also really good. The movie combined well action mystery and thriller in it. All in all I this movie became one of my favorites .

This movie deserve credit. It has great cast, a great plot, but questionable critiques. Johnny Depp plays rare book collector Dean Corso. Very articulate with his job. Very cutthroat as well. He gets the books cheap, and sells to the highest bidder. But a client name Boris Balkan(Frank Langella) gives him a opportunity he will never forget. He gets to check out and compare 3 books written by the Devil. One of them is exact and the others are forgeries. One is made by the author who committed suicide, and the widow(Lena Olin) tries to get it back from Corso. In New York, Corso gives the book to the owner of the rare bookstore. He would keep it save after he was killed. Corso goes to Spain where another man is drowned. But Corso isn't alone, he would encounter a mysterious woman(Emmanuelle Seigner) who seems to help him all the way. The movie was long, but it wasn't boring. Plenty of suspense. It was amazing when the widow got the book back and tried to do the ritual with the book, but is killed by Balkan and he scared off the Satan worshippers. The great parts of the scenes is when Balkan tried to make himself loyal to Satan, but when he sets himself ablaze, he got what he deserved, betrayed. The background of the castle on fire, makes a perfect setting for the sex scene between the Girl and Corso. Memorable to say the least. There are some good and bad points on this film. But to me, it was worth my while. 4 out of 5 stars

'The Ninth Gate' is an instant classic, a tasteful, idiosyncratic, and tactfully executed film on the occult knowledge so many know nothing of, a film of powerful symbology. This film is an ode to the uninitiated, demonstrating how the occult world and its knowledge is more commonplace and 'real' than we might believe, it surrounds us, it is us.At all times, 'The Ninth Gate' makes the viewer question its directions and motives, even the lead character, Corso (Johnny Depp), cannot be trusted, everything is expendable, with a lingeringly somber feeling of danger and fragility at every twist and turn. Corso comes from the Latin 'cursus' meaning 'course'; the events that unfold become a prophesy that Corso is on a 'course' to fulfill from the very start, this is a reference to the left and right hand paths and how our choices affect everything, Corso chose marriage with the covenant of Satan, The Girl (Emmanuelle Seigner), the antilight. 9 is the number of Satan, the number of base consciousness, the ego.In the Satanic Rituals (THE UNKNOWN KNOWN) Anton LaVey speaks ambiguously and enigmatically about the number 9 being the main number of which to identify with Satan and the ego. "Despite other's attempts to identify a certain number with Satan (meaning 666), It will be known that Nine is his number. Nine is the number of the Ego, for it always returns to itself. No matter what is done through the most complex multiplication of Nine by any other number, in the final equation nine alone will stand forth." - Anton LaVey, The Satanic RitualsThe number 9 also refers to Yesod node of the tree of life, Yesod channels, the feminine Malkuth receives (sex act, as in the film). In turn, it is through Malkuth that the earth is able to interact with the divinity. This may be what is portrayed in the events detailed in the film.'The Ninth Gate' is one of Roman Polanski's greatest works, threading together an engaging psychological thriller with a philosophical and theological backing that keeps the whole piece held in an air of mystery and suspense.The sets are Gothic and gloomy, the music is aptly fitting, the acting and scripts even more so; nothing breaks the persistent, unshakable scene and tone that is set by Polanski, who has obviously taken into careful consideration every possible factor to create a deeply immersive, memorable experience for the viewer.9.7/10