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Movies / On DVD / The Ninth Gate
The Ninth Gate

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The Ninth Gate (1999)

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Reviews Counted:84

Fresh:35

Rotten:49

Average Rating:4.9/10

Consensus: Even though the film is stylish and atmospheric, critics say The Ninth Gate meanders aimlessly and is often ludicrous. And despite the advertising, there's hardly any chills.

Runtime: 2 hrs 13 mins

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Synopsis: Based on a novel by Arturo Pérez-Reverte (THE CLUB DUMAS) and coscripted by director Roman Polanski, THE NINTH GATE was Polanski's first feature after a long break following the release of 1995's... Based on a novel by Arturo Pérez-Reverte (THE CLUB DUMAS) and coscripted by director Roman Polanski, THE NINTH GATE was Polanski's first feature after a long break following the release of 1995's DEATH AND THE MAIDEN--in between, there was an aborted project that faltered when designated star John Travolta opted out. Dean Corso (Johnny Depp) is a cynical rare books dealer hired by Boris Balkan (Frank Langella), a scholar specializing in books on Satanism, to recover the only two remaining copies (in addition to the one owned by Balkan) of THE NINE GATES OF THE KINGDOM OF SHADOWS, a 17th-century text with cryptic illustrations supposedly contributed by Lucifer himself. Corso's investigation takes him to Europe, where he is pursued by a strange girl (Emmanuelle Seigner) who seemes to assume the role of his guardian angel: Bizarre deaths inspired by the book's morbid illustrations befall all those who come into contact with the book--except himself. This occult mystery should satisfy fans of subtly creepy, stylish tales of the supernatural along the lines of Polanski's own ROSEMARY'S BABY. [More]

Starring: Johnny Depp, Frank Langella, Lena Olin, Emmanuelle Seigner

Starring: Johnny Depp, Frank Langella, Lena Olin, Emmanuelle Seigner, Barbara Jefford, Jose Lopez Rodero, James Russo

Director: Roman Polanski

Director: Roman Polanski
Screenwriter: John Brownjohn, Roman Polanski, Enrique Urbizu
Producer: Roman Polanski
Composer: Wojciech Kilar

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Jul 18, 2000

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for The Ninth Gate

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61 - 80 (sorted by date)
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It overstays its welcome by 20 minutes or so, just long enough for us to begin to feel a little silly for having so much fun.

Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jan Stuart
Jan Stuart
Newsday
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The filmmaker takes you on a journey that goes absolutely nowhere.

Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jay Boyar
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel

The self-immolating and oblivion-bound Ninth Gate is the kind of film that's going to give satanic cults a bad name.

comment Comment
01/01/00
Jay Carr
Jay Carr
Boston Globe
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This film essentially paints itself into a corner from which it can't maneuver to deliver a satisfying ending.

Full Review Source: Screen It! | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jim Judy
Jim Judy
Screen It!

Johnny Depp pots yet another great role and takes full advantage of his ever-expanding talent to present us with yet another unique and engaging performance.

Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium | comment Comment
01/01/00
JoBlo
JoBlo
JoBlo's Movie Emporium
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee | comment Comment
01/01/00
Joe Baltake
Joe Baltake
Sacramento Bee

You end up feeling duped for taking a two-hour-plus ride that dumps you in the middle of nowhere.

comment Comment
01/01/00
John Hartl
John Hartl
Film.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

...Polanski light, glimmers of the old genius playing his cards gleefully, then losing his cool at the end.

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
01/01/00
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Planet Sick-Boy | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jon Popick
Jon Popick
Planet Sick-Boy

The worst occult film to star big-name actors in many years, and a startlingly inept and unsatisfying piece of storytelling.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jonathan Foreman
Jonathan Foreman
New York Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The movie is so crisply done, with such class, that it keeps you engrossed.

comment Comment
01/01/00
Karen Hershenson
Karen Hershenson
Contra Costa Times

Early on I thought I could almost smell the sharp must of the leather bindings ... but that scent was just the aroma of middle-brow, art-house Euro-rot, a whiff of decay and hauteur.

comment Comment
01/01/00
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

On a scene-by-scene basis, it sometimes entertains, but never amounts to anything.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
01/01/00
Louis B. Parks
Louis B. Parks
Houston Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Delivers plenty of atmosphere.

Full Review Source: ESplatter | comment Comment
01/01/00
Lucius Gore
Lucius Gore
ESplatter

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinematter | comment Comment
01/01/00
Madeleine Williams
Madeleine Williams
Cinematter

This tale may well weave a more compelling spell on the page; onscreen it's simply ponderous.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
01/01/00
Maitland McDonagh
Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Mark R. Leeper
Mark R. Leeper
rec.arts.movies.reviews

This supernatural mystery is an uneventful, drawn-out, and colossally disappointing return to the screen for the once-compelling director.

Full Review Source: Reel.com | comment Comment
01/01/00
Mary Kalin-Casey
Mary Kalin-Casey
Reel.com

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | comment Comment
01/01/00
MaryAnn Johanson
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Matt's Movie Reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Matt Easterbrook
Matt Easterbrook
Matt's Movie Reviews
 
 
61 - 80 (sorted by date)
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