Anyone watch The Ninth Gate? Perhaps someone can explain a few things in it to me...

[Madcowz]

I watched it last night and although very good, it left me with a few lingering questions:

* BTW if you haven't watched this movie already, I suggest you do not read this as it will ruin the entire movie for you if you do intend to watch it.

- The Ninth Gate is the Gate to Hell right?

- Was that chick who was protecting Corso (Johnny Depp) the devil? I mean she didn't seem evil at any point in the movie, but it seems as though all signs pointed to her being satan

- What the heck was the purpose of that sex scene towards the end... it was just so random. I mean he walks out after killing Balkan and then all of a sudden he starts getting it on with the chick in front of the burning building with her face transforming into evil things... was there any meaning to this?

- Was the chick protecting Corso the entire time b/c she wanted him to entire the ninth gate and not balkan?


Sorry, you must excuse me for my ineptness and stupidity , I just can't stop thinking about the movie!

 

[vec]

I was as confused as you were. Here are my thoughts.

Didn't they say that by doing the rituals in the book that you would be able to conjure up Satan?

I thought the woman protecting Corso was a demon sent by Satan to help Corso so he )Satan) could be conjured.

I think the sex was Corso's reward. All his motives was rewards based.

She was helping him so Satan can be conjured into this world. Like Satan really needs to be "conjured" to make his presence felt in this world. His presence is everywhere.

It was a really interesting movie. If I ever come across the book, I'm going to read it. Listen to Polanki's commentary on the DVD. It may provide you with more info.

 

[Harrald]

<<The Ninth Gate is the Gate to Hell right?>> Yes

<<Was that chick who was protecting Corso (Johnny Depp) the devil?>> Nope, She was a minion sent to watch over him.


<<What the heck was the purpose of that sex scene towards the end.>> That was the ritual to open the 9th gate.


<<Was the chick protecting Corso the entire time b/c she wanted him to entire the ninth gate and not balkan?>> The above should answer this one.

 

[RSI]

I did not like the movie. I am sure if there is a book that it is much better, however (since that seems to always be the case).

I found it kind of confusing, but what I hated the most was that it seemed to go on forever and ever. I liked the car though.. I forget what it was.. A Viper?

-RSI

 

[vec]

<< <<What the heck was the purpose of that sex scene towards the end.>> That was the ritual to open the 9th gate. >>



I don't think so because Corso had to track down the last clue of the book in the bookeeper's shop (after the sex). Once he found the last page, you see him entering a gate.

 

[shifrbv]

One thing that really stuck out to me in this movie is how much Johnny Depp can be like a chameleon. After watching him in Sleepy Hollow, I didn't even recognize that it was him in this move. He could be a master of disguise.

 

[rahvin]

<<I don't think so because Corso had to track down the last clue of the book in the bookeeper's shop (after the sex). Once he found the last page, you see him entering a gate.>>

Each of the nine gates had to be acted out, and in particular the location of the 9th gate necessitated that the meeting between him and satan occur at sunrise (or sunset). But in the sheet he found in the forgers shop it was important to note that her face was the one in the book, and she was naked sitting with the devil (the 9 headed serpent). I believe he had to understand the path before he was taken down it, he didn't know who she was until he saw the paper. After he realized he had sex with a minon of the devil (or succubis) he was able to go back and meet satan. The 9 gates were just symbols in reaching/summoning a meeting with the devil.

 

[loup garou]

Ah, rahvin you beat me to it. I really enjoyed this movie. I've been meaning to order the book it was based on, El Club Dumas, for awhile now. I think I'll head over to Amazon.com now...

 

[vec]

Rahvin - good catch. I missed that. It makes sense now.

 

[Floyd]

Oh my God, are you guys serious? The Ninth Gate is quite possibly the worst movie I have ever seen. I have to say I really enjoy intellectual plots (Silence of the Lambs, The Sixth Sense, etc.), which I assume this movie was intended to be. Maybe I'm just not in touch with the dark side. However, I was ready to scream if I saw Johnny Dep light up one more cigarette and stand there with his mouth hanging open like a slack-jawed yokel. I was genuinely _angry_ when the movie finished. Absolutely pissed that I had wasted two hours of my life on that drivel. Awful.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion of course, don't mean any disrespect to those of you who enjoyed it...although I will never know why I just had to get that out of my system.

Best regards,
Floyd

 

[rahvin]

I'm sorry floyd, but I like movies where the whole story and plot isn't explained like you are a three year old. I still question whether Corso was evil in the movie, he did summon the devil but he doesn't fit the profile of someone &quot;evil&quot;, in fact the murder of Balkan (more a pity killing) was his only evil act. Did Corso pursue the devil out of intellectual curiosity or was he evil?

 

[Harrald]

intellectual curiosity


But this is just a guess.
He was a bit shifty and willing to do just about anything for a fee. So there is an &quot;evil streak&quot; (aka. human nature) to the guy.



And as always this is just MHO
I will not engage in the flames.

 

[rahvin]

So was the journey of the nine gates just a trip to corrupt a human soul that was borderline, or was it something more?

 

[vi edit]

I don't believe that Corso was evil. Unlawful yes, evil no. He didn't do anything evil for the shear vileness of it. I believe that pursued the portal out of shear curiosity than the power that it would wield.

 

[vi edit]

Now, was the black guy another minion sent by the devil? Wasn't quite sure how he fit into the equation.

 

[WetSprocket]

I liked alot of this movie up to the part where Balkin started trying to open up the gate. I think antique book aspect was really good. I have to agree with floyd, that I was about to pull my hair out if Corso smoked another cig.

 

[Floyd]

Hey, we can always agree to disagree But I don't like being spoonfed the entire plot either.

I almost forgot to mention the other pitiful acting. The fight scenes reminded me of Dolemite (if you don't know Dolemite, you owe it to yourself to rent it, get drunk, and laugh hysterically at a movie so bad that it's good). Kicks that miss by a mile...poor choreography, but usually they try to fix that kind of thing in post-processing with inconspicuous breaks and camera angles. I especially loved the part where Corso has Balkan at gunpoint, then he starts backing up and tips over a brick and looks down as if to make sure the brick wasn't injured...and of course Balkan rushes in and tackles him. I just had to sit there and shake my head in utter amazement that anything so pitiful could make it into a mainstream movie. I only wish I could remember some of the other cheesy acting, but the human phyche blocks out such traumatic experiences.

Best regards,
Floyd