An underrated, cleverly done movie. Smoothly engaging throughout, if you accept the genre of a detective hunt about the book(s) and the path to Hell a nearly mesmerized book buyer/seller played uniquely and convincingly by Johnny Depp, a great character actor in spite of his real life quirks and opinions. Movie keeps you thinking throughout, and does not fully illustrate some occurances. Some people say they needed more explanations, but I don't agree. Some things are left to the viewer's imagination, but I believe only enough to allow some viewer's personal license to make it their own. Some violence, but no too much...Almost no sex and/or any cheap language. A favorite movie classic of mine by Roman Polanksky
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Excellent and intelligent horror tale with Johnny Depp as a man who finds rare books for his clients, and the always reliable Frank Langella as a wealthy rare book collector who is more than he seems. Highly recommended.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Rare books wheeler & dealer, Dean Corso (Johnny Depp) gets a job from a man, Boris Balkan (Frank Langella), who seems obsessed with one book. Corso's job, as a scholar on books about Satanism, is to find the other 2 copies of "The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows." Balkan already owns 1 of the 17th century rare books & covets the 2 he doesn't own. Both Balkan & Corso believe something that is quite occult: the sketches in the text were likely drawn by Lucifer/Satan! As Corso hunts for the 2 copies, he experiences some strange & dangerous events in Europe: people die who come in contact with the book(s). They die like the sketches portray. But why not Corso? He's got a guardian angel of sorts, a very strange girl (Emmanuelle Seigner) who relentlessly pursues him. Will he live to find the rare & dangerous books? What will happen to him if he does? Are the sketches really works by Satan? This film was co-scripted, produced & directed by none other than Roman Polanski--a holocaust survivor. It's full of intrigue like only an intense character actor can evoke. Depp & Polanski mature both in this film released at the turn of the millennium (of course!). It was excellent timing then when so many people were considering the end of civilization. The story has that sort of grand something-bad's-going-to-happen feel about it. This one's much more realistic & believable than Polanski's, "Rosemary's Baby."Read full review
Antique book buying has never been more adventurous. And the adult nature made it much more interesting than most stories told of antique books
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I've always thought this was a good movie. When I saw it on eBay for that price I couldn't resist getting it. Great characters great plot interesting scenery.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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