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'The Ninth Gate (1999)' is a slow-burning thriller about a rare-book dealer who's hired to investigate the legitimacy of three copies of an infamous books supposedly capable of summoning the devil. As he gets closer and closer to discovering the truth of these tomes, the dealer finds himself caught in an increasingly dangerous web of violence, deception, and satanic cults. Considering the bulk of its runtime consists of Johnny Depp chain-smoking while reading and reading while chain-smoking, the picture is surprisingly compelling. Not all that much actually happens, but the central mystery is intriguing enough to keep you invested for most of the movie. I say "most of" because the thing almost totally runs out of steam as it heads into its final movement. Its pacing becomes very stop-start and the answers to some of its long-standing questions simply aren't all that satisfying. Most of the affair gets by on its surprisingly portentous atmosphere (which is maintained even when the score starts to sound like something out of 'Ghostbusters (1984)'), but there is a sense that it's a poor-man's 'The Omen (1976)' by way of 'Eyes Wide Shut (1999)'. As much as it pains me to admit it, it's directed rather well (by someone who I won't name for obvious reasons) and it has a uniquely unsettling edge to even its least eventful segments. Its slightly elusive performances gel nicely with its off-kilter vibe, and some of its ambiguities are enjoyable to ponder. Ultimately, it's a solid effort. Its disappointing finale isn't weak enough to totally dampen its overall effect. It's enjoyable enough for what it is.

'The Master: A LEGO Ninjago Short (2016)' is a short film depicting Jackie Chan's Sensei Wu go head-to-head with a pesky chicken intent on stealing his spotlight. Narrated by Justin Theroux, who presumably isn't reprising his role from 'The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017)', the flick is presented as some kind of trailer that keeps getting reset each time the chicken interferes with it. It's a decent enough concept, even if it gets a little bit tiresome before the piece is at its end. The bulk of the affair is dedicated to the back-and-forth between Wu and the chicken, with plenty of chaotic sight gags and fast-paced action to keep you engaged. Although the affair isn't especially funny (and is even a little cringe on occasion), it's enjoyable enough for what it is. Its animation is energetic and exciting, its pacing is tight and its humour is appropriately broad. It's far from the best of its kind, but it's still an entertaining experience that does what it needs to and does it pretty well.

'Movie Sound Effects: How Do They Do That? (2017)' is a short film available on 'The Lego Batman Movie (2017)' Blu-ray. Despite what you may reasonably assume from its title, this isn't a behind-the-scenes featurette. Instead, it's a blind-and-you'll-miss-it slice of silliness that sees a handful of Batman's most iconic villains take turns auditioning to be the official laser sound effect in the feature film. It starts out simply enough, but soon devolves into an outright odd experience that's bemusing but not especially funny. It doesn't seem to understand - or care about - the personalities of its villains (one, in particular) and it just feels like an exercise in chaos. It isn't bad, but it isn't particularly amusing (even though it does provoke a smile). It's fairly inconsequential fluff that's strange enough to keep you watching but is over before you know it. At least it allows a certain someone to finally sanction his co-star's buffoonery.