Rating: 
Summary: A Chilling Interpretation of a Classic American Ghost Story
Review: 'The legend of Sleepy Hollow' is one of those stories that everyone has known for as long as they can remember, and because everyone knows it, it is sometimes hard to step away from the big picture and understand why this story peaks the interest of so many. Really though, it's quite simple; the intrigue behind this timeless story is it's villain - The Headless Horseman. His story and origin mysterious and dark, and motivation unimaginable it is no wonder that the Horse Man has an apparent gift for captivating audiences. Played by the brilliant character actor, Christopher Walken, in Tim Burton's interpretation of the Sleepy Hollow story, he is as fierce and menacing as ever. Burton's version of the story is not entirely accurate; however, seeing as everyone knows the original story maybe his decision to meddle with the details was a wise one. Johnny Depp plays Ichabod Crane; a constable from New York City sent to investigate the gruesome murders of three residents of a town called Sleepy Hollow. Crane's cowardly distaste for the way of life in quiet Sleepy Hollow is Burton's way of paralleling Crane's status as an unsociable schoolteacher in the original story, and thus giving him the same personality. Christina Ricci is the beautiful, young daughter of Baltus Van Tassel (head of one of two wealthy families in the town). Mistaking Crane for her fiancé in one of the first scenes, she kisses him while blindfolded and commences Crane's infatuation with her and her "white magic". Similar to a lot of Burton's other movies in that it is quirky in the best sense of the word, 'Sleepy Hollow' doesn't waste too much time with characters that deny the possible existence of a supernatural being such as The Headless Horseman. Instead, it gets right to the heart of the story, which is, of course, based primarily on the supernatural. Between the classic, creepy story, flawless atmosphere and talented actors, 'Sleepy Hollow' has earned itself a place among the rare breed of horror movie that succeeds at being both gory and good. Although Ricci isn't horrible, it is hard not to be outshined by someone as limitless as Johnny Depp - who plays his part with an odd sort of comedy that successfully saves this dark fairytale from being too grim. I whole-heartedly give this movie five stars.
Rating:
Summary: Dark and daring...
Review: this is one of my all time favorites. The story of course is taken from the tales of the headless horseman, but the portrayal is truly original. Johnny Depp is amazing and the entire cast makes this a must see movie. Action is upbeat and the movie takes on a true to life feel. A very good movie!
Rating: 
Summary: hmm.
Review: It is a slightly slow moving film and I didn't find it overly interesting. However, I loved Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane. He captured the man perfectly, and for that I'd say see the movie. I did like this movie. It's not my favorite, and I probably wouldn't see it again. But it was good enough not to bore me, thanks to mister Depp.
Rating: 
Summary: A Real Chiller
Review: Really scary and sometimes really funny. These words basically summarize this wonderful adaption of Washington Irving's classic tale. Although the story is almost not at all similar to the book, in watching it, you won't care. You'll be to absorbed in the story of Icabod Crane (Depp), an investigator sent to investigate murder in a small Dutch village called Sleepy Hollow. Of course, the murders are cause to the vengeful spirit of a hessian killed in the village's Western Woods. Maby plot twists and great acting make this a great movie. I totally recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Burton's Best
Review: Tim Burton films run hot and cold with me- Batman was superb, Batman: Returns was mediocre; Mars Attacks was excellent, Planet of the Apes was 'see it for five bucks' type deal. Burton is maturing a lot from his earlier escapades and is no longer being weird for the sake of being weird, but instead tries to tell a story- there is nothing I hate more than directors who are too busy being artists to tell a story - must be why I don't like European films that much. Sleepy Hollow, on the other hand, is probably Burton's best film, because though he changes Washington Irving's original story quite a bit, he does such a good job of it that most people shouldn't or won't care. That and the film, the acting, the sets- everything look so darn good, that one can't help but to enjoy this retelling of one of America's first fairy tale. Johnny Depp (From Hell), who I must admit to being somewhat of a fan of, stars as Icabod Crane, a constable from New York City who is sent by a judge (Christopher Lee) to this Dutch farming village up north to investigate a series of grisly murders. Crane is a man of science who eschews religious faith in favor of rational thought and the scientific method, except he seems to be making it up as he goes along. When it's explained to him that these murders to committed by a headless Hessian mercenary from America's Revolutionary days, he naturally blows off the possibility, until he sees it for himself. There have been better on-screen epiphanies, but few end up with heads rolling into the hero's lap or cowering in a bed and hauling the covers up over one's head like a five year old. Depp's performance is wonderful, bringing to mind an absent minded professor who succeeds inspite of himself. Burton crafts everything perfectly- the village is the usual gothic weird- Sleepy Hollow becomes Gotham City with its tightly packed, narrow buildings. Colors are muted- greys, greens, browns and black is enhanced, giving the film a Dickensian dream-like quality. Christina Ricci (who may be one of the most beautiful women alive) plays Katrina Van Tassel, the unlikely heir to her father's fortunes and an 'I think for myself' woman and secretly a witch in this deeply religious town. She falls for Icabod until his 'science' and deductive reasoning leads him to believe that it is she who controls the Horseman (played by Christopher Walken). I found the underlying plot of the film- the reason why the Horseman is killing all of these people, very pleasing. So many movies these days like to cover the motivations of their villains in high minded ideals, but in Sleepy Hollow's case, it's good old fashioned greed, spite and revenge. Miranda Richardson (sigh!) appears as Katrina's retiring, helpful step mother and an instrument of pure evil, for it is she who possesses the Hessian's skull and who drives the Horsemen to commit these ghastly murders. Knocking off members of the community who are listed in the Van Tassel estate until she becomes the sole heir to her husband's fortune and this done because her own family had been treated so poorly by the Van Tassel's when she was a little girl. See? Good, honest motivations- greed, spite, revenge! And she sets about bumping off the likes of Ian McDiarmid (Attack of the Clones), Martin Landau (Ed Wood), and Richard Griffiths (the abusive step-father from the Harry Potter films), and better decapitations have not been seen in a movie in a long time! Burton's casting of this film could not have been better- everyone is superb in their roles. Even the loathsome Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers), but since he gets pureed, I can live with it. At its core, Sleepy Hollow is a tongue-in-cheek action film, complete with chases, a grand explosion, sword fights and gun battles. But everything is so seamlessly crafted that it carries the viewer along. The Hessian is like the Terminator- a relentless, indefatigable killing machine, driven by his own desires to recover his head, but helpless under the power of its wielder. It has lots of atmosphere and manages to be genuinely creepy at times, even providing a few scares- something truly hard to accomplish in a film these days. A good twist on an old tale by a director who is coming into his own.
Rating: 
Summary: Washington Irving is rolling over in his grave.
Review: I took great exception to the fact that this movie borrowed the name and a few (FEW) plot elements from its namesake short story. Why bother if you're simply going to make such a radical departure from the letter and the spirit of the original? I generally like both Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci (not to mention Tim Burton), but even they were not enough to raise this messy adaptation from the bowels of derivative shamelessness.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT!
Review: This movie was exiting and relly cool but it kin'da slotterd the book. Oh well. It still was cool. A little boring in sum parts but good in all!
Rating:
Summary: Deppster did it again!
Review: The incredibly charismatic Fallen Angel proved once again the magnitude of his talent and godlike presence!
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely top-notch.
Review: Great production values, fun plotline, exciting action, and good acting. What more could you ask? How about a genuinely creepy atmosphere? Fabulous editing? Good sound? This film really captures the spirit of Halloween - the feeling is really expressed with a well-placed line early in the film: "You're a long way from New York, constable." T
Rating:
Summary: The Genius of Burton & Depp
Review: What a wonderful take on the old chestnut. Tim Burton has a vision that is undeniably eclectic and strange. Depp is the perfect choice for the only slightly less hapless Ichabod Crane character. Burton weaves the tale perfectly, leading Depp down a giddily frightening sequence of increasingly wild events culminating in a satisfying and mind-blowing climax. Dark, scary, humorous, an eccentric, fun take. Washington Irving would enjoy it immensely, I think.
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