Sleepy Hollow 1999, Rated R Paramount Home Video

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Starring Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, et al.

Based on the Washington Irving tale, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Sleepy Hollow follows the events revolving around a series of grisly murders in upstate New York during the late 18th century. Hearing of the beheadings, the New York Police Department stopped beating immigrants long enough to send a constable and forensic expert, Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp), to investigate the matter. The thought of Burton, the modern master of the comically macabre, directing Irving's story about the Headless Horseman was cause for much anticipation among critics and cinephiles alike. And this is precisely where this film hits its downfall. While it is a good movie, it isn't anywhere near the caliber of film one would expect it to be, knowing what we do about the actors, writer and director and their flair for this type of material. It's obvious from the wondrous sets and atmosphere that Burton poured his heart into this material, the script, courtesy of Andrew Kevin Walker is just pretty weak.