Beautifully directed and filmed, but it is slightly flawed

Rating: 8/10 (21 November 1999)

Being a Tim Burton fan, and having known for a couple years that Burton would be directing this film, I was excited by the trailers which started popping up in cinemas months ago. I waited for Thanksgiving (which came and went the second week of October), and then I realized that I had to wait for AMERICAN Thanksgiving. Which I was barely able to do, by the way. After all, it's been more than 3 years since Mars Attacks!, Burton's last directorial effort.
Well, I must admit: Sleepy Hollow is worth the wait. From the moment the film started until the end credits rolled I was in absolute awe of the visual splendor presented in the movie. Even the gory scenes (and there are plenty) were visually stunning. I found my jaw was frequently dangling near the base of my neck, and many of the shots had me drooling.
The acting, also, is top drawer. I rather liked Depp's take on Ichabod Crane. He seems, at times, almost inept as a police Constable (almost like he should have been a teacher instead). Christina Ricci plays a good girl very well, totally hiding the bad-girl image I've had of her since The Addams Family. Miranda Richardson also puts in a good turn, though she's a bit under-used.
The story is excellent, though it sometimes plays like a Hammer Studios film, the effects are - for the most part - unobtrusive, and Danny Elfman's score is as stirring as anything he's ever written.
As for the flaws...well, the ending seemed to me rather abrupt, although right now I can't think of an alternative. I was also able to spot a couple of continuity errors, and to spot them on the first viewing is a testament to their obviousness.
8.5/10 - For the beautifully haunting images, good pacing and acting, and that unmistakable Tim Burton weirdness.