I've seen the Hollow! ...and I like it!

Rating: 8/10 (26 November 1999)

Tim Burton = Genius!
Although I wouldn't call this the best film of all time, there ought to be a special Oscar award for Burton alone! Every film he directs is like a peak into his mind... and what a wonderfully warped mind it is!
1. It's visually enchanting. You can't help but be drawn into the fantastic realm of the Headless Horseman. Is he real? see the movie!
2. The story-line seemed somewhat disjointed at times, but the pace of action justified every innuendo. It all came together in the end. Remember folks, this is fantasy! Let loose!
3. I was impressed with Christina Ricci's performance. I actually expected her over do the part; but she does quite the reverse. I sensed a constant downplaying of her character. Whether that was intended on her part, or the director's... or Depp's... I don't really care. She was convincing enough for me to conclude that she's honing her skills for better roles. Johnny Depp has a unique way of taking on odd roles. His portrayal of "Constable" Ichabod Crane seemed to be a combination of characters from Edward Scissor Hands, Ed Wood, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, and 21 Jump Street. I wouldn't call it an Oscar performance either, but he's certainly entertaining to watch. I think he will one day receive an Oscar for a serious performance, but this isn't it. The supporting actors are quite interesting to look at... many of them are Burton contemporaries. If you're a fan of the psychoactive monsieur Tim, you're bound to recognised many of the cast. (Martin Landau; Christopher Lee; Miranda Richardson [excellent]; Jeffrey Jones; and Christopher Walken to name a few) For all the Star Wars buffs, I should add that Ray Park (Darth Maul) is one of the stuntmen for the headless Hessian!
Verdict: I would recommend this film to anyone who doesn't mind a little bit of gore (lopping heads), a great deal of visual fantasia, and enough artistic license to create a sense of freshness to the original tale. (Many respects to Washington Irving) I will purchase this film when it's released on VHS or DVD format!