great cinematography, excellent acting, poor script

Rating: 7/10 (20 November 1999)

I'd been looking forward to seeing this movie ever since I saw the trailor, which was great. I'm a big Tim Burton fan; and Johnny Depp & Christina Ricci are great actors. Unfortunately I left the theater disappointed. while the movie is wonderful visually, the story really needed some work.
Mr. Burton made this story into too much of a whodunnit for my taste. I was expecting more of a horror story. There are too many charaters, who are barely developed at all, so I didn't much care who the killer was or why he/she was doing it.

On the plus side, the acting was first rate. Johnny Depp is hilarious as Ichabod Crane. His reaction after seeing the headless horseman is priceless. Christina Ricci makes a whole lot of nothing in her role opposite Depp. I can't even remember her character's name, it was so porely developed. But she has so much presence onscreen, and chemistry with Depp, she somehow makes it work. I hope they make another movie together.

As for the character of the horseman, like the rest of the movie, the cup is half full. He starts out as an unstoppable monster, bringing death upon everyone he meets. Ray Parks does an incredible job in the fight scenes. Unfortunately, we come to learn that he is not killing randomely, but is after selected targets. It ruins the suspense when Ichabod can be around this monster without fearing for life. The movie sure is good to look at, though. I'd give it 3 stars.