Chilling , Humorous and Well Paced.

Rating: 7/10 (29 November 1999)

Sleepy Hollow offered very few disappointments. The Direction was slick, the mood intense, and the performances for the most part,consistently good. Johnny Depp owes the development of his career to Burton,each film he has done for the director has revealed a finely tuned performance. his comic timing as Icabod Crane is well polished. Christina Ricci fares less well as Katrina. the role is a thankless one and she never really tries to act it. Delightful support is provided by the wonderful 4 town elders played to perfection by Ian McDiarmid (Star Wars evil Senator/Emperor Palpatine),Michael Gambon,Jeffrey Jones(Amadeus's Emperor Joseph),and Michael Gough (of Hammer film fame). I would have liked to see these men have more screen time but it was worth losing more of them to Christopher Lee's great pre-credits cameo. Christopher Walken and Miranda Richardson also provide fine support as the Horseman and the haughty Lady Van Tassell respectively. This is by no means Washington Irving's Sleepy Hollow, it is Tim Burton's child and shows all the traits of its brilliant parent. do not try to compare the two they are seperate stories altogether. Both are well worth the visit.