has its problems, but pretty terrific

Rating: 8/10 (25 November 1999)

(This review includes spoilers. Not MAJOR spoliers, but spoilers nevertheless.)
SLEEPY HOLLOW may not be quite great, but it's pretty close. Burton works with one if his better - if somewhat conventional - scripts, and that helps; if there is a dash of Simpson/Bruckheimer plot device, at least there's none of the muddiness of Tim's BATMAN films. Johnny Depp is terrific as Ichabod Crane - seems this very versatile actor can do little wrong - and his humorous scenes somehow blend nicely with the very creepy Horseman moments. Usually, directors strain to achieve horror/comedy and it doesn't quite come off; SLEEPY HOLLOW manages this well. The campy elements work fine.
Some of the scenes - I'm thinking particularly of the flashbacks - aren't necessary and slow the pace slightly. But other details are terrific: the Horseman has a terrific signature flip he performs with his sword just before he strikes; I imagine we can thank Ray Park for that.

-- The Horseman. Burton and his actors (more than one play the part) manage to make this villain a fully-formed character. Indeed, I believed him more after his beheading than before. The first time we see him leaping horseback from his lair is astonishing; the charging tilt of his sword is beautiful and frightening -- almost noble in determination.
Much has been made of the cinematography, and rightly so. The film is shot in dusty, washed out earth tones and purples, and I enjoyed seeing the occasional dashes of color - one book among a pile drawing the eye. And the splashes of color: yes, the blood does stand out, and this one's not for the squeamish; I was cringing and curling away from the screen more than once.
An interesting note: there's the fashionable Christian-bashing going on (why are ministers always adulterers, torturers, or child molesters?), yet a house of God is the one place the Horseman can't enter. Doesn't stop him, though; this is a crafty Hessian from Hell.