Another Burton Masterpiece

Rating: 8/10 (14 January 2000)

I have long been a fan of Tim Burton films, being as big a fan of Mars Attacks! as should probably be allowed, but for some reason I wasn't that keen about seeing Sleepy Hollow.
It was tremendous. The film had all the Burton tongue-in-cheek charm (the contraptions that Ichabod (Johnny Depp) uses are a personal favourite), but the most outstanding feature was the appearance of the film. The eponymous American village was delightful, and the special effects were never otiose, just perfect for describing the scenes. Christina Ricci was truly beautiful throughout the film, keeping an air of mystery about her character that so many other actresses would have failed to pull off. Johnny Depp also impressed me  his British character seemed so quaintly over the top in parts, without ever becoming annoying or clichéd. A healthy British cast  Miranda Richardson being particularly strong, backs up this duet.
Many have described SH as a modern fairy story, or something of the like, and in some ways that is what Burton does best  the modern creation of fantasy, but to call them fairy stories seems to play down the films as childish. While there is no deeper meaning to Sleepy Hollow, it is a film that no one should feel is below him or her. More Burton, more!