Rating: ****
Release Date: 11/19/99
Director: Tim Burton
Music: Danny Elfman
Cast: Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, Jeffrey Jones,
Ian McDiarmid, Micheal Gough, Casper Van Dien, Ray Park, Christopher Walken,
Christopher Lee, Martin Landau
Absolutely brilliant! The decapitation film to end all decapitation films! Tim Burton is in his element here with a dark and creepy retelling of the classic "The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow." Several people in a remote New England village called Sleepy Hollow have been murdered by a rumored headless horseman. Constable Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) from New York City is sent in to investigate, and soon learns that science and reason are not enough to unravel the supernatural nature of the crimes being committed. The film is totally gorgeous, and every scene is a breath-taking cinematic composition. Truly inspiring filmmaking on every level. Danny Elfman's score is strong and spooky, adding to Burton's brilliant direction and twisted vision. The effects are spectacular (particularly the graphically gruesome beheadings) and even the fight scenes are surprisingly fresh and well done, thanks to Ray Park's coordination and agility (he played the headless version of the headless horseman). All of the actors (with the exception of the rather uninspired Miranda Richardson) are wonderful, and Johnny Depp delivers a superb performance in his role as Constable Crane. Even the usually annoying Casper Van Dien does a good job, which surprised the hell out of me. A definite must-see for fans of adult oriented fantasy.