Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for the classroom, August 28, 2002
By A Customer
I love this movie for how simple, entertaining and close to the original story it is. I am a 6th grade teacher, and for the past two years my class has read the story and watched this movie version. Last year, my kids said that it was much better than the gory Tim Burton one. I am so excited to be able to buy a copy since my taped-from-TV copy is getting worn from use!
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34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Much better than Burton's version!, July 24, 2006
This review is from: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (DVD)
Sorry, but I strongly disagree with the other reviews here about this version of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". Tim Burton's version, whilst midly entertaining, is a travesty of an adaption of the original story by Washington Irving. As a historian, I highly recommend this version, given it's faithfulness to the original story, and it's overall authentic portrayal of life in 1790's America. There are a few details that they get wrong, such as Squire Van Tassel's statement that the Battle of Sleepy Hollow was in 1774, a year before the Revolution began, but overall, someone did some research for this version. The costumes, material culture displayed, the portrayal of the Dutch "Yorkers" and their contempt for "Yankees" and taxes -- I would use this in my history class.
In short, if "it ain't broke, don't fix it".
Burton's version is just another historical, inauthentic and inaccurate mess that history teachers, librarians and museum folks have to clean up.
This one is on my shelf, right next to "The Devil and Daniel Webster", another classic of American folklore and literature.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
OK Version of "Sleepy Hollow": Worth Watching for Brent Carver's Ichabod Crane Alone, February 23, 2008
This review is from: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (DVD)
If there is one good thing about this made-for-TV "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" (produced by Canadian company Muse Entertainment and presented by Hallmark Entertainment), it is Brent Carver and his authentic portrayal of Ichabod Crane. From the very first moment when he appears on the deserted hill standing still like a scarecrow, Brent Carver becomes Ichabod Crane, lanky schoolmaster who has just arrived in secluded Sleepy Hollow.
This Muse/Hallmark version is more faithful to Washington Irving's original short story than Tim Burton's Gothic horror adaptation. Probably some viewers would welcome the film's faithfulness while others might complain for the same reason. Though the production designs are convincing and photography is decent, the flat storytelling about the fate of hapless Ichabod and his romance is rather dull, lacking mood and nuance. Scenes of Headless Horseman are acceptable, but not outstanding.
After watching Johnny Depp's performance as Ichabod, you may find the snobbish character of Ichabod a little off-putting at first, but Carver's fine performance and his nice comic touch makes him very human just like the counterpart in Irving's original. I think Katrina Van Tassel by Rachelle Lefevre is just OK, but sadly Paul Lemelin, who plays Brom Bones, is awfully miscast. He just doesn't look like the character from Irving's book and his acting needs much improvement.
You may show this TV version in class (no beheading is included), but students might find it boring. Not a totally bad adaptation, but still uninspired, except Carver's superb performance as Ichabod Crane.
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