Customer Reviews

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

My husband worked on the NY portion of the film.. and it was far from low budget. It was a beautiful film (I guess that's why it won the Oscar for Set Decoration), well directed and funny (even though I don't think it was always supposed to be funny) It was a pleasure watching the film take form by visiting sets, and it was an incredible finished product.

I recently watched The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and give it a 5 star rating.

I grew up just North of Tarrytown, NY where Sleepy Hollow is located. In the Fall The Hollow is often shrouded in fog in early mornings and early evenings. The area, which extends along the Hudson River, lends itself to imaginings of ghosts and goblins, which the early Dutch were very good at doing: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Rip Van Winkle, as well as other stories put down in writing by Washington Irving.

I grew up with these stories and look forward to hearing or seeing them again at this time of year. I have also passed the tradition along to my children.

I think I have seen and heard just about every adaptation from Ed Begley's re-telling of the story on tape, reading it from an old printing of the story, and, of course, Disney's cartoon version.

I think this adaptation is the best I have seen. It captures the mysterious and haunting feeling of the region in Fall, the looks, traditions, dress, and speech of the early Dutch settlers, and the story as it was told to Washington Irving.

Tim Burton's movie Sleepy Hollow is a good film for what it is, but it is not an accurate re-telling of the classic.

Sincerely,

Maureen Kearney

Unfortunately, I was VERY disappointed with this movie. The movie was EXTREMELY boring and although the character of Ichabod Crane was more in keeping with Washington Irving's story, the movie as a whole lacked any real life (no pun intended). The Disney cartoon was far more entertaining and a lot scarier too. The characterization of Brom Van Brunt is totally innacurate as he is supposed to be a "roughian". The portrayal of this role turned him into an overall nice guy and the actor was too much of a pretty boy to portray Brom Bones anyway. Brom Bones was a lot more likeable than Ichabod in this movie.

In terms of pace and suspense, this is at the opposite spectrum of Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow. Although I think Tim Burton totally Burtonized Sleepy Hollow completely and went to the extreme, at least "Sleepy Hollow" kept the audience's attention. I agree that it had way too much gore and Burton also rewrote the entire mythology (Blasphemy). The soundtrack for this movie was absolutely AWFUL too. Danny Elfman's Sleepy Hollow score (I recommend it) was an absolute masterpiece compared to this. Also, in this movie the Headless Horseman shows up for all about 1 minute and does NOTHING except scare Ichabod as he tries to put a pumpkin where his head should be and then vanishes... YAAAAAAWN

The historical accuracy of this movie was flawed too and unfortunately the writers felt the need to change the history of the Battle of White Plains (which they renamed also) and said that not only did the Colonials drive the British away, but the Headless Horseman helped them do it in exchange for a bag of gold coins. FYI: The Battle of White Plains was a DEFEAT, BUT because General Howe let Washington withdraw, they regrouped and shortly thereafter won their first decisive victory against the British that turned the course of the Revolutionary War.

If you are looking for a movie of Sleepy Hollow that you can show at an elementary school to first or second graders and fill 90 minutes of time look no further. If you want to have an entertaining movie, that is historically accurate, is as spooky as the Legend of Sleepy Hollow should be, AND will keep your attention, THIS ISN'T IT. In fact there isn't one... YET

I wish somebody would make a "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" movie that is in keeping with Washington Irving's vision, historically accurate, but still has an interesting plot, suspense, and has more of the Headless Horseman in it. Maybe I should write one myself. Hmmmmm...

I am a big fan of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and have always enjoyed the classic Disney cartoon. However, am always on the lookout for a good live action version of the story. After watching this one, I think it is a good version, the only things lacking were the chase at the end (it left a lot to be imagined) and the fact that the Brom Bones character was not "Rough and Tough" enough . However, it does stick to the legend very well.

Cheers!

Well, firstly, this movie is FAR from the gothic, Johnny Depp film. Not one moment of gore in the entire feature, which makes it on the whole an enjoyable family flick, although an obvious British, low budget production.

Still recommended, though...

This is a most tastefully done version that can be shown to young children, which I have 8 of and 5 of them are 12 and under to the age of 3. Plus my wife likes it as well as I. I highly recomend this to any one that loves a good and well told story.

I like this version of Sleepy Hollow very much. This one was true to the original Washington Irving and paid much attention to detail. Brent Carver was convincing as the bumbling Ichabod Crane, and the other main characters were appealing as well. Rachelle Lefevre and Paul Lemelin has chemistry and were beautiful together as a young couple. Not to mention that Paul Lemlin is very good looking. Anyway, this version has no outstanding special effects and Hollywood nonsense, and does not go on for two and a half hours with some far-fetched story line just to draw in the crowds. It is the classic story just how I remember it from when I was a little girl. This will always be my favorite Halloween story and I believe they did it justice. Otherwise I wouldn't purchase it!