@@tome373402 yeah, I'll definitely check it out. The Headless Horseman and Sleepy Hollow have been a huge part of my life since I was little. There's something eerily alluring about it.
The Mummy, Deep Blue Sea, The Matrix, The Blair Witch Project, Fight Club, Eyes Wide Shut, American Pie, Virus, Lake Placid, Just to name a few 😂 1999 and the '90s in general were probably the last great decade for film... I guess you can include the 2000s but everything really started to fall off after 2010. They just don't make them like they used to.
This was the best looking Hammer Horror movie not made by the studio. It even has two regulars Micheal Gough and Christopher Lee, who would have a career resurgence after this movie.
the production is stellar! everything worked. every damn decision was the exact right one. the casting, the cinematography, the music, the acting, the damn direction. bravo
I went to the San Diego Comic Con "Sleepy Hollow" panel. Tim Burton was supposed to be there, but he couldn't show up, so they sent Casper van Dien instead. (They announced ahead of time that Burton wasn't going to be there.) I was expecting van Dien to be all arrogant, like his character in "Starship Troopers." However, he was very down to earth, very funny and had a lot of great stories. He kept us entertained by himself for the whole 90 minutes. A few of us were gathered afterward and talked about how surprisingly good the panel had been. Burton probably would have been very quiet and withdrawn, and we would have put up with it because of who he is. I was sorry that van Dien didn't have a better career.
I've always loved the aesthetic of this movie. The production designer called it "colonial expressionism" (by way of Dr. Seuss), which is a perfect description.
My second favorite of Tim Burton’s films. The first one being Batman 1989, mostly because of Jack Nicholson. I had a massive crush on Christina Ricci as a kid.
So many great movies in 1999, with this being right up there. I remember joining Britannia DVD club in the early '00s with this being one of the first four DVDs I picked, the others being American Beauty, Terminator and The Sixth Sense, two of which also came out that year. This felt like a genuinely exciting time for film fans with just about every genre producing something of note.
Even as great as all of Burton's early films looked, he never made a film that looked better than Sleepy Hollow. The production design is simply impeccable.
Love how they made Crane a skeptic who believes firmly in Science due to his mother being killed due to religion. Really nice little detail and makes Ichabod more compelling than just a horny school teacher
Ichabod Crane is one of the most compelling horror protagonists I've ever seen. He's a sceptic, but he's rightfully so given his buried trauma, and the more supernatural stuff he sees as he deals with The Horseman, the more he begins to open up to the people he cares about. He's up there with the likes of Ashley J. Williams and Ellen Ripley from the original Evil Dead and Alien trilogies and Andy Barclay from Child's Play as one of horror cinema's best heroes IMO.
One of my favourite Tim Burton films - absolutely gorgeous! Cannot unhear Johnny Depp channelling Swiss Tony from The Fast Show in this film though! :D A great retrospective as always!!
This was such a brilliant time to be alive. To this very day this is one of my favourite Burton film, from an era he still clearly was excited about the art of film. A trait he lost completely as of today. I’m not even sure why someone like Tim Burton still directs films. Everyone is bringing their absolute best in this film and it shows on screen. Thank you for the video Oliver! Brilliant stuff!
Any movie that has both Christopher Lee and Christopher Walken (not to mention, the best use of Christopher Walken, riding around on a horse, crazy hair and eyes and just going “YAGH!”) is doing something right.
Literally just been thinking about watching this today, the most Tim.Burton of Tim Burton films! Also, today I learnt that Ichabod means 'glory has departed Israel' - 1Samuel 4:19
Always had a soft spot for this one. It takes the imagery from the Irving story and the Disney short and makes an actual exciting fantasy/horror flick in that vibe. The previous versions weren't that, but I always wished they were. This feels like the headless horseman story we all really wanted.
Oh I get it now. Superman Lives was a movie that was suppose to come out in 1998 but never did and The Death of Superman Lives is a documentary of that failed production that released on 2015.
It's become one of my household, staple Halloween movies my family and I enjoy every year. It's even fun introducing it to some of my son's friends who seem to enjoy it by the end.
This is a bit cheesy but there’s a special place in my heart for this film. Went to the cinema to see it with my mum and dad. Weirdly, it was just around the time they separated. Luckily , it wasn’t a messy divorce and 25 years later they are still friends. But going to see Sleepy Hollow that night definitely feels like the end of a chapter in my life - and the start of a new one. Thanks for all the amazing work Oliver.
I have a very similar opinion about this movie that you seem to. I really love its atmosphere, art direction, and mix of horror and humor! It's got one of my favorite Depp performances too. But I also think it's one of Ricci's worst performances -- wooden is the right word, and their chemistry was nonexistent. Even so, it's a Halloween classic and wonderful homage to Hammer-style horror!
What other movie got Count Dooku, Darth Sidious, Jack Sparrow, Johnny Rico, Max Shreck, Butler Alfred, Darth Maul, Dumbledore and Kaiser Franz Josef II in its cast?
My favourite Tim Burton movie, and my favourite score by Danny Elfman. A great cast, amazing production design and sets. Very atmospheric, and a great tone throughout.
It’s a lesson in VFX keep as much as humanly possible in camera, it gives the digital vfx team more time to work on what they need to, practical effects if done well don’t age and it still holds up 25 years later
Had no idea Sleepy Hollow had earlier movies. 7:55 Whoa - so cool to see the bridge-house included here. I actually thought that was just a Burton-quirk as the same place was also in BeetleJuice
Timely video, just watched this for the first time at the cinema on Tuesday. Agree with your criticisms (though the one on how the who-dun-it and exposition is played out wasn’t something I observed myself but makes sense that it’s part of why it’s merely good but not amazing) but yeah still found it a good fun film and enjoyed it
I was a total shill for this film on release, but (as objectively as I can) I must note how well it's aged. I remember showing the DVD to a few friends back in the 2000s and they remarked that they didn't quite enjoy it as much as I did, but recently in the last two years everyone I've recommended it to has exclaimed how much they enjoyed it, especially as a horror that really buries itself lavishly in the genre. I wasn't even such a horror fan at the time it was released, I just thought it was a wonderfully made film with a great spirit of curiosity, adventure and darkness. The kind of film that really sums up a great night at the movies.
This film opened opposite James Bond in the US and infamously had one of the closest battles for #1 at the box office ever at the time. It was a signal that the Bond franchise needed a bit of a revamp.
Ichabod’s mom in the flashbacks made me feel in ways I didn’t fully understand as a young boy when this movie came out. I would leave those scenes in even though they didn’t add too much to the narrative and plot 👍
When this first came out, I was anxious to see it, but my mom absolutely refused to take me thanks to the R rating. When I told her Tim Burton directed it, she immediately said we’re going to see it.
Ah man, 1999 was the year I went most to the movies, and it was, to me, the best year of cinema EVER. Too many good movies released that year, it was insane.
@@chasehedges6775 I wrote a sequel story to this film including Sherlock Holmes as played by Paul McGann and Dr. Watson as portrayed by Sylvester McCoy...
The atmosphere in this movie was tremendous, influenced by the 1949 Disney animated version. Burton managed to put all of his aesthetics in the proper setting and it paid off.
For my taste this is my fav Burton as the mix of Horror, Gothic romance, production design, gore, comedy all blend together to be the essential Burton film. Probably his last big one. And, id say the last of Elfmans big scores
I always thought Sleepy Hollow was a love letter to Hammer Horror, from the gothic setting, to a cast of many British actors, the bright red paint blood, and the wry humor. Ironic given it’s based on an American tale. 🖤🎃
This is my favorite Tim Burton movie, yes I know others are fantastic but I love the cast of actors, the time period setting, the sets, the gothic feel, and the score. Just love this movie. Some may see a lack of chemistry between the leads but it's not something I was really looking for in a movie like this tbh. It also comes down to the actors feeling a bit strange about it at the time (Christina mentions it in an interview) because she had worked as a child actor age 9 with Johnny before this movie but I was never put off by the lack of real kissing cuz I don't think that's necessary in a period piece, you do see they care about each other. I still like Christina a lot despite maybe she wasn't the best casted character. What I'm really looking for is the atmosphere, the creepy story, and the wonderful character actors in this film.
The ONLY memory I have of this film is the severed head, gazing down through the floorboards at those hiding beneath, and as a kid, it was horrifying enough to drive me to run, screaming, from the room.
Hands down best UA-camr, I straight up rewatch these retrospectives
Yeah, I've never seen this movie in full, but these kinds of videos can make me nostalgic for films I've never seen.
@ facts, he’s the pinnacle of retrospective vids. You should totally watch that movie though; it’s one of Burton’s all time greats, also Depp’s
@@tome373402 yeah, I'll definitely check it out. The Headless Horseman and Sleepy Hollow have been a huge part of my life since I was little. There's something eerily alluring about it.
This
He is by far one of the best, high quality content, constantly improving ❤❤❤
One of the best Tim Burton films and one of the best films of 1999.
Also Ed Wood and Big Fish!
agreed
@@Omar-wq9dz💯💯Thanks
@@whaguitars Yep
The Mummy, Deep Blue Sea, The Matrix, The Blair Witch Project, Fight Club, Eyes Wide Shut, American Pie, Virus, Lake Placid, Just to name a few 😂 1999 and the '90s in general were probably the last great decade for film... I guess you can include the 2000s but everything really started to fall off after 2010. They just don't make them like they used to.
The cast for this movie was absolutely amazing.
Depp, Ricci, Walken, Darth Maul, Johnny Rico, Alfred Pennyworth, Emperor Palpatine, Ferris Bueller’s Principal, Dumbledore, and of course Count Dooku.
They need to make more films like this again. Big budget gothic monster movies are too few and far between.
All the good films have already been made, unfortunately.
@@MSJChem Calm down "Debbie Downer"🙄😆🤣
Robert Eggers version of Nosferatu comes out this Christmas and it looks very gothic.
This was the best looking Hammer Horror movie not made by the studio. It even has two regulars Micheal Gough and Christopher Lee, who would have a career resurgence after this movie.
Indeed
This is a perfect movie. Doesn't lose your attention and doesn't feel like a slog to get through.
It’s a blast from beginning to end.
Still love this one.
Same. It’s a Tim Burton fun shop.
the production is stellar! everything worked. every damn decision was the exact right one. the casting, the cinematography, the music, the acting, the damn direction. bravo
Duel of the Fates 2.0 was awesome. Poor Casper Van Dien, though. Dude was vapid as heck but he had a movie star's jawline.
it might be his height? Casper and they guy that plays John Carter of Mars have terrible agents. They should have had bigger careers
I went to the San Diego Comic Con "Sleepy Hollow" panel. Tim Burton was supposed to be there, but he couldn't show up, so they sent Casper van Dien instead. (They announced ahead of time that Burton wasn't going to be there.) I was expecting van Dien to be all arrogant, like his character in "Starship Troopers." However, he was very down to earth, very funny and had a lot of great stories. He kept us entertained by himself for the whole 90 minutes. A few of us were gathered afterward and talked about how surprisingly good the panel had been. Burton probably would have been very quiet and withdrawn, and we would have put up with it because of who he is. I was sorry that van Dien didn't have a better career.
I've always loved the aesthetic of this movie. The production designer called it "colonial expressionism" (by way of Dr. Seuss), which is a perfect description.
Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow is definitely a fantastic beautiful looking gothic horror film.
Halloween AND it's 25th anniversary! Perfect timing!
The horseman was angry over the lack of cowbell
My second favorite of Tim Burton’s films. The first one being Batman 1989, mostly because of Jack Nicholson. I had a massive crush on Christina Ricci as a kid.
Christina Ricci in this movie 😍
Love them both.
@@Shadowman4710 same💯
I made out with a bartender that looks like Chrinstina Ricca and now I'm trying to get her to marry me, although we've never really talked.
@@youtubedj9298 Interesting
Was already planning on watching it tonight. Thank for the warm up!
Would love to hear you talk about the chaotic production of The Island of Dr. Moreau.
Oh Boy, that movie…
Not only one of the best movies of my birth year and one of Tim Burtons best it’s also an amazing tribute to Hammer Horror.
Indeed.
As someone who was born in 2001, this was a good late 90s Tim Burton film
So many great movies in 1999, with this being right up there. I remember joining Britannia DVD club in the early '00s with this being one of the first four DVDs I picked, the others being American Beauty, Terminator and The Sixth Sense, two of which also came out that year. This felt like a genuinely exciting time for film fans with just about every genre producing something of note.
Always a treat to watch Mr Harper's crisp and informative recap and behind-the-scenes videos!
Even as great as all of Burton's early films looked, he never made a film that looked better than Sleepy Hollow. The production design is simply impeccable.
I need to rewatch this
Same here. It’s a classic
I do every Halloween season. Never gets old for me.
@@chasehedges6775 yeah Halloween season main reason why am planning to watch again
@@Shadowman4710 right but unfortunately lot of movies had not seen in a long time that I need to revisit
Love how they made Crane a skeptic who believes firmly in Science due to his mother being killed due to religion. Really nice little detail and makes Ichabod more compelling than just a horny school teacher
Ichabod Crane is one of the most compelling horror protagonists I've ever seen. He's a sceptic, but he's rightfully so given his buried trauma, and the more supernatural stuff he sees as he deals with The Horseman, the more he begins to open up to the people he cares about.
He's up there with the likes of Ashley J. Williams and Ellen Ripley from the original Evil Dead and Alien trilogies and Andy Barclay from Child's Play as one of horror cinema's best heroes IMO.
My favourite Tim Burton film, the ultimate tribute to Hammer Horror films.
One of my favourite Tim Burton films - absolutely gorgeous! Cannot unhear Johnny Depp channelling Swiss Tony from The Fast Show in this film though! :D A great retrospective as always!!
Man I remembered me and my friends went to the theathers to watched this like 5 or 6 times, the head decapitations VFX was awesome. I missed 1999.
This movie is a jolly good romp. Depp and the whole cast do a great job. Wonderful art direction and costume design.
This was such a brilliant time to be alive. To this very day this is one of my favourite Burton film, from an era he still clearly was excited about the art of film. A trait he lost completely as of today. I’m not even sure why someone like Tim Burton still directs films. Everyone is bringing their absolute best in this film and it shows on screen. Thank you for the video Oliver! Brilliant stuff!
Any movie that has both Christopher Lee and Christopher Walken (not to mention, the best use of Christopher Walken, riding around on a horse, crazy hair and eyes and just going “YAGH!”) is doing something right.
Fun fact: Christopher Walken reads The Legend of the Sleepy Hollow in his classroom scene in the 1983 movie "The Dead Zone".
loved this movie since i was a kid. a horror/comedy gem
Loved watching on Free-form as a teen back in the mid 2010s during Halloween
Tim Burton really gave it all he got with this film, especially since he mentioned wasting a year on Superman Lives, and it turned out well
One of my very favourites
One of the most epic horror films of all time. Period.
Soooo true.
It’s a horror epic/drama
Oh wow. Looking forward to watching this. This movie is still great
Awesome retrospective! My absolute favourite channel on youtube
I have never seen this film, but a new Oliver Harper video is always worth it!
Literally just been thinking about watching this today, the most Tim.Burton of Tim Burton films! Also, today I learnt that Ichabod means 'glory has departed Israel' - 1Samuel 4:19
Exactly 🙂👍
Always had a soft spot for this one. It takes the imagery from the Irving story and the Disney short and makes an actual exciting fantasy/horror flick in that vibe. The previous versions weren't that, but I always wished they were. This feels like the headless horseman story we all really wanted.
I think this is the Burton film I have seen the most. I lost count after 20-something.
you still got it. wonderful review
This is such an underrated movie. The retrospective only makes it better, knowing the level of craft behind it.
Awesome retrospective my fave
Oh I get it now. Superman Lives was a movie that was suppose to come out in 1998 but never did and The Death of Superman Lives is a documentary of that failed production that released on 2015.
🤔Not a single mention of Sweeney Todd, the most closely related Burton film?! Perhaps a dedicated video is in the works…?
Your videos are peak YT content, Oliver. Thank you, thank you. ❤
One of my favorite Burton films and also from the dark fantasy and horror genres, Sleepy Hollow is still an absolute fantastic film! 🖤🧡🖤
It's become one of my household, staple Halloween movies my family and I enjoy every year. It's even fun introducing it to some of my son's friends who seem to enjoy it by the end.
One of my favourite films reviewed by one of my favourite reviewers!
Always loved this movie and was fortunate enough to see it in theaters
My favorite halloween movie
Your intro is just SOOO killer man!
It’s always so bizarre to me seeing Ian McDiarmid doing anything other than playing Palpatine.
12:08 12:50 “Icabob”
Thank you and mmclaurin8035 for noticing this too -- it was bugging me. Still a great video, though!
10:11 Richardson creeped me the hell out in this movie. I said this to someone and they looked at me weirdly since she’s a riot in Blackadder.
Do The Island of Dr. Moreau!
This is a bit cheesy but there’s a special place in my heart for this film. Went to the cinema to see it with my mum and dad. Weirdly, it was just around the time they separated. Luckily , it wasn’t a messy divorce and 25 years later they are still friends. But going to see Sleepy Hollow that night definitely feels like the end of a chapter in my life - and the start of a new one. Thanks for all the amazing work Oliver.
Yes great movie a all time great Halloween movie 🍿
Yep👍💯
Super happy that Superman Lives got canned so that this could happen, real underrated and creepy gem of a film.
I have a very similar opinion about this movie that you seem to. I really love its atmosphere, art direction, and mix of horror and humor! It's got one of my favorite Depp performances too. But I also think it's one of Ricci's worst performances -- wooden is the right word, and their chemistry was nonexistent. Even so, it's a Halloween classic and wonderful homage to Hammer-style horror!
I really liked this movie when it came out. What a great cast as well
I really like this movie. Making it a colonial era murder mystery was a cool idea.
What other movie got Count Dooku, Darth Sidious, Jack Sparrow, Johnny Rico, Max Shreck, Butler Alfred, Darth Maul, Dumbledore and Kaiser Franz Josef II in its cast?
Legendary cast
Easily my favorite Tim Burton movie of all time.
My favourite Tim Burton movie, and my favourite score by Danny Elfman. A great cast, amazing production design and sets. Very atmospheric, and a great tone throughout.
This was the movie that turned me into a gorehound. The moment it came out on VHS, I would watch the decapitations over, and over, and over again.
It’s a lesson in VFX keep as much as humanly possible in camera, it gives the digital vfx team more time to work on what they need to, practical effects if done well don’t age and it still holds up 25 years later
I remember being so excited to see Casper van dien in this movie. Big fan of him. This movie is fantastic.
I love these reviews, they make for good bedtime stories. :)
Had no idea Sleepy Hollow had earlier movies. 7:55 Whoa - so cool to see the bridge-house included here. I actually thought that was just a Burton-quirk as the same place was also in BeetleJuice
There was a great episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark that was inspired by The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. That was my first exposure to it.
Almost spat my coffee out when I checked the price of the NTSC laserdisc! 😮
Timely video, just watched this for the first time at the cinema on Tuesday. Agree with your criticisms (though the one on how the who-dun-it and exposition is played out wasn’t something I observed myself but makes sense that it’s part of why it’s merely good but not amazing) but yeah still found it a good fun film and enjoyed it
I was a total shill for this film on release, but (as objectively as I can) I must note how well it's aged. I remember showing the DVD to a few friends back in the 2000s and they remarked that they didn't quite enjoy it as much as I did, but recently in the last two years everyone I've recommended it to has exclaimed how much they enjoyed it, especially as a horror that really buries itself lavishly in the genre. I wasn't even such a horror fan at the time it was released, I just thought it was a wonderfully made film with a great spirit of curiosity, adventure and darkness. The kind of film that really sums up a great night at the movies.
0:25 …two days is not a ‘long way’ from New York, even by horse and buggy 😂
This film opened opposite James Bond in the US and infamously had one of the closest battles for #1 at the box office ever at the time. It was a signal that the Bond franchise needed a bit of a revamp.
Far from my favourite Tim Burton film, but this video rocked! Another great one.
When I think of fun movies, this is what I go to. I also really liked Trick 'r Treat - both Halloween 'must see' movies.
Ichabod’s mom in the flashbacks made me feel in ways I didn’t fully understand as a young boy when this movie came out. I would leave those scenes in even though they didn’t add too much to the narrative and plot 👍
When this first came out, I was anxious to see it, but my mom absolutely refused to take me thanks to the R rating. When I told her Tim Burton directed it, she immediately said we’re going to see it.
Tim Burton was born to direct this movie. He would have been a fantastic horror director for Hammer Studios.
Ah man, 1999 was the year I went most to the movies, and it was, to me, the best year of cinema EVER. Too many good movies released that year, it was insane.
Christopher.......
Walken.....
Headless ....
Horseman.......
Weird.....❤
25 years!!!
How the times go.
@@chasehedges6775 I wrote a sequel story to this film including Sherlock Holmes as played by Paul McGann and Dr. Watson as portrayed by Sylvester McCoy...
@@seantressel1754 Cool
My favorite Tim Burton/horror films.
The atmosphere in this movie was tremendous, influenced by the 1949 Disney animated version. Burton managed to put all of his aesthetics in the proper setting and it paid off.
For my taste this is my fav Burton as the mix of Horror, Gothic romance, production design, gore, comedy all blend together to be the essential Burton film. Probably his last big one. And, id say the last of Elfmans big scores
Great film - reminds me of being a kid in simpler times!
One of my favorite films, love the story and love the film
To this day the Horseman's sword is my favorite ever used on screen.
I always thought Sleepy Hollow was a love letter to Hammer Horror, from the gothic setting, to a cast of many British actors, the bright red paint blood, and the wry humor. Ironic given it’s based on an American tale. 🖤🎃
I love murder mystery movies and Sleepy Hollow is a murder mystery film through and through...
one of Tims underappreciated films.
I cannot believe it took me so long to recognize palpatine and Alfred. And im a super recognizer!
One of my all time horror films, and the best film directed by Tim Burton. Danny Elfman's score is fantastic.
Excellent movie, a screamer any time any day. Great retrospect 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
This is my favorite Tim Burton movie, yes I know others are fantastic but I love the cast of actors, the time period setting, the sets, the gothic feel, and the score. Just love this movie. Some may see a lack of chemistry between the leads but it's not something I was really looking for in a movie like this tbh. It also comes down to the actors feeling a bit strange about it at the time (Christina mentions it in an interview) because she had worked as a child actor age 9 with Johnny before this movie but I was never put off by the lack of real kissing cuz I don't think that's necessary in a period piece, you do see they care about each other. I still like Christina a lot despite maybe she wasn't the best casted character. What I'm really looking for is the atmosphere, the creepy story, and the wonderful character actors in this film.
🔥❤️
Exactly💯👍
This was my favorite movie for Years!!!
Such a beautiful looking movie. Burton's best.
The ONLY memory I have of this film is the severed head, gazing down through the floorboards at those hiding beneath, and as a kid, it was horrifying enough to drive me to run, screaming, from the room.
The toys for this are awesome
I agree on the "Burton's last decent film"- sentiment.