Tim Burton's "SLEEPY HOLLOW" is certain to please they die-hard Burton fan.  The film has his trademark style of image in every frame.  Unfortunately, it also has Burton's lapse in narrative structure as well.  What's most surprising and disappointing is that the script is from Andrew Kevin Walker, one of the best suspense writers in the business.  Whereas his Se7en and Hideaway were unpredictable, viewers will see the conclusion to this film coming before the film's half-way through!  That's another thing, "half-way through" takes an eternity to reach!!!  Burton's films have often been criticized as being all style and no substance, and "SLEEPY HOLLOW" won't change things.  It's images are often eerily beautiful, but there's nothing satisfying to think about when the film's over.

While Walker's script makes some successfully calculated changes in the Washington Irving tale, what starts off as compelling ends up being rather droll.  The secrets revealed behind "everything" aren't that staggering.  Why does the horseman kill who he kills?  Why Does Crane have weird marks on his hand?  None of these answers are that surprising or interesting.  The best thing about the film is Christopher Walken, and he's not used enough!  

The transfer is outstanding!  Burton loves darkness, and in this dvd, there's absolute clarity and depth of image in the darkest of images!!!  While colors are subdued, there's still stunning clarity and detail visible in every stitch of the wonderful costumes.  The dolby digital 5.1 sound offers an incredible assortment of effects.  Whenever the horseman appears, the soundtrack takes on a staggering life of its own!  The sound of approaching hoofs, and the sliding of a sword have incredible clarity.  The LFE track offers great subwoofer moments as well.  

While Burton's commentary is at times interesting, there are long lapses between scenes with nothing said at all.  The featurette is a standard promotional feature with interviews, some behind-the-scenes stuff, and not much more.

"STAR TREK 3:THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK" has made it to dvd, and while its budget appears at times to be more modest than the other entries in the film series, the script is better than most of them. Leonard Nimoy does a fine job directing this one, and it's a shame he didn't offer an audio commentary to go along with this dvd.  While it appears that Spock is dead, all fans know otherwise!  We get to see his father for a brief bit and DeForest Kelley has more to do than in the first film, as do other cast members.  In fact, this is a real character-driven script, with effects being used, but intelligently instead of in a frivolous manner. 

The dvd transfer is wonderful.  The production design is elaborate here, with sets taking a larger role than most of the other "ST" films, and they look perfect.  Even in low lighting, the colors and detail are near-flawless, and the contrast in perfect.  Fleshtones are consistent, and there's virtually no grain.  A trailer is included.