The Cranes Are Flying DVD

Advantages: Typical Burton atmosphere and direction
Disadvantages: Not startlingly original

...Yet again Tim Burton displays his gothic visual inventiveness in this tale of a headless horseman. Johnny Depp plays police constable Ichabod Crane, who comes from New York to the quiet village of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a spate of deaths involving decapitation. He is not willing to accept that a ghostly apparition is responsible for the deaths at first, but soon changes his mind when he sees the horseman in action. With the ethereal Katrina Van Tassel (Christina Ricci) at his side, Crane decides to take on the headless murderer. Johnny Depp is particularly good as Crane, adding plenty of humour to the character. The sets are good, as is the use of blood.... Read review

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Advantages: Funny, dry, and something a bit different
Disadvantages: Seen by some as too 'high-brow'

...You may be familiar with Dr. Frasier Crane, played by Kelsey Grammer, from his time as a bar-fly in the show 'Cheers', or as the voice of Sideshow Bob in The Simpsons. He decides to up roots and leave Boston to begin his new life in Seattle, leaving his ex-wife Lilith and son Frederik behind. Things seem to be looking up for him and soon he finds himself on the radio air-waves with his own Psychiatric advice call-in show. He gets a beautiful new apartment with some designer furnishing and a fantastic view of the City. But, alas, his luck runs out as he and his brother Niles realise their father Martin (John Mahoney) is unable to take care of himself. Marty, an ex-cop, was shot in the hip during an armed robbery and now relies on his cane to walk. Of course it is down to Frasier to take care of him, and Martin brings his scruffy recliner... Read review

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Advantages: A good film
Disadvantages: none

...Johnny Depp plays Constable Ichabod Crane a 1799 Policeman who’s keenly interested in all the latest methods and gadgets of Police work. He is sent to the remote village of Sleepy Hollow to investigate several deaths by beheading, apparently the work of a headless horseman. Crane doesn’t believe this to be true, instead thinking the killer to be flesh and bone just like everyone else, but as his investigation continues the evidence starts to point to the actually existence of the horseman. Christina Ricci, who plays Katrina, provides the love interest and is quite taken with Ichabod, who himself is quite a manic character, but also a fun one. The young son of one of the murdered men aids Crane in his investigations. This film is a gem, and as it unfolds you learn that there is so much more to it than just headless bodies... Read review

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