October 23, 2009
I love watching movies. I love reading. So you would think that I would love watching movies about the books I have read. Not so, unfortunately. Take Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," probably my favorite story of all time. The book oozes Halloween creepiness, but it also has some of the most complex, rich characters in American Literature. Ichabod Crane's hearty appetite for food and sly-as-a-fox, scheming mentality is a perfect symbol of the American Industrial Revolution. While Brom Bones good-natured, everyman shows the America of a simpler time. So after reading the story, I would love to have my students be able to see the characters come alive. To have a real Ichabod to compare to the mental image that they had built over the week or so of reading. To feel the awkwardness of a love triangle between two polar opposites in Bones and Crane, who are falling over themselves to get the lovely Katrina. But alas, Hollywood has screwed it up yet again. They have taken Ichabod Crane, a true anti-hero in my eyes, and made him into a policeman. Huh? The headless horseman is a demon that lives in a tree. Double huh? While the movie may be enjoyable as far as movies go, the Language Arts teacher in me is disgusted that cinema has ruined this great, American classic for so many who may never have the opportunity to read each and every last word. It seems like Ichabod has had the last laugh.

posted 10/23/2009 9:19 AM | comment | view comments (1)

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