Yes, I know this may cause some confusion but two films with more or less the same name, and both coming out in the same year. I saw the title and quickly picked it up in a shop as a present, only to find out that it wasn't Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. I bought it for my mum who loves the Tim Burton version as she is a fan of Johnny Depp (personally I don't particularly like the movie). She actually really enjoyed this film and is going to keep it, so thankfully my mistake doesn't matter.
This film arguably is nearer to the plotline of Washington Irving's short story, but Tim Burton's film seems to be more popular. Pierre Gang here directs a great drama. More based on the life people led in the days of the story the legend is just that, or could there really be a ghost? Two men are fighting over the hand of the beautiful and wealthy Katrina Van Tassle (Rachelle Lefevre), but are they both really in love with her, or her money? One of these suitors is Ichabod Crane (Brent Carver) who excels in his role. Transplanted from his position in the original tale, Crane appears here as a schoolteacher. Crane is very good at hiding his fears and pretends not to be superstitious, but realy he is just like everyone else in the area at that time.
Told as a tale to a travelling writer who is looking for such things, at the local tavern, this seamlessly moves between the men in the pub and the actual tale. This is probably something you have overlooked before, but it is worth watching. Personally, I have watched this and prefer to the more famous Tim Burton version.