Babe/Babe: Pig In the City (1998)

Babe
The surprise hit of 1995, this splendidly entertaining family film was nominated for six Academy Awards, including best picture, director, and screenplay, and deservedly won the Oscar for its subtly ingenious visual effects. Babe is all about the title character, a heroic little pig who's been taken in by the friendly farmer Hoggett (Oscar nominee James Cromwell), who senses that he and the pig share "a common destiny." Babe, a popular mischief-maker the Australian farm, is adopted by the resident border collie and raised as a puppy, befriended by Ferdinand the duck (who thinks he's a rooster), and saves the day as a champion "sheep-pig." Filled with a supporting cast of talking barnyard animals and a chorus of singing mice (courtesy of computer enhancements and clever animatronics), this frequently hilarious, visually imaginative movie has already taken its place as a family classic with timeless appeal. --Jeff Shannon

Babe: Pig in the City
Deservedly acclaimed as one of 1998's best films, this sequel to the beloved 1995 live-action fantasy proved a commercial catastrophe and a source of dismay to parents expecting another bucolic, sweet-natured fable. Every bit as sly and visually stunning as its predecessor, Babe: Pig in the City is otherwise a jolting ride beyond the Hoggetts' farm into a no less vivid but far darker world--the allegorical city of the title, which for the diminutive "sheep pig" proves truly nightmarish. Australian filmmaker George Miller (Mad Max, The Road Warrior), who produced and cowrote the first film, this time takes the director's reins, and he ratchets up the pace and the peril as effectively as he did on his influential trilogy of apocalyptic, outback sci-fi thrillers. From the opening scene, Babe: Pig in the City means to disrupt the reassuring calm achieved by the conclusion of the previous film. Babe's prior triumph proves short-lived, and within moments Miller has us literally peering into the depths as he sets up a horrific well accident that nearly kills the taciturn but good-hearted Farmer Hoggett (James Cromwell), Babe's beloved "Boss." Journeying with the equally pink, even plumper Mrs. Hoggett (Magda Szubanski), the young pig finds himself in a city where animals are outcasts, staying in the lone hotel that allows pets. When Mrs. Hoggett is detained, Babe must contend with the suspicions and rivalries of the hotel's other four-legged guests. The film's G status doesn't fully telegraph the shock Miller induces: bad things happen to good animals, and Babe's new acquaintances are a far cry from his colleagues on the farm. In particular, he must contend with a cynical family of chimps given wonderful, dead-pan voice characterizations by Steven Wright and Glenne Headly. Miller's use of effects to transform his animals into "actors" is even more seamlessly integrated than in Babe. The sequel's production design is crucial to the creation of a complete, absorbing world, and purely visual ideas--such as a deluge of blue balloons during the climactic ballroom battle--achieve a splendor and originality that a room full of computer-graphics desktops couldn't muster. Ultimately, though, the film does more than amaze: as Babe's compassion and courage transform those around him, we're moved in ways that purveyors of by-the-numbers family fare can only dream of. --Sam Sutherland Amazon.com

Babe is an excellent movie - but the distributor should be shot

I think it's unethical to force people to watch previews of moveis every time they put the disc in the player. Which is exactly what happens on Babe - you are forced to sit through 5 previous, with no way to skip other than fast forward.

The movie is awesome, but becuase of the above I'm giving this product 3 stars. September 23, 2005

Babe - Is not Only for little Babes

Babe and it's sequel are two gems on film. Children's movies are usually loud and pointless. This is truly a magnificent film, it has no violence, no foul language, and no nudity. Additionally, the story makes sense and has a message that is not heavy handed. The only problem I foresee, is that the sequel is a little darker than the first and may scare a few tykes.
The first is about a pig who wants to be a sheep dog. All the other farm animals laugh at him but with determination, he makes his dreams come true.
In the sequel, farmer Hogget has an accident and to save the farm, Babe must go to the city to participate in a fair for a cash prize. Unfortunately, everything goes wrong and Babe must stay in the city a little longer than expected. He meets a group of cute as well as a few mean animals.
I highly recommend both movies, but I'd probably advise parents to watch the sequel before showing it to their kids. It has a much darker tone and is rated PG as opposed to the original's G rating. The reason for this is a few scenes which can be a little scary or too intense for younger ones.
In the end, both movies are enjoyable and I'm sure that both parents and children can enjoy them together. Adults will be pleasantly surprised! July 29, 2005

Colored outside the lines

So many kids movies seem like paint-by-numbers projects: 3-act cliches that manage to be both noisy and dull. Both the Babe movies transcend formula and earn their emotional heft, especially the second one with the dark quality of a classic fairy tale.

You're immediately aware that you're watching something different when hearing the animals' dialog: full of subtle humor, character and drama. George Miller's Pig in the City is a gift to kids and their parents. June 23, 2005

Babe IS in WIDESCREEN.... Sort of

A previous reviewer (Peter Schlosse) made the only partially correct observation that Babe is in Full screen.

The reason for this is the 2-Pack actually has two editions... one where Babe comes in Widescreen and one where it comes in full screen. The sequel, Pig in the City, contains both Widescreen and Full Screen on the same disc.

The versin Peter obviously wanted is attainable... though since I did not buy it through Amazon, I am unfortunately unable to instruct as to how to make sure you get the version you want.

As for the quality of the films themselves, the only real things they share in common are sublime production design. The content itself is almost polar opposite.

And this is the part where you'd expect me to say that Babe is superior, but it's actually a pretty close call for me. The first is better, but the extra 5 bucks you'll be paying for the sequal is certainly worth it. The second is more mean spirited than the first but both have lessons for everyone.

Kudos to all involved. September 25, 2003

Great Set Of Films

I watched the first Babe with apprehension but was pleasantly surprised at how well it was told. It never talks down to the audience and this is a quality that I find extremely important in children's films.
Then I watched the second movie, Babe: Pig In The City and thought it was two times as good as the first. I did not think it could be possible but it improved upon the original and surpassed it in terms of originality.
Ignore negative reviews in regards to the second film from people who would be much better suited watching Cinderella 2: Dreams Come True (a movie which contained everything I hate about childrens shows/movies). The Babe series is chocked full of fantastic situations and wonderful lessons for everyone. September 23, 2003

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