Babe

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Remember the times when a parent or a grandparent would read to a child in bed, so that the child can visualize the story and comfortably sink into his/her dreamworld? Well, 'Babe' feels like such a story. It is a heartwarming tale about a Pig (called Babe by her 'Mom') and her friends at the farm. Chris Noonan executes it in such a wonderful way. The film is broken into chapters (just like in a book) and the lovable talking animals appear like very real and humanistic characters. the lip-syncing is impeccable. Also, I liked that the film doesn't completely refrain from reality as it does show that pigs are killed for meat or that puppies are given away or sold to others. It stays honest. The voice-acting is very well done. Christine Cavanaugh's childlike voice remarkably fits Babe. Miriam Margolyes, Danny Mann, Hugo Weaving and Miriam Flynn are all pleasing. James Cromwell is wonderfully restrained. The setting is a make-belief story-book farm. I found myself wondering, 'Is this an English farm?' and at the same time being confused that the people were speaking with an American accent but there's really no need to pick on that because it simply doesn't matter. Just enjoy the beautiful farm and the lovely characters. 'Babe' is one of the finest family films. Kids will surely love it. Heck, even I loved it when I saw it during my late teens...and I still love it as an adult.

I was privileged to see this in the cinema in Melbourne years ago when it first came out and the buzz was just starting. A young-ish, single man at the time, I was dragged along oozing skepticism - but came out loving it unreservedly. I just watched it again with my two kids, aged seven and five, and watched them lap up the magic. It was wonderful to re-visit the film through their eyes. When The Boss takes the shotgun to the barn thinking Babe has savaged the sheep, they were genuinely fearful. They hated the laughter of the crowd at the sheepdog trials when Fogget appears with a pig. They cried when that derisive laughter turns to cheers (though not as much as me...). There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who love Babe. And the lost. Stay away from the latter.

My original review on Letterboxd still stands on this film's depiction of vegetarianism and the fact these pig producers from Australia put a scene in it that makes a reference to domestic violence between two dogs!!! Not many people realize this about the film and I really don't know why! All I know is that this film could never be as popular as the films made by Walt Disney himself!! This film isn't even what it was called on the VHS "the Citizen Kane of talking pig pictures," which disgusts me to know why any film critic would say such a stupid thing like that!!

There is not one redeeming quality about this film. From the beginning we are supposed to care for a character we don't even know yet. The movie kills off this pig's mother 90 seconds into the film and already expects us to care. Then, the real plot starts. Babe ends up in a farm with many animals who all seem to have a hierarchy with many heavy-handed symbols to racism. They shove racism down your throats and will not let you come up for air at any point. Anyway, Babe falls in line with his new "mother;" a sheepdog. Babe quickly becomes a sheepdog himself due to the fact that he is not racist. Then he wont be turned into bacon. Then something about a sheep herding competition, a grumpy dog, and learning to not be racist everywhere, THE END. This movie does not care about you, and seems to have made a movie with many plot holes and design flaws and heavy-handed symbolism because the creators must've thought that it can be gotten away with in a kids film. But no. Kids films should not be equivalent to laziness. That's wrong, and this movie-goer will not stand for it! Do not see this film. It is a waste of time. 1/10

This is one of the sweetest movies I have ever seen. Not preachy, but yet extends a message of love and harmony. Just loved the pig, and James Cromwell was terrific as the somewhat befuddled but good-hearted farmer. The climax is a wonderfully quiet and touching scene. It's a movie about friendship and trust, you should see it, no matter how old you are.

This is a family film in the classic sense of the word, and it'd be hard to find a more charming and heartfelt tale. Ideally for children, but it can be enjoyed by adults too. It is a fantasy world where animals speak just like humans do.....albeit not in Australian accents, which is where the film is meant to be set. The hero of this tale is a young pig named Babe, who is transfered from the pig pen, to the village fête, to the hands of Farmer Hoggett who wins the little fellow in a prize raffle(James Cromwell). It is on the farm he meets the locals, and is taken under the wing by a kind sheepdog named Fly, who has been characterised as the warm and motherly type. Not so warm is Rex (voiced by Hugo Weaving of Agent Smith fame), her growling no nonsense other half, who believes pigs do not belong with sheepdogs. Babe is portrayed as the personification of innocence, and his gleeful and inquisitive nature brings him into contact with a host of farmyard animals. Not too sure why they felt he needed a furry little toupee between his ears, but each to his own. As Babe gets closer to Fly and the sheepdog role, he even begins to assume this role, much to Rex's dismay. But Babe has an awful lot of ambition for a little animal, and his heart is set on being a "sheep-pig". There are moments of sadness in this film, such as loss and death, but it is mainly sweet natured and enchanting. It is one of the few Universal rated films I enjoy watching, and that is saying something for me!

Although better than most talking animal films, I couldn't get into "Babe". I know there is a huge fan base for this movie. But in some ways I found it disturbing. You have to admit that a talking pig can freak you out a little bit. Babe is a pig who wants to become a sheep herder. So his friends around the farm help train him to become one. Big woop. I'm not sure how the film got a 7.4. It's one of those mysteries of life I guess. For kids, the movie is great. But for adults, the pig just freaked me out too much. Stick to the cartoons if you want talking animals. This is just too disturbing for me. 5/10

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