Babe (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
'Babe', directed by Chris Noonan, is a little piglet whose parents have departed the world. Saved from a pork penitentiary, he ends up being the only one of his kind on the property of Farmer Hoggett (James Cromwell), a gentle old man who knows more about sheep than of pigs. On the farm, Babe shies away from his enemies, but makes plenty of pals; including Ferdinand, a chatterbug-of-a-duck who wants to be a rooster, & Fly, a sheepdog who steps-in as a mother figure.
With time, Babe not only becomes quite the sheepherder, but realizes (from his friends) that a pig can be anything he/she wants to be. Unfortunately, one of babe's enemies is Mrs. Hoggett (Magda Szubanski), who has ideas of cooking a roast pork for Christmas dinner. We all know what that means. Can the timid Farmer Hoggett change his wife's mind? Will he step up to the plate (no pun intended) and save Babe?
'Babe' is a kid's movie. And it's a fairly decent one, at that. I liked its messages: any underachiever can attain greatness; and it's important to overcome prejudices. The film is intermittently entertaining - for kids & adults, alike. It casts a spell (though, like I said, intermittently). The storytelling is more imaginative than your usual kid's fare. The special effect animatronics of the barn creatures (cats, dogs, cows, ducks, horses, pig, sheep, roosters, etc.) is exceptional. Babe, the character, is a cute little guy. I liked the relationship btwn. Farmer Hoggett & Babe. James Cromwell is very good as the congenial farmer.
I think my major problem with the film, believe it or not, is its tone. This is a modern fable. But it has a distinct old-fashioned feel. There's adventure & witty comedy; nice comic allegories about not conforming in animal society. But there are also some startlingly sad moments, & potent scares (do good, or die!). There's an odd dark streak that I was not wild about. And it overshadows a lot of the charms that the film offers. I am more impressed with the technical aspects of the movie (art direction, special effects, music) than the actual storyline. And that's a bit of a problem.
With time, Babe not only becomes quite the sheepherder, but realizes (from his friends) that a pig can be anything he/she wants to be. Unfortunately, one of babe's enemies is Mrs. Hoggett (Magda Szubanski), who has ideas of cooking a roast pork for Christmas dinner. We all know what that means. Can the timid Farmer Hoggett change his wife's mind? Will he step up to the plate (no pun intended) and save Babe?
'Babe' is a kid's movie. And it's a fairly decent one, at that. I liked its messages: any underachiever can attain greatness; and it's important to overcome prejudices. The film is intermittently entertaining - for kids & adults, alike. It casts a spell (though, like I said, intermittently). The storytelling is more imaginative than your usual kid's fare. The special effect animatronics of the barn creatures (cats, dogs, cows, ducks, horses, pig, sheep, roosters, etc.) is exceptional. Babe, the character, is a cute little guy. I liked the relationship btwn. Farmer Hoggett & Babe. James Cromwell is very good as the congenial farmer.
I think my major problem with the film, believe it or not, is its tone. This is a modern fable. But it has a distinct old-fashioned feel. There's adventure & witty comedy; nice comic allegories about not conforming in animal society. But there are also some startlingly sad moments, & potent scares (do good, or die!). There's an odd dark streak that I was not wild about. And it overshadows a lot of the charms that the film offers. I am more impressed with the technical aspects of the movie (art direction, special effects, music) than the actual storyline. And that's a bit of a problem.