Babe

Rating:
Summary: Rekindle the Spirit of the Child Within You with this Movie
Review: I stayed away from the theaters when this movie was playing, suspicious that it was just another over-hyped Disney-like film. I rue that decision now, for I missed the chance to share it firsthand with dozens of undoubtedly delighted families. As the critics have duly noted, this movie is already a classic in every sense of the word. Far better than "Charlotte's Web" and indeed all the other "animal" films, it has inaugurated a cinematic genre. Neither the brooding parody of Orwell's "Animal Farm" nor the frivolous antics of Looney Tunes, "Babe" has shown that it is possible to entertain with animals while making one think about the unavoidable lessons of life. This movie succeeds on so many levels, as its many Oscar nominations indicated, that one has to believe that creative genius was behind it. The screenplay is accessible to children yet retains moments of adult wit reminiscent of "Peanuts." This careful use of language to convey simple truths may explain some of the film's broad appeal. But its heart-warming, life-affirming message, delivered as it is by the most unassuming of characters--a pig--explains the rest. If you've been hesitant like me to even watch, much less buy this film, do yourself a favor and rush out to rent it. (Indeed it has almost made me into a vegetarian, but that's another story). Then the film itself will convince you to add it to your home video library. You and your family will treasure it for years to come.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Movie, Terrible DVD
Review: What were the JERKS at Universal thinking? One of the great thing about DVDs in the ability to skip the previews at the beginning of most VHS tapes. The first thing this DVD does is disable all controls so it FORCES the viewer to watch ALL of the previews, including one for that horrible 'Cat in the Hat' flick. The only button that works is EJECT. That's right, you can't even select STOP!

Rating:
Summary: Not Good At All
Review: If you aren't willing to admit that a movie with a talking pig as its star can be a great movie, you have to tell me what label to use for this wonderful and touching film. It is special in so many ways that I have to admit it is one of my favorite films. My kids make fun of me for it, but I don't really care.

I went to this movie in the theaters with no expectations beyond spending some time with my kids watching a goofy film. And I have to admit that the first few minutes in the pig factory had me apprehensive about the motives of the film. But when Hoggett (James Cromwell) and the pig regard each other at the fair, well, I started to be won over. By the time Ferdinand the Duck crows like a rooster, I was with the movie 100%. The whole look of the movie is unique. The voices of the animals are all great and they are given fabulous lines. Mrs. Hoggett (Magda Szubanski) is fab-u-lous as the silent farmer's ambitious and talkative wife.

There are so many wonderful things about the movie that I cannot name them all, but when Hoggett sings and then dances(!) for Babe to try and inspire the recovery of the pig, well, that is a great scene of all time as far as I am concerned. Magical. How Cromwell created and embodied this character I will never understand. Hoggett is a perfect character for the role he is playing as the man with the taciturn outside and the off the wall inside that can see the sheep pig where his wife sees only meals. How many lessons for life are there in that? They are hard to number.

And who doesn't love Ferdinand leading Babe into the house to try and steal the alarm clock that Ferdinand sees as a threat to his life because it is a mechanical rooster. Since he is a duck the farmer will eat he has become a rooster and now he won't even be needed as that. The funniest bit is when, and you might miss it, all heck breaks loose later in the movie and Ferdinand says "Rinnggg Rinnggg" trying to be the mechanical rooster.

And not enough good things can be said for the wonderful voice Christine Cavanaugh gives to Babe. It is perfect and thought the second movie is very good, it never reaches the perfections of this movie.