Search - Babe: Pig in the City on DVD

MPAA Rating: G Content Advisory: Mild Violence, Adult Situations, Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1998 DVD Release: 05/04/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV,Pan and Scan Edition: Dual Layered Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 35 mins Studio: Universal Studios Members Wishing: 0 Genres: Fantasy, Children's/Family, Children's Fantasy, Animal Picture See Also: Babe: Pig in the City

The 1995 Academy award-winning film Babe was Australian-made and featured the latest in talking animal anima-tronics. It told the heart-warming story of a sheepherding pig named Babe and his rise to community fame. The film was a tremendous hit, both financially and critically. Babe: Pig in the City is the higher budgeted American-made sequel that picks up where the original left off. It was directed by George Miller (Mad Max trilogy) who produced the original Babe film, and received a lot of criticism for being much darker than the original. The story owes more to George Orwell's -Animal Farm or Charles Dickens' -Oliver Twist than the original film. Having triumphed at the National Sheepdog trials, Babe returns home a hero. But after farmer Hoggett (James Cromwell) suffers from a farming accident, Mrs. Hoggett, a naive portly woman, is left to work the ranch alone. It's not long before the bank comes knocking. Desperate to save her farm from foreclosure, she accepts an offer for Babe to perform his sheepherding abilities at an overseas state fair. Babe, Mrs. Hoggett, Ferdinand the duck, and the singing mice travel across the ocean to a surreal metropolis, where they suddenly become stranded and separated. Soon Babe is performing with circus apes, being chased by wild strays (sounding a lot like Marlon Brando in The Godfather), and making a new wheelchair-bound canine friend (voiced by Adam Goldberg). He also is anointed leader of the animal community. What Babe lacks in street smarts he makes up for in honest goodness as he teaches audiences yet again that "an unprejudiced heart can mend a broken world." ~ Arthur Borman, All Movie Guide

Magda Szubanski - Esme Hoggett
James Cromwell - Arthur Hoggett
Mary Stein - Landlady
Mickey Rooney - Fugly Floom
Julie Godfrey - Neighbor

George Miller's stunning sequel to Babe is as groundbreaking as talking animal movies get. On DVD, the fantasy world of Babe and pals is infinitely believable. Colors are lush. The transfer is excellent. The DVD allows the film to be viewed rightfully as a work of art. The Dolby Digital soundtrack is also superb; narration, dialogue, sound effects, and musical score all impress to no end. Sadly, the "Bonus Materials" menu doesn't provide access to much information. The "Production Notes" section presents about ten pages of information, in text that is difficult to read (light text on a light background), regarding the making of the movie. The information would be more successfully presented in the form of a production featurette. The "Cast and Filmmakers" section gives standard biographical filmographies of the director and five of the film's stars (including the actor who gives voice to Babe). A "Scene List" provides quick access to all 18 chapters, complete with full-motion video to make sure viewers select the correct scene. Two theatrical trailers for the film and one for the original Babe film are included, which are fun to watch (thanks to the singing mice). Babe: Pig in the City might not be revelatory fare, but in watching the movie on DVD, viewers will find it easy to believe that Babe and all of his animal friends are actually talking and going about their human-like lives -- it's a can't miss treat. ~ Tim DiGravina, All Movie Guide