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Babe on DVD (1995)

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Play Babe trailer
Average rating: 66%
1216520141528
3.0
from 840 members
 
Starring: James Cromwell, Magda Szubanski
Director: Chris Noonan
Studio: 4 FRONT VIDEO
Run time: 89 mins
Certificate: U
User collections: one film per year, Guilty pleasures - Style over Substance!, HAWKINS LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS, Prince Caspian's Favourite Films With Animals In Them, films to love!, Piggy Films, Exceptional Films
Genres: Comedy
Languages: English
Dubbed: French, German, Italian, Spanish
Subtitles: Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish
Released: 23/08/2002

Brief synopsis of Babe

A little pig with big dreams teaches himself to be a sheepdog in this marvelous fantasy based on Dick King-Smith's children's novel THE SHEEP-PIG. When an old farmer wins a piglet at a carnival by guessing its weight, be brings the little oinker home. At first, Babe feels confused and lonely. But a maternal collie, who just delivered her own litter, welcomes Babe into her family, and teaches him about farm life. Soon the precious pig proves that he can be a pretty valuable asset to the farmer and his wife--in a most unexpected way. Special effects allow the entire menagerie of farm animals to speak throughout this magical live-action tale.

Related

Critics Reviews

Rating of 4 stars out of 5 Radio Times

This Australian family comedy, based on Dick King-Smith's book The Sheep-Pig, came out of nowhere to enchant millions around the world, converting many small children to vegetarianism in the process. The “babe” of the title is an orphaned piglet adopted by a family of Border collies who learns how to handle sheep under the patient training of soft-hearted farmer James Cromwell. The mixture of live action and animatronics brings the animals magically to life (the film won an Oscar for visual effects) and their voices are adeptly handled by Christine Cavanaugh (of Rugrats fame), Hugo Weaving and Miriam Margolyes. A delight from start to finish that will captivate children and melt the heart of even the grumpiest adult. A sequel, Babe: Pig in the City, followed in 1999.

USA Today

"...[BABE] is in a league of its own when it comes to enchantment....Beautifully shot in Australia, Babe gives off a cozy, old-fashioned feel..." -- 3 1/2 out of 4 stars

Time Out

Degree of difficulty apart - and difficulty involved making an entire farmyard of real animals talk - the merits of... Read more on www.timeout.com

See all 6 Critics Reviews »

Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 5 starsA pig that thinks it's a dog....

JediSi JediSi , 26/08/2007

When this came out – 12 years ago, I thought, 'Wow, this is pretty amazing' and since then movie audiences have been astonished at a number of camera tricks, computer-enhanced people, animals, monsters, and who knows what....so this kind of story with fun special effects is no longer is unique.

However, it's so charming, so fine a tale that it should hold up as solid entertainment for a long, long time. It has proved to be anything but a flash-in-the-pan.

Filmed in rural Australia, the scenery is magnificent and so is the house that is featured in the film. It looks like some old-fashioned gingerbread house. The animals are entertaining, talking to one another like humans but not looking flat in the process.

The main character, 'Babe,' the little pig, is the nicest, most innocent 'character' you could ever hope to find. Listening to him talk is heart-warming most of the time and sometimes it's heart-breaking. The best comic relief is provided by Ferdinand the duck who wants to be a rooster. That may sound like it's geared toward little kids, but it isn't.

It also was good to see James Cromwell play a nice guy, too. Most other times he seems to play profane and corrupt cops or government officials. Here, he's just a nice old farmer who blends in perfectly with the surroundings.

This is a wonderful, sweet-hearted comedy-drama with a nice ending too, guaranteed to leave you with a smile or a tear, or both. This is one of the best 'family' movies of all time.

  30 out of 31 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starsbabe

coggster from LEEDS , 15/10/2003

The greatest film ever made? Possibly, if you are under 12 or feel under 12!

One for the children and the child in you! RENT IT!

  2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 stars

Dave#39 from LONDON , 24/09/2004

Good film for the Family & Kids

If you enjoyed the original you will love this !!!!

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsAaww! Isn't he Lovely...

Heidtheba' from Totnes, Devon , 17/04/2005

Having seen it when it first came out, I was prepared to be disappointed, but the film held up very well. If you can suspend your disbelief of any farmhouse anywhere in the world outside Disneyland looking like the one in Babe, then the story holds together very well and the way the animals 'speak' is hard to fault. The cat is truly evil, confirming my dislike of the domestic species (isn't it great when your prejudices are confirmed?). Some good laughs, too.

The soft amongst us should keep a hanky ready and if you haven't listened to music by Saint Saens before, then the sound track should whet your appetite.

A good romp.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 5 starsA pig that thinks it's a dog....

JediSi JediSi , 26/08/2007

When this came out – 12 years ago, I thought, 'Wow, this is pretty amazing' and since then movie audiences have been astonished at a number of camera tricks, computer-enhanced people, animals, monsters, and who knows what....so this kind of story with fun special effects is no longer is unique.

However, it's so charming, so fine a tale that it should hold up as solid entertainment for a long, long time. It has proved to be anything but a flash-in-the-pan.

Filmed in rural Australia, the scenery is magnificent and so is the house that is featured in the film. It looks like some old-fashioned gingerbread house. The animals are entertaining, talking to one another like humans but not looking flat in the process.

The main character, 'Babe,' the little pig, is the nicest, most innocent 'character' you could ever hope to find. Listening to him talk is heart-warming most of the time and sometimes it's heart-breaking. The best comic relief is provided by Ferdinand the duck who wants to be a rooster. That may sound like it's geared toward little kids, but it isn't.

It also was good to see James Cromwell play a nice guy, too. Most other times he seems to play profane and corrupt cops or government officials. Here, he's just a nice old farmer who blends in perfectly with the surroundings.

This is a wonderful, sweet-hearted comedy-drama with a nice ending too, guaranteed to leave you with a smile or a tear, or both. This is one of the best 'family' movies of all time.

  30 out of 31 people found this review helpful
Report offending content.

Read all highest rated reviews

Rated - 4 starsAaww! Isn't he Lovely...

Heidtheba' from Totnes, Devon , 17/04/2005

Having seen it when it first came out, I was prepared to be disappointed, but the film held up very well. If you can suspend your disbelief of any farmhouse anywhere in the world outside Disneyland looking like the one in Babe, then the story holds together very well and the way the animals 'speak' is hard to fault. The cat is truly evil, confirming my dislike of the domestic species (isn't it great when your prejudices are confirmed?). Some good laughs, too.

The soft amongst us should keep a hanky ready and if you haven't listened to music by Saint Saens before, then the sound track should whet your appetite.

A good romp.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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Read all highest rated reviews