Babe: Pig in the City (1998)

Strictly average movie

The film was still a fun one that will make you laugh and have you leaving the theater feeling like you just stole something valuable and got away with it.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

George Miller's Babe Pig In The City is quite the underestimated film. Following on the sweet, good natured fable that was the first Babe film, Miller delved into his creative well, pulled out all the stops and came up with a rip roaring, wondrously exciting sequel that outdoes the original in almost every way. The production design and sets alone are enough to make the film a winner, the titular city comprised of aspects of LA, New York, Sydney, Paris, Vegas and many more. It's every rural village's idea of what the cities are like, a gigantic metropolitan dream world of a creation. Miller starts, in a charming sequence, at Babe's humble beginnings on the picturesque, old world farmland and hurtles him on a madcap adventure in this city of cities, joined by some of his farmland friends (Ferdinand the duck and those adorable singing Mice, whose musical numbers here are hilarious), and sees him meet a whole host of new animals. This is where the magic of the film really takes hold, as we see hundreds of dogs, cats, multiple species of monkeys, and a hapless goldfish all come to amazingly realistic life courtesy of Miller and team. Each animal is beautifully voiced and given his or her own dignity, grace and absolutely grounded story arc to the point where this no longer just becomes a children's film, but a surrealist take on city life, moral hardships and personality and classist conflict as enacted by the national geographic channel. My favourites are the sinister German shepherd (of course voiced by a German dude), the wise old orangutan Thelonius who heartbreakingly won't leave a risky situation without putting his human clothes on, and the opera singing cats (laughed so hard). Mazda Szubenski deserves a medal for her physical comedy and tart, spry turn as the farmers wife, diligently pursuing babe and way in over her head. James Chromwell briefly reprises his wonderful Farmer Hoggett characters. Mickey Rooney, looking so old and delirious I'd be surprised if he knew what film he was working on, let alone what planet, has a demented cameo. But it's the animals show, and amongst all the cartoonish, wild goings on, there's the wonderful theme that "a kind and steady heart" can help you on your travels, which provides a touching, yet not preachy undercurrent. A momentous achievement, miles in different territory than the first Babe film, and an absolute joy every time I revisit it.

I don't care what anyone says, in my personal opinion, Babe Pig in the City is one of the best movies ever made. Now I will admit that the incredibly indescribable tone is a bit polarizing or whatever you call it for some people but I think it works. The story is fun. The characters are actually likable and interesting. But what really sets Babe Pig in the City apart is the visuals, music, and cinematography. Babe Pig in the City is (for me personally) the best looking movie I have ever seen in my life. I am not exaggerating st all. I have seen Blade Runner. I have seen all 3 Lord of the Rings movies multiple times. I have seen Avaturd. Anyway, Babe Pig in the City has such an imaginative,creative world to it that I just can't help but praise like a fan boy.Yes, it will be polarizing to some but just hear me out, give this amazing movie a shot because it more than deserves it. It is also I would also like to openly admit, that this is one of my top 5 favorite movies of all time. And one of my dreams is that this movie gets put in the Criterion Collection. I'm not just over hyping because of nostalgia.I didn't see this movie until I was 14. No joke. 10/10= Fantastic!

A truly terrible sequel to "Babe" (which was a wonderful movie). Famer Hoggett (James Cromwell) is seriously injured when he falls down a well. Great way to start a kids movie--see a character we like getting seriously hurt. Mrs. Hoggett (Magda Szubanski) has to go to the city to save the farm from being sold and takes Babe with her. That's when the movie just goes out of control.The city is a mishmash of all famous buildings from other cities around the world. Some may think that's clever--for me it was disorienting and annoying. Babe meets other animals and here's where it gets really disturbing. At one point Babe picks up a fish in his mouth to get it back into water. The way its shot u think Babe is going to eat the fish. At another point a dog's leash gets tangled on a bridge. He falls over into the water. Because of the way the leash is tangled and he falls he can't get his head out of the water for air! We get a nice shot of the poor animal trying to get some breath. At ANOTHER point a baby monkey is clinging for dear life from a chandelier. Also the human characters aren't treated much better. Mrs. Hoggett is ordered to be strip searched early on! I caught this at a matinée in 1998. I have never forgotten some kids crying because of what they were seeing and outraged parents storming out of the theatre and complaining LOUDLY that this film was not a kids film. The original had dark moments too but nothing like what we see here. This movie seems to enjoy putting humans and animals in danger and shoving it in the audiences faces. THIS has a G rating? Don't let your kids see this one.

Once again, if it's illegal for someone who worked on a film to review it then dismiss this review, otherwise read on.I was the Art Dept Electrician on this film. It will always occupy a special place in my heart as the most demanding and enjoyable film I ever worked on. It was made at the height of the "golden age of Film" in Sydney Australia and it's demands stretched the ability of the industry here, especially when "The Matrix" began shooting alongside.There are a lot of Australian milestones on this film. To date it still holds the record (and is likely to for the foreseeable future) for the largest and most complex film back lot ever constructed in Australia. From beginning to end this film took 12 months in production. Months and months of night shoots were the order of the day. An enormous animal department was maintained on site for this film, the production being unique in the world. Unfortunately not many of these milestones are visible on screen.Couple to this the realization that this film was made on the "old" side of the fence at the Sydney Showgrounds as it was undergoing transformation into Fox Studios. As production ran overtime, a game of cat and mouse ensued where the fences were constantly moved as the new "Fox" ate and devoured the "old" site. That the film was completed at all was testimony to the resilience of George Miller and his crew to plod on no matter what, and settle for nothing less than the very best.So how can I give a film that I worked on, only 4 stars out of 10? Because despite the great story, incredible performances and wonderful production design, this film has been fiddled with. Important scenes (that were filmed) were deleted in an attempt to give the film the all important "G" rating when this film should always have been rated "PG". The desperate and terminal nature of the film is lost - and you leave the cinema feeling cheated that something that was promised, was not quite delivered.Who to blame? Universal I guess - because what came back in November 1998 looked quite different to what we had spent 12 months making in the previous two years. The film was released in a very difficult Pre Christmas slot up against stiff competition. It's dark side was panned by critics - who believed that the sequel should have been as light hearted as the first film.But my final opinion? When I saw "Babe" in a cinema in 1995, I distinctly remember standing in the parking lot with my family, considering what we had just seen and remarking "Now there's a film that should never be sequel-led".In February 1997 when I was first told of the plans for "Babe 2", my heart sank at the memory of those words spoken by myself 2 years earlier. Of course I was excited to be on the film in the important crew position I took, we did our best and I will always be forever happy with the results.However today when I watch and enjoy "Pig in the City" I can't but help remember my feelings that day in February 1997. So glad I am that this film was made, that I could have been a part of it and have it turn out so well.. and yet niggling in the back of my mind.. the question as to whether it should have been made at all.Please enjoy watching Babe : Pig in the City. It was, is and always will be my favourite production. In my opinion the last "real" Sydney film made before big corporate money took over the scene in Australia and laid waste to it 10 years later.History that will never be repeated.