User Reviews

When this came out -- years ago, I thought, "Wow, this is pretty amazing" and since then movie audiences have been amazed 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 nice a story 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. This movie will endure. It's also a beautiful film on DVD with brilliant colors and some very rich visuals.

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 hokey in the process. In other words, the dubbing is well done.

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 the goose who wants to be a rooster. That may sound like it's geared toward little kids, but it isn't. I haven't found an adult friend yet who didn't like this film.

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. His wife is a bit annoying, but not too bad.

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.

Remember the times when a parent or a grandparent would read to a child in bed, so that the child can visualize the story and comfortably sink into his/her dreamworld? Well, 'Babe' feels like such a story. It is a heartwarming tale about a Pig (called Babe by her 'Mom') and her friends at the farm. Chris Noonan executes it in such a wonderful way. The film is broken into chapters (just like in a book) and the lovable talking animals appear like very real and humanistic characters. the lip-syncing is impeccable. Also, I liked that the film doesn't completely refrain from reality as it does show that pigs are killed for meat or that puppies are given away or sold to others. It stays honest. The voice-acting is very well done. Christine Cavanaugh's childlike voice remarkably fits Babe. Miriam Margolyes, Danny Mann, Hugo Weaving and Miriam Flynn are all pleasing. James Cromwell is wonderfully restrained. The setting is a make-belief story-book farm. I found myself wondering, 'Is this an English farm?' and at the same time being confused that the people were speaking with an American accent but there's really no need to pick on that because it simply doesn't matter. Just enjoy the beautiful farm and the lovely characters. 'Babe' is one of the finest family films. Kids will surely love it. Heck, even I loved it when I saw it during my late teens...and I still love it as an adult.

Babe is separated from his family and becomes friends with some of the animals on his new farm. He learns that each animal has a role to play and that both he and Ferdinand the duck are fated to be lunch! Both take new roles to escape their fate and Babe tries to become a sheepdog. As Farmer Hoggett begins to notice the unusual way Babe can work with the sheep he begins to groom him for that role – much to the worry of his wife and the other farm animals.

Written by the guy who wrote the Mad Max films – that's what kills me. I know it's adapted but how can the Mad Max writer manage to deliver such a sweet film that is unassuming and comic and heart warming. The plot is great as it is adapted from `The Sheeppig' but Miller's script adds so many comic touches that it's funny throughout. The characters are all well written so that we care about them and get easily drawn in.

It's directed well and again feels fresh and different – whether it's the chapter set up or the use of the narrator or the way that the singing mice make the links it all works well. Because it is gentle and unassuming I found myself involved in it so easily and the themes of finding your own path and friendship are not rammed down your throat but just sit there if you want to get them. I've seen this several times and the silent, wonderful climax to the sheepdog trials makes me choke everytime (even if it is predictable).

All the voices are good and the use of animals is faultless. The use of animatronics is a little ropey at times but the sense of goodwill the film gave me extended to overlooking these minor complaints. James Cromwell is just superb as the human face in this drama – everytime I see him now I can only hear him say `that'll do pig'. Babe is a great hero and you feel for him from the start to the end – when he gives a little satisfied sigh it's difficult not to feel warm inside.

Overall this is one of the best children's films I've seen – it's light and unassuming and not a classic but it is comic, gentle and ultimately heart warming – what more do you want?

I think genre preferences go out of the window when a film like 'Babe' comes along. It's easy to see why this film is so universally popular, the story is delightful and the main characters so likable and endearing. The idea of a having a film centre on a cute pig may have raised a few eyebrows at first, but after only a few minutes any doubts anyone had will have gone.

There isn't much I can write about this film other than saying how much I enjoy it every time I see it (and that's a good few times now). I never get tired of it and it's probably one of my go-to films when I'm in the mood for a family film. I'm yet to meet anyone who doesn't like 'Babe', I'm sure there are people out there who don't like it and I'd be interested to hear their reasons, but you'd be hard pushed to find a family film as universally popular as this one.

This is a family film in the classic sense of the word, and it'd be hard to find a more charming and heartfelt tale. Ideally for children, but it can be enjoyed by adults too. It is a fantasy world where animals speak just like humans do.....albeit not in Australian accents, which is where the film is meant to be set.

The hero of this tale is a young pig named Babe, who is transfered from the pig pen, to the village fête, to the hands of Farmer Hoggett who wins the little fellow in a prize raffle(James Cromwell). It is on the farm he meets the locals, and is taken under the wing by a kind sheepdog named Fly, who has been characterised as the warm and motherly type. Not so warm is Rex (voiced by Hugo Weaving of Agent Smith fame), her growling no nonsense other half, who believes pigs do not belong with sheepdogs.

Babe is portrayed as the personification of innocence, and his gleeful and inquisitive nature brings him into contact with a host of farmyard animals. Not too sure why they felt he needed a furry little toupee between his ears, but each to his own. As Babe gets closer to Fly and the sheepdog role, he even begins to assume this role, much to Rex's dismay. But Babe has an awful lot of ambition for a little animal, and his heart is set on being a "sheep-pig".

There are moments of sadness in this film, such as loss and death, but it is mainly sweet natured and enchanting. It is one of the few Universal rated films I enjoy watching, and that is saying something for me!

All too often, children's movies are simply insipid for adults who get suckered taking the kids. The kids are happy but the parents are continually checking their watches to see when the film ends! BABE is a rare family film in that it has appeal to all ages. I know when I took my then five year-old to come see it, we both enjoyed it and now 14 years later, we still adore this film as much as ever.

There have already been a ton of reviews for this film and trivia on IMDb explains the complicated process by which the film was made, so I really don't want to get into this. Just suffice to say that by using very realistic puppets from the Henson Workshop and lots of live creatures, they managed to convincingly tell a story where the audience is pulled into it--and actually can accept that the animals talk and do other extraordinary things.

What I love about the film is its tremendous sense of style. Not only does it have a wonderful idea, but the combination of great music, amazing cinematography, storybook farms that look like David Winter cottages, the best voice actors you can imagine and those wonderful mice all work together to make a film that is a truly unique viewing experience.

Overall, what's not to like? I know some have actually seen this as a PETA or vegetarian plot, but I cannot imagine anyone not loving this film. And, if anyone you know doesn't like it, you should get some new friends! By the way, as excited and in love with this film as I was and am, I feel almost 180 degrees different about the abomination that was the sequel, BABE: PIG IN THE CITY. Lost is all the charm and grace that made BABE one of the best family films in history. In its place is a cruel and dark film with nothing at all to recommend it. How could they have missed the boat so badly with the sequel?

My god, a 6.7 average score and nominated for 7(SEVEN) oscars?? It has been a very long time since I've seen this movie but it's great. Very original and wonderfully done.

Babe is such a charming and enchanting film, that even the fussiest adult can't help finding it easy to like. Babe himself, voiced by Christine Cavanaugh(Darkwing Duck and Dexter's Laboratory) is an adorable character, and one scene in particular when his mother is taken away is a genuine tearjerker. The other animals are also just as engaging, including Ferdinand, and are well voiced by the likes of Miriam Margoyles and Hugo Weaving. The human characters were very warm and likable, and James Cromwell and Magda Szubanski were both wonderful. The film looks lovely, there is a nice story and the music is just superb, with Saint Saens' Organ Symphony and Delibes' Pizzicato. And I loved the singing mice, they were really sweet and funny. All in all, a true classic. 10/10 Bethnay Cox

"Babe" is one of my favorite movies.

A lot of people laugh at me when I say that. But I know that this film is one of the best ones ever made. It's simple, beautiful, positive and original.

The story is about a farm pig who wants to become a sheep dog. Pretty strange considering a pig's place is in people's plates. But Babe has something the sheep dogs don't have: gallantry. His kindness, determination and good intentions will make him a truly unique individual, one that stands out from his peers, proving that no matter who you are, you can make a difference.

I love the way the story is made. It is cut into chapters with a bit of narration, giving us the warm "grandfather story" or "old school" feeling. It's a very comfortable ambiance, and every animal brings its personality into making an awesome story.

Now I am sure you've all seen talking animal movies before, with voice-overs. Babe took it one step further with the animals' lips being in sync with their lines! Talk about realism! The sets are very friendly to the eyes and contribute into making this movie a classic.

Babe is one great movie for everyone to see, it's magical and enchanting!

The Master T Score: ***** out of 5 Stars

Babe is the runt of the litter who was born in a factory farm. He gets picked as the worthless prize in a country fair. Farmer Hoggett (James Cromwell) who doesn't keep pigs, wins him in a guess the weight contest. Babe ends up being raised by the sheep dog mother Fly. He befriends the various animals. With the help of Ferdinand the Duck, he gets into trouble and slowly learns the way of the farm. He is doomed to be Christmas dinner for Esme Hoggett but Farmer Hoggett convinces her to save his life. Then Farmer Hoggett notices something strange about the pig.

There is a great sense of wonderment and joy in this movie. It plays like one of those kids books and it's so terrific for it. Roscoe Lee Browne's narration is the perfect tone. It doesn't use any modern references or knowing sarcasm. It is a sincere old fashion melodrama and part modern feel good charmer.

I was one of the biggest detractors of this film when I initially found out it was nominated for an academy award back in 1995. A talking pig? You gotta be kiddin' me! Then, months after Braveheart walked with the award, I finally saw the infamous "Babe." Wow! Was I ever wrong. This movie not only deserved the nomination, but was a close, close second out of the five nominees in my book (Braveheart rightfully won, but I would have had no trouble had Babe won). I love this film because it has a sweet lining, yet tells a deep story about resolve, goodness, and the struggles of life in a very large sense. It makes you think, but more importantly, it makes you WANT to think about how all our lives are interconnected and what can be done by each seemingly insignificant individual to make the world a better place. That's saying a lot, when a guy who loves stuff like True Romance digs on a piggy movie. If you haven't seen this, buy it immediately.

An extremely quirky film that you won't mind watching with the kids. Not full of sappy platitudes, this strange little tale of a pig that wants to be a sheep dog is extremely effective in it's message without hitting you in the head with it. No doubt because it wasn't made in Hollywood... we Americans have never been good at telling children's stories without being condescending and heavy-handed with the moral message.

The story takes place in some fairy tale amalgam of all the rural cultures of the English-speaking world - Sometimes it seems like England, other times Kansas, Australia, New Zealand, it's really never anywhere particular. The acting is superb, the animatronics are unrecognizable as such, and James Cromwell is superb as the taciturn farmer willing to give the little pig a chance.

This is a feel-good animal film based on the children's novel, Babe, a story about Farmer Hoggett (James Cromwell) winning a runty piglet named Babe at the local fair. The pig befriends the other animals on Mr. Hoggett's farm and learns and takes on the job of sheep-herding.

Though a children's story, this film can be enjoyed by adults as well, as it is heartfelt and charming that is perfect for the entire family. It brings a message of friendship, courage and teamwork and the lessons of growing up. The special effects team did a great job in making the real life animals talk, so you have to suspend reality for several minutes and imagine a world where animals can interact with each other like humans can.

This film reminds me of Charlotte's Web, where the pig of that film has an innocent personality whose inquisitive nature eventually brought the farm animals closer, much like the characters in this film. There are also sad moments in the film (which can, I suppose, teaches children how complicated life can be), but much of the film is filled with innocence, joy and zany characters (both human and animals).

I did, however, found that some of the plot points to be a tad slow and not as adventurous as some other animal movies like Charlotte's Web, but overall, the film is a real treat for the entire family.

Grade B

I was dragged to this film by my girlfriend (now wife) when it first came out in fall of 1995. I had zero interest in what seemed to me nothing more than a kids movie. I recall sitting in the theater before the movie commenced, looking at my watch and estimating the time it would end, when my life could begin again after this rude 90 minute interruption.

Then the film began. The moment Babe said a tearful goodbye to his mother as she was being led off to the slaughter house ("Pig Paradise", the narrator says), I was hooked. What stood out to me was not the tearful "Goodbye Mom", but the fact that after we see Babe's mom loaded into the truck, the camera goes back to Babe, siting in the corner of his industrial pen, sobbing profusely. This moment, maybe 90 seconds into the movie, is filmed so well, so perfect, that instead of coming off as melodramatic, it is heartrending. I know that word is used often to describe this film, but I do not know how else to describe it. This is one of many "heartrending" moments in this beautiful film.

This is by far the best childrens film I have ever seen, but it really is a mistake to even call it a childrens film. It is simply a great film. A film that shows how wondrous things can happen as a result of common decency; how any individual can triumph if they believe in themselves; how vital is the help of family and friends in life's arduous journey.

This a film not to be missed. It should have beaten Braveheart.

My Take: The CITIZEN KANE of talking animal movies.

For many years, BABE has been on the same line as THE WIZARD OF OZ and E.T., as a classic family film. It even made a runaway success in the box-office, charming audiences around the world in theaters back at 1995. It even made quite an impression in the Oscars being nominated even for Best Picture and 6 other Oscars (winning one for Best Special Effects, winning it fair-and-square from APOLLO 13). So with all the buzz that's still going on with BABE, is it really that great! For most parts, BABE still lives up to its title, "The little film that could".

While it ain't quite as perfect as the films I've mentioned above, BABE still deserves its place as a classic family film choice. It's painted with creative storyline, interesting characters and simply delightful moments of joy, fear, sadness and sweet triumph. Sure, it's only an "Animals-can-talk" movie, but this is the smartest one to date, and still is. Before being bogged down into terribly mediocre films like RACING STRIPES, talking animal movies can actually potentially achieving as this one. The characters, both human and animals, are given a surprising depth. In the animals, of course, there's Babe (voiced by Christine Cavanaugh), a curious and benevolent piglet with a lot of kindness in his heart, yet must go through depression and sadness a the same. His life leaves little less value to humans, who doesn't see him more than just another feast for the Holiday season. That is, except for the compassionate farmer Arthur Hoggett (James Cromwell), the most valuable human character in the movie, who sees his talents as a pig who actually knows how to herd sheep (by talking to them respectively, no less).

BABE maybe a straightforward children's film, but it no doubt still has power to charm any adult audience out there, thanks to its adult script, thankfully co-written by George "MAD MAX" Miller adapted from a novel by Dick King-Smith, and an especially endearing performance by the underrated James Cromwell as the farmer. The special effects too are worth mentioning, as they are a convincing alternation between animatronic creations and real, trained animals. But BABE will be best remembered, not as a technical marvel, but a clever and imaginative story. "That'll do." says the farmer. Enough said.

Rating: ***** out of 5.

For a movie about a talking pig, I never thought Babe would come close to being a great movie, especially after watching that catastrophe in Gordy. But here we are watching a film that was nominated for seven Oscars including Best Picture, which is especially great for a children's film. I like how this film is mature, especially for a kids film. It may be rated G, but some of the dialogue had me thinking it was an adult-friendly drama. But I really liked the film because it's a pleasing family-friendly film that features a dynamic story, great acting, and just very cute animals.

Chris Noonan's film tells the story of Babe and his life at Farmer Hoggett's farm. When he first got Babe, of course he Babe was going to be used for ham, bacon, and pork. But Hoggett, along with his adoptive mother Fly (a dog), begins to realize his potential as a sheepherder and decides to enlist him in a sheepherding contest.

The film does have great acting, believe it or not. James Cromwell is excellent as the simple, seemingly hare-brained farmer. Magda Szubanski is reliable as Farmer Hoggett's wife. We also get some good voice acting from the likes of Hugo Weaving and Christine Cavanaugh, who recently passed away, as the titular character of Babe.

Overall, Babe is a timeless classic and a film that generations of people will be able to enjoy. It is much smarter than the average children film. The animation is very good, hence the visual effects win. The film manages to be cute, but also funny as well. I just love that wacky duck who constantly fears he will be eaten. On the whole, this is one of the better family films out there. It's much better than Gordy, so watch this film instead. I rate this film 9/10.

This is a masterful story of a little pig, who, like the one in Charlotte's Web, is one step away from the Hormel plant. The reason the movie works so well, is that we see the musings of Babe about the everyday events that take place on the farm. Each of the animals has a set of human qualities, pride, stubbornness, stupidity, you name it. The farmer is that. He doesn't see the animals in any particular way; they are farm animals. What they do in the scheme of things determines their value. When Babe shows an aptitude for rounding up sheep, he becomes of greater value. Even his name is the name that all the little pigs in his litter were called. Things develop as a result of a jealous dog who sees his role threatened. James Cromwell is wonderful as the farmer. He uses that wonderful long face to show expressions, so subtle. He is a serious man, which is probably about par for the course among farmers. But he has a joyous side he doesn't show often. There are some scenes of genuine affection toward the little pig. Maybe it's just that we are all God's creatures and entitled to a little kindness along the way. My kids loved this movie when they were small. We loved it too.

The shamefully low rating on IMDb for one of the most beautiful movies of its genre. OK, production may be poor comparing to nowadays, but 20 years ago this movie was visually awesome. And I know it is not "Godfather" or "Lord of the Rings" quality of the movie, but this movie does not even aim to be. It's a children movie and it is shoulder to shoulder with "Bambi" and other evergreen classics. You have to love it if at least a glimmer of childhood is left in your heart.

9/10

This is one of the sweetest movies I have ever seen. Not preachy, but yet extends a message of love and harmony.

Just loved the pig, and James Cromwell was terrific as the somewhat befuddled but good-hearted farmer. The climax is a wonderfully quiet and touching scene. It's a movie about friendship and trust, you should see it, no matter how old you are.

I like the bit when babe the pig went la la la. It was so cute

This is a thoroughly charming movie. I perfectly remember the day when I went to the theater with my mom and two cousins to watch this film, back in early 1996. With a large targeted to the infantile audience, Babe obtain a nice effect to an older public with an intelligent screenplay, a good direction, just like the special effects and a simple language about dreams and friendship. I saw it when it first came out and here it is, sixteen (can it be?) years later and having seen probably everything that Netflix has to offer ordered it as a "what the hey." I liked it better the second time. The movie teeters on the verge of sentimentality, but pulls back in plenty of time so there is no cringing! My favorite part of the movie is when the stoic farmer, nursing Babe who is sick with the thought that the farmer just wants to eat him, sings him a song, and then does a highland dance. I don't think I've ever seen a more original declaration of interspecies love.

"Babe" resurrects a kind of magic we thought to have disappeared since the glorious age of Walt Disney classics. It's an animal-centered movie but through its inspirational story and endearing sweetness, remains closer to "Bambi" and "Dumbo" than "The Jungle Book" or even "The Lion King".

"Babe" is the name of a little pig that grew up in an Australian farm owned by Arthur Hogget (James Cromwell) and dreamed of becoming a sheep dog. But there's a time to get to that dream, and the director Chris Noonan starts by immersing us into the farm, it's in Australia, but as a matter of fact, it can be any farm, as imagined by any child from any place in the world.

Farm in "Babe" is not just a beautiful dream-like setting, it happens to be a codified universe where each species has a specific place depending on its utility. The rooster wakes up the farmer, the hens make eggs, cows give milk, dogs herd the sheep, cat chase mice, horses transport etc. In this hierarchy, pigs are in the bottom, their only purpose being to grow up, to get fat so they can be eaten and go to Paradise, a place so beautiful no pig ever came back from. The film deals with pigs' fate with a gravity that mirrors the dramatic death of Bambi's mother, but also through comedy with the unforgettable Ferdinand the Duck who tries to replace the rooster to be spared from being eaten.

Babe is an outcast, but like "Dumbo" and in a lesser measure "Pinocchio", in the gentle sense of the word. Indeed, he wants to be useful, to be part of the farm's collective effort. The charm of "Babe" is to create a character to which any kid can identify with; inspired by the idea of following their dreams no matter how silly they sound. But nothing is silly when handled in a smooth and sensitive way. Babe respects the order and the leadership of Rex, the male sheepdog, he plays with Rex and his female Fly's puppies, but they have the right to be in home, along with the cat, but he can't. This feeling of rejection is the cement of kids' personalities because it's a way for children to determine what they can bring to the others.

The story goes on, punctuated by the songs of three little mice, with a high-pitched voice that make anything they say irresistible to the ears. The film is an extraordinary achievement as it really focuses on animals' feelings more than their actions. In a sad scene where Rex and Fly's puppies are sold, you could see the sadness in the two parent's eyes, and ironically, Rex, the hard-nosed and grouchy one seemed to be most devastated, we'd learn later than he'd already experience loss. The 'puppies' scene isn't shot in an overly dramatic way because its main purpose is to show that even the sheepdogs must deal with some aspects of their lives they don't necessary like. The second purpose is to build the relationship between Babe and Fly.

As a new adoptive mother, Fly believes that Babe can make a good replacement for Rex, who never won a championship since the day he lost sheep during a pouring rain and became almost deaf. The farm owner, Hogget, sees the same potential in Babe and decides to give him a chance. Why? As the narrator says: "These little ideas that tickled and nagged and refused to go away should never be ignored for in them lie the seeds of destiny", that's the kind of movie quotes that takes you by surprise and displays a level of smartness that can appeal to both kids and adults. Also, it starts off the core of the story, which is less the coming-of-age of Babe than the beautiful relationship between the little pig and his master.

James Cromwell, was rightfully Oscar-nominated for Best Supporting Actor because this is the kind of role you can't cheat on. It might be easy to pretend to talk to a pig, but there are emotions that cannot be feigned, and the look on Cromwell's eyes in some scenes betrayed a genuine attachment. But again, it's not that easy to make out of a pig, a believable sheep dog. In a key scene, Fly orders Babe to shout at the sheep, to be more aggressive. After all, he's still a pig, his master might change his mind: it's still a life-and-death situation. That was the make it or break it part of the script, had Babe commanded the sheep through violence, the film would have lost me.

Naturally, "Babe" respects both the children and the adult's intelligence by not operating a 180° turn on its character. Babe is first mocked but it's by talking to the sheep gently, by explaining what he wants to Maa, the older one, that he gets what he wants. The point is not to teach that being nice might open every door, but that sometimes you get to better results by getting things your way. It's about respecting the others, and not assuming someone's silly or wouldn't understand because he or she's different. The dogs are constantly insulting sheep but a very clever twist reveals at the end, that the sheep doesn't think much of the dogs either, both prejudices being due to some ancestral conditioning. If anything, Babe is a lesson of humility, gentleness and perseverance.

The ending can come as predictable but there's more in the film than a simple plot. it's about self-acceptance, respect before inspiring the recognition and the love of people that count in our lives, something powerfully conveyed by the Cromwell's face with his "That'll do, pig. That'll do".

And from a man of few words, each one carried the same magical resonance than the moment where Pinocchio became a real boy and Dumbo started flying in the circus.