Barnes & Noble

One of the most beloved family films in recent years, Babe tells a sweetly sardonic fable of tolerance and understanding. Despite the fact that its fairy-tale settings are bathed in a golden glow, Babe is refreshingly honest about the realities of life on a farm. A little piggy starts out life the runt of the litter and becomes a champion sheepdog through good humor and an open heart. Superb vocal performances bring Babe and his barnyard pals to life, and the computer animation never detracts from the personable animal stars. As stoic Farmer Hoggett, James Cromwell delivers such a beautifully restrained performance that his eventual explosion into song charms and astonishes at the same time. This sleeper hit proved successful with adults as well as children, earning it a surprisingly large number of year-end awards and nominations, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Babe deserves to be a holiday staple, if only for the notable catchphrase uttered by one of the animals: "Christmas is carnage." Amy Robinson

All Movie Guide

A young pig fights convention to become a sheep dog -- or, rather, sheep pig -- in this charming Australian family film, which became an unexpected international success due to superior special effects and an intelligent script. The title refers to the name bestowed on a piglet soon after his separation from his family, when he finds himself on a strange farm. Confused and sad, Babe is adopted by a friendly dog and slowly adjusts to his new home. Discovering that the fate of most pigs is the dinner table, Babe devotes himself to becoming a useful member of the farm by trying to learn how to herd sheep, despite the skepticism of the other animals and the kindly but conventional Farmer Hoggett (James Cromwell). Because technically impeccable animatronics and computer graphics allow the farm animals to converse easily among themselves, first-time director Chris Noonan can treat the film's menagerie as actual characters, playing scene not for cuteness but for real emotions. The result is often surprisingly touching, with Noonan and George Miller's script, based on Dick King-Smith's children's book and, indirectly, a true story, seamlessly combining gentle whimsy and sincere feeling. These same qualities are embodied by in Cromwell's beautifully understated performance as Farmer Hoggett, which anchors the film. Despite its unlikely premise and low profile, Babe's inspirational story was embraced by audiences and critics, and the movie became an international sleeper that won an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. It was followed in 1999 by the less successful Babe: Pig in the City. Judd Blaise

Product Details

• UPC: 025192039850
• Source: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
• Presentation: Pan & Scan
• Sound: Dolby AC-3 Surround Sound
• Editions: Subtitled, Dubbed, Repackaged
• Sales Rank: 30,623

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Babe Family Double Feature
• Family Favorite Treasurs