Ein Schweinchen namens Babe (1995)

Ein Schweinchen namens Babe: Directed by Chris Noonan. With Christine Cavanaugh, Miriam Margolyes, Danny Mann, Hugo Weaving. Babe, a pig raised by sheepdogs, learns to herd sheep with a little help from Farmer Hoggett.

“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.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWritten by the guy who wrote the Mad Max films – thatu0026#39;s what kills me. I know itu0026#39;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 Sheeppigu0026#39; but Milleru0026#39;s script adds so many comic touches that itu0026#39;s funny throughout. The characters are all well written so that we care about them and get easily drawn in.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eItu0026#39;s directed well and again feels fresh and different – whether itu0026#39;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. Iu0026#39;ve seen this several times and the silent, wonderful climax to the sheepdog trials makes me choke everytime (even if it is predictable).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAll 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 `thatu0026#39;ll do pigu0026#39;. Babe is a great hero and you feel for him from the start to the end – when he gives a little satisfied sigh itu0026#39;s difficult not to feel warm inside.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOverall this is one of the best childrenu0026#39;s films Iu0026#39;ve seen – itu0026#39;s light and unassuming and not a classic but it is comic, gentle and ultimately heart warming – what more do you want?”