George Miller's stunning sequel to
Babe
is as groundbreaking as talking animal movies get. On DVD, the fantasy world of Babe and pals is infinitely believable. Colors are lush. The transfer is excellent. The DVD allows the film to be viewed rightfully as a work of art. The Dolby Digital soundtrack is also superb; narration, dialogue, sound effects, and musical score all impress to no end. Sadly, the "Bonus Materials" menu doesn't provide access to much information. The "Production Notes" section presents about ten pages of information, in text that is difficult to read (light text on a light background), regarding the making of the movie. The information would be more successfully presented in the form of a production featurette. The "Cast and Filmmakers" section gives standard biographical filmographies of the director and five of the film's stars (including the actor who gives voice to Babe). A "Scene List" provides quick access to all 18 chapters, complete with full-motion video to make sure viewers select the correct scene. Two theatrical trailers for the film and one for the original
film are included, which are fun to watch (thanks to the singing mice).
Babe: Pig in the City
might not be revelatory fare, but in watching the movie on DVD, viewers will find it easy to believe that Babe and all of his animal friends are actually talking and going about their human-like lives -- it's a can't miss treat.