1998, 1 hr, 37 min., Rated PG for some peril and brief language. Dir: George Miller. Cast: Magda Szubanski (Esme Hoggett), James Cromwell (Arthur Hoggett), Mary Stein (Landlady), Mickey Rooney (Fugly Floom), Julie Godfrey (Neighbor), Elizabeth Daily (Babe), Danny Mann (Ferdinand), Glenne Headly (Zootie), Steven Wright (Bob), James Cosmo (Thelonius), Stanley Ralph Ross (Pitbull/Doberman), Russi Taylor (Pink Poodle), Adam Goldberg (Flealick).

It seems to me that director George Miller made Babe: Pig in the City for the arthouse crowd who loves those weird French black-and-white movies instead of for the enjoyment of children and parents alike as was the first Babe.

I loved the original, as did millions who flocked to see it, and the movie was rewarded with several Oscar nominations. But the director and writers tried to change horses in mid-stream, altering the entire successful formula. Babe the pig was almost relegated to a supporting role, and James Cromwell as Farmer Hoggett (nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor) was barely used at all!

I'm sorry, but Esme Hoggett is not a lovable woman and I didn't feel sorry for her ignorance. She bugged me.

What I did enjoy was the cast of animals. They made the picture, and kept it interesting. They're so human when you give them voices and emotions, you genuinely feel connected. Even the monkeys, which I normally dislike in film and real life, I felt for them and cared for their well-being.

Looking at it from an arthouse critic dude's perspective, I can see how they would like Babe: Pig in the City. The cinematography was fantastic, with great shots conveying the emotions and feel of the picture. For example, when Flealick has an afterlife experience and is jumping after butterflies without the wheels for his back legs. The big city is a combination of every major metropolitan area in the world, combining the Statue of Liberty with the Sydney Opera House, the Hollywood sign on the hill, the Eiffel Tower, the Kremlin, etc. And the cinematography was wonderfully mixed with the score, especially the gaelic movement during the chase.

The problem is that I went into the film in a good mood, having seen Star Trek: Insurrection at 10:45 a.m. then moved over three theaters to Babe at 1 p.m., and was expecting the original's feel. Don't do that! This is a completely different movie and will not affect you the same way, with a smile always on your face. Expect some seriously depressing moments. It's not for kids. There's even a moment when the dogs and cats argue where a dog yells "Watch it pussy!" and the response, "You watch it buttsniffer!".

Of course, it didn't help that there were only 20 people in the theater, all kids and parents except me. And they were ALL loud, including the annoying three-year-old to young to see PG (for a good reason) Babe: Pig in the City who kept hitting the back of my seat. This sequel will flop for a reason-- it's everything the original wasn't.

1/2 star added for Peter Gabriel singing the main title in the credits.