falster

Not all movies are created to be warm, fluffy, standardized and sedated Hollywood stereotypes. I for one found this movie almost completely different to everything else I have seen in, well, a long time. When was the last time you saw a horror movie that showed some seriously disturbing s***?

Instead of the Urban Legend-ish "ooh scary. An axe in the head for half a second", we got ourselves some scenes that really freak you out and make you feel sick (the point of these movies, perhaps?). My favourite including the good old slow-mo close up shot of someone's face screaming in agony as their intestines are pulled out by a crazy guy prancing, giggling, and clapping around him. Sick and crazy - as it should be.

The characters were simple, because most people are simple. Catherine and Peter never got together, because that's what normally happens. They knew each other for less than a day, were a bit attracted, fantasized a bit, and then left. It was better than some crappy-20-minute-emotional-outburst-where-the-two-lead-characters-reveal-the ir-deepest-secrets-and-fall-in-love-2/3-of-the-way-through-on-the-first-day- they've-ever-met (geez, like we don't have enough of that already). I know it did have a bit of this, but at least it was kept to a minimum.

And please, enough with the movie comparisons. You people praise stuff like The Green Mile, despite it being exactly the same as everything else, but the moment a serial killer movie comes out that's not a revelation in cinema, it's all "tries to be Seven" this, and "Silence of the Lambs wannabe" that. This movie is outstandingly different in that it had a simple goal - look good and freak people out, which it did, very well. I thought it was one of the most satisfying movies I've seen in a long time.

I commend the effort to make this sequel different from the original, but this movie was TRASH! What exactly did Babe DO? Farmer Hoggit almost died, he had Mrs Hoggit strip searched and probed, missed the fair so they didnt get money for the farm, he ruined, then killed a clown, had an animal sanctuary shut down, dozens of animals impounded, destroyed a party, and along the way encouraged a bit of jellybean communism by forcing (by BRUTE FORCE) the monkey's to share, rescued a dying fish by spitting him in the water, and earned a monkey's respect. AMAZING stuff.

Where's the fun? Whats the morals? Be nice.....and you will survive the scary dog chase, the lack of food, the theiving and scheming monkey's, the pig-napping clowns, the evil pound that takes monkey mug shots, pig-killing chef's. No sorry, I forgot. There are some nice people. Creepy pig-men who would give me nightmares if I was 6.

Not to mention, if you don't like monkey's, avoid this at all costs. Most of the movie seems to be an excuse to dress up chimpanzees in dresses, which is, undoubtedly, creepy.

And how were all these problems resolved? What was Babe's solution to the absolute mess he created? Was it me, or DIDN'T he fix things up? Instead, the weird lady who looks like a pencil started a nightclub. And everyone lived happily ever after. Farmer Hoggit even congratulated Babe at the end........because the tap worked. And I guess maybe for bringing 50 stray animals into his home aswell. (He sells the puppies in the first movie, but keeps a monkey and a poodle in the sequel - logic?)

And for those of you who support the dark tone? A scary dog chase IS STILL a scary dog chase, despite the "morals" in the movie. A farmer falling down the well IS ALWAYS violent and disturbing for a child, despite what some people may think. Animals cruelly being captured and abused IS NEVER a nice thing to watch, even if Babe "saves" them in the end. The closest thing to cuteness was the animals walking through a childrens hospital, which still brings a tone of dying children.

In short, Babe earns the respect of a monkey, kills a clown, saves a baby monkey, and introduces communism. It's the sort of movie that critics enjoy reviewing, describing it as "a gem", while they don't realise that it isn't actually entertaining to watch. Bland, pointless, and disturbing. At least they achieved what they were aiming for - a different movie to the original.

I shall begin by saying that I am a fan of Bjork, and I must be just about the only person who's opinion is split 50/50 about this film. Bjork's performance was great, and Selma was one of the cutest, most lovable characters ever made. It was absolutely heartbreaking to see her become a victim of her illness, her determination, and her hard work. However, the moment that she started to become exploited by others, it turned horrid. Bill's actions were so extreme that it was laughable, as they tried to make the absolute worst possible scenario. As her situation escalated, it just seemed more and more unrealistic, and I couldn't help but see her character turning into Edward Scissorhands (refusing to break her promise, despite how bad a situations she was in). Now don't get me wrong - I did think it was sad, but only when her downfall was because of HER weaknesses (such as the loss of her job) and not the weaknesses of others (Bill), and I quickly lost all emotional attachment when things turned really bad.

Another problem that began there was the music. I absolutely love Bjork, and I've been singing (and longing to dance to) her first two songs from this movie for days. Her first song, CVALDA, appropriately fit in as we saw how she escaped the monotony and stress of the massive workload that she undertook, as well as being a damn fine song. Similarly, the train song, I'VE SEEN IT ALL, showed her longing to escape from her responsibility, and be swept into a romantic life which she can only dream about. I found that every song after these, however, didn't fit in, as she began to LIVE her life as a musical, instead of WISH for her life to BECOME a musical. I didn't see any reason for her to break out into song in the courtroom, or after her encounter with Bill. Maybe she was trying to console herself that everything was OK (after all, nothing terrible ever happens in musicals), but it still seemed inappropriate and the songs came on a bit too thick and fast.

So what am I trying to say? The first half of this movie was absolutely amazing, but you can draw a line where it turns bad as she comes home to discover an empty lolly tin. But the songs were great, and the cinematography even better. If only it wasn't for the stupidity and unoriginality of the plot in the second half......