Woody Harrelson’s Favorite Cinematic Sequel Is ‘Babe: Pig in the City’

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As a film enthusiast with decades of experience under my belt, I can wholeheartedly agree with Woody Harrelson’s sentiments about Babe: Pig in the City being one of the finest sequels ever made. Having had the privilege to witness the evolution of cinema and its storytelling techniques, I can confidently say that this film truly expanded the possibilities of what a sequel could be.

Around a dozen years back, I found myself in agreement with Woody Harrelson when he made an unexpected choice for the finest cinematic sequel. Unlike the widely acclaimed picks such as “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” or even family favorites like “Toy Story 2”, his selection was a nearly forgotten flop at the box office. What made this pick even more intriguing was that it was an underappreciated family film featuring a chatty pig and duck as the main characters.

Woody Harrelson Loves a Children’s Film about a Pig

In 2012, Woody Harrelson, the actor, was chatting with Rama’s Screen about the upcoming movie The Hunger Games, which kickstarted the series. At that time, all three Hunger Games books had already been written, and it was announced that Lionsgate would be releasing a film adaptation of the second book in 2013. Harrelson initially felt apprehensive about starring in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire as he’s not a fan of sequels. However, he soon recalled a sequel that was well-executed.

The second Babe film surpassed the first one, which is quite unusual since sequels rarely match their originals. However, considering the success of this film, there could potentially be more Babe movies, but only if this one performs well.

It’s quite unexpected that Woody Harrelson holds _Babe: Pig in the City_ in such high esteem, especially since it’s often considered a challenge to rate a sequel higher than its critically acclaimed predecessor, which was nominated for seven Oscars including Best Picture. In fact, it’s quite daring to claim that a family film about a talking pig is one of the rare instances where a sequel matches or even surpasses the original. Interestingly, _Babe: Pig in the City_ didn’t fare well at the box office, earning less than $70 million against a budget of $90 million. Compared to many more successful films that have seen their sequels outshine the originals, such as _The Godfather Part II_ and the second _Terminator_, this might seem unlikely.

As a dedicated cinephile, I wholeheartedly agree with Woody Harrelson’s choice of “Babe: Pig in the City” as an exceptional sequel. This film builds upon the charm of the original by transporting its heartwarming moments into a grander setting teeming with a multitude of animals. The visuals are simply breathtaking, as they bring to life the speaking animals and paint a vivid picture of a fictional metropolis. The movie was masterfully directed by George Miller, the visionary behind the iconic “Mad Max” series.

Even Siskel and Ebert Agreed That ‘Babe 2’ Is a Masterpiece

It’s not universally accepted that Woody Harrelson’s opinion on the movie “Babe: Pig in the City” is accurate, since it only holds a 65% critics rating and a 41% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, contrary to this, two highly influential film critics at the time of its release shared the same favorable view towards the movie as Harrelson did.

As a movie enthusiast, I couldn’t help but be captivated by the charm of “Babe: Pig in the City,” a film that left both Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert in awe. In fact, this adorable sequel made it onto Ebert’s list of the top films of 1998. But what truly set it apart was Siskel’s declaration – he named “Babe: Pig in the City” as his film of the year! On their popular show, Siskel elaborated that for his best-of-the-year pick, he chose the film that embodied the pure joy of cinema and pushed the boundaries of what film can achieve. Remarkably, this heartwarming sequel was the one that truly encapsulated these qualities for him in 1998.

Despite Roger Ebert not declaring the film as the year’s best, he had nothing but praise for it. He awarded the movie four out of four stars in his review, acknowledging the film’s skillful expansion of the sequel and the artistry in creating lifelike animals and the city. Ebert wrote, “The film is brimming with marvels, both small and large: amusing details at the edges and big laughs in the center. It is by no means only a ‘children’s movie,’ but one that stimulates the imagination of all who watch it. The storytelling, characters, and many actions within it show a mature, adult wisdom.

Woody Harrelson Had His Own Great Sequels

I, being Woody Harrelson, had no cause for concern about carrying on with the Hunger Games series. The Hunger Games films were a smashing success, resulting in five movies already (more than the number of books), and another one set to release in 2026. The upcoming movie will be a prequel focusing on my character, although it remains uncertain if I’ll make an appearance in this film.

It’s likely that Harrelson would be a part of the prequel since he contributes significantly to what makes the initial film and subsequent installments compelling. His portrayal of an alcoholic character is one of the most emotionally intense in the series.

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2024-12-25 04:31