Posted on: Saturday, November 13, 2004

Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Babe" (1995), 7 p.m., Pax TV. Rippling with originality, this movie is the best kind of family film — one that charms the kids while tickling grownups. That starts with the basic notion of a pig that wants to herd sheep. Anyone who has seen some underdog-victory films will love this. Director Chris Noonan and his designers have given it a whimsical, storybook look. Many key roles are deftly handled by a combination of real and animatronic animals, but the humans also have their moments. Lanky and craggy James Cromwell is a delight as a farmer who lets himself daydream.

Of Note

"Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" (2003), 6 p.m., HBO. Basically, this is a story of sea battles, sharply directed by Peter Weir. What makes it stand out is the superb work by Russell Crowe, bringing depth to his role as captain.

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," 7 p.m., ABC. Here's another family film, much bigger (but not better) than "Babe." We catch the early moments, as Harry is taken from his aunt's cruel home and whisked to his destiny, at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The film is inconsistent, with a stop-and-start quality; that should be improved by trimming it to fit a three-hour slot. The young actors are pretty good, surrounded by such great British veterans as Maggie Smith, Richard Harris, Emma Watson, John Cleese and Robbie Coltrane.m.,"Men in Black," 7 p.m.