A kid's movie for parents who think chainsaws are a toy -- ok, not really -- Babe: Pig in the City confused audiences.

After the feel-good vibes of the original, kids and parents were ready for a sequel.

But what they got was shocking.

Profoundly darker than the original feel-good 7-time Oscar Nominee, Babe: Pig in the City didn't make back its budget, hitting close to $70 million of that $90 million spent to make it.

But with time, it has slowly found a new fanbase: those that can appreciate its ridiculous artistry.

Directed by George Miller (Mad Max), Babe: Pig in the City is flat-out gorgeous in its use of color. Its shot compositions will floor you at times, and its grown-up themes can resonate.

But did it go too far?

This podcast explores the darkness of the film, its comedy shortcomings, and setting triumphs.

Directed by George Miller. Starring: Magda Szubanski, James Cromwell, Mickey Rooney, E.G. Daily, Mary Stein

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The greatest adventure -- or so the song in the movie claims.

This animated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit was directed by the famous duo of Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin, Jr.

Released as a TV movie, it was broadcast by NBC in 1977, dividing critics but winning over some within the fanbase.

While you would think this adaptation would vanish in time or be overshadowed by the Peter Jackson live action versions of the 2010s, I'll argue with you there's still a place for it in introducing our youngest audiences to the fantasy genre and works of Tolkien (along with some appreciation from adults).

Join me for this discussion of a savage Gollum that wants to eat Bilbo rather than play tricks, a cat-like dragon Smaug, and a curious but lamentable absence of violence.

Based on The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Directed by Arthur Rankin, Jr., and Jules Bass. Starring Orson Bean, Richard Boone, Hans Conried, John Huston, Otto Preminger, Cyril Ritchard, Brother Theodore, Glenn Yarbrough, Paul Frees, Don Messick, John Stephenson, and Jack DeLeon.

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And to read more of Will's writing or check out more podcast episodes, you can visit him at: willturntale.com

Walter Hill directed two cult classics with The Warriors and Streets of Fire, but some argue Southern Comfort is his underseen best and belongs in the same category.

An action thriller (that seems like horror), the 1981 movie evaporated from theaters worldwide, yet has found some small corners of appreciation over time.

It's the story of a small group of national guardsmen who get lost in the swamp and find themselves hunted by local Cajuns. Some audience's "spiritual cousin" to Predator, it was originally titled "The Prey."

Join me for this discussion of a movie with constant tension, masterful writing, and atmospheric hysteria.

Directed by Walter Hill. Screenplay by Walter Hill, David Giler, and Michael Kane. Starring Keith Carradine, Powers Boothe, Fred Ward, T.K. Carter, and Franklyn Seales.

Connect with us on Bluesky:
@not-ni-theaters.bsky.social

And to read more of Will's writing or check out more podcast episodes, you can visit him at: willturntale.com