The Secret of NIMH (1982)

A captivating story; smooth, clean animation; and an outstanding musical score combine to make this film a rewarding sensory experience.

Set in the tradition of Disney animated movies (from where Mr. Bluth came), yet this film's flavor is a shade different. I would almost say more "realistic". Not to knock any Disney films (which I love to watch), this movie deals with a problem set on a 'it could happen' level. No search for a Prince Charming here -just a person (mouse in the film) attempting to deal with the real world problem of how to relocate the Brisby family's home under emergency conditions when one of its members is too ill to move.

The story has charm and wit, and yes, even a bit of mortality thrown in. The art and animation are top notch, and the plot flows without a lot of irrelevant detail for padding. Very young children may not follow exactly what message is being sent to the audience, however, they will probably enjoy the show all the same. For older viewers, most should be able to pick up on the theme of "caring and self-sacrefice" under difficult conditions.

Originally not a well-known movie, it has built up a cult following over the years. Yes, this one has a place in your video or DVD library -especially if you have children.

*** Recommended ***

~P~

Mrs. Brisby is a newly-widowed young mother with four hungry mouths to feed. She's also a tiny field mouse who scrapes out a modest living for herself and her family among the other small animals who live in Farmer Fitzgibbons' field. Harder times have fallen upon the meek and selfless little mouse, however, as her youngest child, Timmy, has become ill with pneumonia just as the family is forced to find a new home before the farmer's plowing begins. Doing anything and everything in her power to help her son and discover a remedy for her moving woes, Mrs. Brisby visits an ingenious little mouse named Mr. Ages who provides her with medicine for Timmy. Unfortunately, the danger comes sooner than expected, and Mrs. Brisby must find a faster solution. At the suggestion of her friend and neighbor, Auntie Shrew, the desperate mother takes her plea to the Great Owl. This is a dangerous task indeed for a tiny little mouse, but Mrs. Brisby will stop at nothing for the welfare of her children. She survives the frightening experience only to be sent on another quest. The Great Owl informs her that she must seek out the wise, old Nicodemus, leader of the rats in the rosebush, for only they have the power to move her home; the rats of NIMH.

NIMH, the National Institute of Mental Health, is the key to all that Mrs. Brisby never knew about her late husband. Her experiences with the rats of NIMH, escapees from that awful place, will open her eyes to an entire world of secrets, science, and magic that she never could have imagined before. Most importantly, she will come to realize the power within herself. "Courage of the heart is very rare; the stone has a power when it's there."

When former Disney animator Don Bluth struck out on his own, he was unable to take the Disney "magic" with him. Despite the number of animated films to his credit since, most lack a certain special "quality" that sets them in league with the great works of the house that Walt built. This is not to say that many of his films aren't enjoyable. In fact, a few came rather close to that Disney excellence, and one such film shines above all the others: "The Secret of NIMH." In a time when fantasy films were all the rage, NIMH was the perfect animated feature, but what made this story so powerful and exceptional was the bold style in which Bluth chose to tell it. "The Secret of NIMH" makes no effort to be like a Disney film, nor does it attempt to be aggressively different. It simply uses its own style to create a world that suits the story perfectly. There is magic, but no fairy-godmothers or three wishes. The animals in NIMH live among modern day humans, but their own existence is very much medieval, with swords, wizards, and strange creatures around every corner. The film makes no apologies for depicting blood, death, and at least one use of the "D" word (I wasn't exactly counting). In fact, I'm quite surprised to see it listed as rated "G" on Amazon. I had thought it came out as a "PG" film, though I'm not certain. Regardless, the film is excellent for family viewing among parents and older kids; not too low-brow for adults, but full of humor, fun, and adventure for the younger set. The characters are striking and real, from the humble little Mrs. Brisby to her caring friends, to the dangerous creatures that lurk and plot around them. Dom DeLuise is unforgettable as the clumsy and confused Jeremy the crow, and the dramatic presence of greats like John Carradine, Hermione Baddeley, and Derek Jacobi is not unfelt. The animation is glorious, as one should expect from a former Disney animator, and the story's message about courage and love is conveyed flawlessly, but the real power of this film is invoked by the music. The hauntingly medieval-sounding score by Jerry Goldsmith will stay with you forever, even if Disney music is more your style (take it from me, a Disney fanatic), and Paul Williams' singing of "Flying Dreams" during the credits is equally enchanting.

The DVD is much less spectacular. The only real extra feature is the theatrical trailer, and the film is presented in fullscreen without having been remastered. Still, it's nice to replace the old VHS with a disc, even if the viewing experience is only slightly improved. The DVD I have features the previous cover art, however it is my understanding that the art is the only thing that has changed with this newer release. Hopefully, this animated classic will receive a more comparable DVD release in the future. If you haven't seen "The Secret of NIMH" yet and consider yourself a fan of animation, you MUST pick it up. Outside the Disney Studios, American animation doesn't get much better than this!

Buy The Secret of NIMH (1982) Now

This movie has intense sentimental value to me, since I grew up with it as a child. When I discovered is was available on DVD I lept for joy and quickly baught it. However my joy has quickly fallen to disapointment. This is a pathetic DVD, no better then the VHS, from which I think it was transfered. Pan & Scan with a stereo audio track. The film is extreemly grainy and full of scratches. MGM is notorious for making horrible DVDs, and this is a classic example. Secret of NIMH isn't that old of a movie, I find it hard to believe they couldn't find an original print to do a good transfer from, rather then just copying the VHS. I sincerely hope they reevaluate this release and give us a remastered widescreen version in the future.

Read Best Reviews of The Secret of NIMH (1982) Here

This movie is one of the best ever made, animated or live-action, people or animals. Parts may be scary for your children, but those parts are short-lived and can be easily explained to calm their fears.



The plot is quite simple: A fieldmouse, Mrs. Brisby, must move her family's home before spring plowing, but there's a problem: her son is sick and cannot be moved. Therefore, she calls on the mysterious rats of NIMH (a laboratory), who have been injected with chemicals to increase their intelligence. In the process, she has to face an owl's den, a cat, a bumbling and hilarious crow, and treachery in the ranks of the rats.



The ending is truly magical and very powerful when Mrs. Brisby uses her stone ("which holds great power when used by one of courage") to do what even the rats cannot. A great tale of courage, and how you can do anything if you try.



Bottom line: Well-animated, well-lit, well-told, well-voiced. As good as any movie can get, for adults or children!!!

Want The Secret of NIMH (1982) Discount?

During a scene in the Secret of NIMH, Mrs. Brisby, the film's heroine, reads an inscription that says: "You can open any door if you only have the key." The nuance, if you listen to the lullaby during the end credits, is that this key is love. In a film rich with nuances, this one is the key not only for Mrs. Brisby but also for the film itself, for it was Don Bluth and his team's obvious love for the art of animation that enabled them to create this moving dramatization of Robert C. O'Brien's novel.

The Secret of NIMH is as much for adults as it is for children. Emotional and often tense, it explores what it means to be truly human, courageous, and loving.

The film, which departs somewhat from the novel, is about a widowed field mouse, Mrs. Brisby, who must move her children before the farmer crushes her home during the spring plowing. But her youngest son is critically ill with pneumonia and cannot be moved. After rescuing a lonely but charming crow, Jeremy, Mrs. Brisby visits with his help the Great Owl, hoping that he can solve her conundrum. The solution, the Owl says, is to seek help from the feared and mysterious Rats of NIMH, who live in the rosebush near the farmer's house.

During the film, as Mrs. Brisby repeatedly risks her life to save her family, she learns many secrets. She learns the secret of her husband's death and his connection with the Rats. She learns about the Rats' struggle. And she learns that, with her mother's love and courage, she possesses that essential but elusive key to open any door.

The Rats of NIMH, collectively, are one of the most evocative symbols in storytelling of the question of humanity, what it means to be human, to think and feel as a human. Their struggle represents the central question of humanity -that of morality. Once tortured at NIMH (the National Institutes of Mental Health) by "humans," and genetically engineered to develop intelligence associated with humans, the Rats are divided about their destiny. Should they live in the rosebush, stealing food and electricity from the farmer's stores, or should they leave to build their own civilization, a society based on moral choices? Should they help Mrs. Brisby? Some of the rats consider her to be one of "the lower animals" who should fend for themselves, yet others feel compassion and honor her husband's courage in helping to free them from NIMH.

In the Rats' and in Mrs. Brisby's struggles, we ask ourselves what it means to be human and whether we, considering our behavior towards others, are truly human. Is morality, is humanity, a province belonging only to us? Does it belong to us at all?

I think it's not too much to say that this story charges us to consider whether we, who experiment on "the lower animals" and disregard them, are not as human as the Rats, for we are building our society on practices many consider to be immoral choices, whereas the Rats seek a society based on moral choices.

This is an intricate film with an evocative score, backgrounds, character body language, and script to express the urgency and violence of the characters' struggles. But it is also an inspiring story with Jeremy's reliable comic relief and -a spoiler here -a happy end. As an artistic work, it shows what can happen when artists have the key and cooperate to use it.

I recommend to parents that you watch this with your children and discuss it with them to the degree you feel comfortable. It's one of the better ways to explore valuable lessons about courage, compassion, morality, and love.

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