The Secret of Nimh (B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
In 'The Secret of Nimh', an old-school animated classic from 1982 directed & co-written by Don Bluth, Mrs. Brisby (voiced by Elizabeth Hartman) is a widowed field mouse living on a large farm with her 4 children, including youngest son Timmy (voiced by Ina Fried), who is sadly bedridden with pneumonia. When they are forced to find safety and a new home due to the local farmer starting to plow for the spring, Mrs. Brisby frees a young crow from some string at the mercy of the farmer's cat, Dragon. As thanks, Mrs. Brisby is taken to the wise Great Owl (voiced by John Carradine), who averts his desire to eat a mouse, to advise her to seek the assistance of one, Nicodemus (voiced by the great Derek Jacobi) ... king of the vast rat colony.
Journeying underground, and hoping to find a cure for Timmy, she then discovers - inside a rose bush - an entire subterranean civilization of escaped lab rats with suspiciously high intelligence that inform her that they revere her late husband, Jonathan. Nicodemus explains that Jonathan had helped them escape from NIMH - the National Institute of Mental Health - when he was a fellow prisoner there and where they were scientifically experimented on/injected with super-intelligence drugs. Indebted to Jonathan, Nicodemus agrees to help Mrs. Brisby move Timmy & gifts her a magic amulet. She returns to the farm to find that her home is sinking into the mud and, she desperately hopes that the magic amulet can save them. Conflicts ensue.
Created as a return to the lush, storybook animation style of Disney classics of yesteryear {Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio}, this movie is an impressive example of the film medium. This movie looks nothing like the eventual Pixar CGI animation. The sophisticated visuals here are rich & warm, with exquisite colors & intricate detail. I'm reminded of some dazzling set pieces; including a terrific duel during an intense lightning storm, & also the climax involving that magic amulet.
I also commend the voice cast, which includes Elizabeth Hartman as Mrs. Brisby, the distinguished Brit actor, Derek Jacobi as Nicodemus, vet character actor, John Carradine as the Great Owl, the highly comedic Dom DeLuise as Jeremy, Hermione Baddeley as Anti Shrew, Also Ray as Sullivan, & a young Shannen Doherty as a mouse. Parents SHOULD be cautioned that the story's tone fluctuates from sweet & cheerful to frightening & even grim. I'm reminded of a fairly gruesome flashback showing the torture of animals, as well as animal children in peril. 'The Secret of Nimh' is fascinating, gorgeous & ends happily. Just be wary of images & themes of illness, tragedy & grief to accompany the gorgeous animation & lightheartedness.
Journeying underground, and hoping to find a cure for Timmy, she then discovers - inside a rose bush - an entire subterranean civilization of escaped lab rats with suspiciously high intelligence that inform her that they revere her late husband, Jonathan. Nicodemus explains that Jonathan had helped them escape from NIMH - the National Institute of Mental Health - when he was a fellow prisoner there and where they were scientifically experimented on/injected with super-intelligence drugs. Indebted to Jonathan, Nicodemus agrees to help Mrs. Brisby move Timmy & gifts her a magic amulet. She returns to the farm to find that her home is sinking into the mud and, she desperately hopes that the magic amulet can save them. Conflicts ensue.
Created as a return to the lush, storybook animation style of Disney classics of yesteryear {Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio}, this movie is an impressive example of the film medium. This movie looks nothing like the eventual Pixar CGI animation. The sophisticated visuals here are rich & warm, with exquisite colors & intricate detail. I'm reminded of some dazzling set pieces; including a terrific duel during an intense lightning storm, & also the climax involving that magic amulet.
I also commend the voice cast, which includes Elizabeth Hartman as Mrs. Brisby, the distinguished Brit actor, Derek Jacobi as Nicodemus, vet character actor, John Carradine as the Great Owl, the highly comedic Dom DeLuise as Jeremy, Hermione Baddeley as Anti Shrew, Also Ray as Sullivan, & a young Shannen Doherty as a mouse. Parents SHOULD be cautioned that the story's tone fluctuates from sweet & cheerful to frightening & even grim. I'm reminded of a fairly gruesome flashback showing the torture of animals, as well as animal children in peril. 'The Secret of Nimh' is fascinating, gorgeous & ends happily. Just be wary of images & themes of illness, tragedy & grief to accompany the gorgeous animation & lightheartedness.