rael (07/14/82)
I went to see this movie last Friday and I enjoyed it very much. I was hoping somebody posted a review on the net so that I could add my comments (I don't like the responsability of a "Reviewer"). But enough excuses, since nobody has, here's my review: "The Secret of NIMH" has as its main theme the struggle of a widowed mouse trying to save her youngest child from pneumonia. Things get really complicated when sowing time comes, since she's now living in a farmer's field and she can't afford to move her household because of the sick youngster. Faced with this dilemma, she asks advice from the dreaded Wise Owl. The Owl tells her she should ask the rats of the rose bushes for help. Now this are not common rats, they are escapees from NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health), and Mrs. Mouse's (I can't remember her name) husband aided these rats in their escape, so they owe her one. The rest of the story you'll just have to see, but I'll give you a flavor of what you can expect. The animation on the movie is excellent (alike Walt Disney at its best); the characterization is also very good (have you ever seen a cat put Jaws to shame?); the story is interesting and fairly well told, the major problem with it being that is hard to tell the different level of intelligence between animals when all of them talk and carry on like humans do; the music was too pompous at times, but didn't ruin the rest of the film. To wrap things up: I wouldn't go to see this movie 10 times (like I would for ET), but I do recommend it and I think that it is worth the price of admission (a little high these days...). Dan Vanevic BTL Indianapolis
felix (07/21/82)
The name of the owl is actually the Great Owl. I found out that it is common that all animals in animated movies bear various degree of intellegence. It is not hard to differential (sp?) them in the Secret of NIMH since some of them can use magic and we all know that the owl knows everything. Felix Luk
Cowden.WBST@sri-unix (07/22/82)
Thumbnail Review: An excellent family film-- Four and a half stars. I've just seen The Secret of NIMH with my family, and it's definitely family fare. If you liked the late Walt Disney productions before Walt died, then you will like this movie. A good story, superb animation, good use of color, and lively pace all keep your interest. I hated to see it end, and this seems to me to be one of the greatest compliments you can give a film of this type. The familiar voices of John Carradine and Dom Deluise are perfect choices to aid character development of the parts they play. The only criticism of the film I can offer is that, like Bambi, the storyteller is a little hard on people he sees as mistreating animals - in this case, laboratory experimenters. This is a relatively minor part of the film, however, and does not detract greatly from the whole. It should not deter you from taking your children to see it. Want a second opinion? -- My seventeen year old daughter said she liked it better that E.T. How about that? Charlie.