The Secret Of Nimh (Is It Just me?)

[Draven]

I know this movie is a classic, and beloved by many people, and has a devoted cult following...

But I never could make it through this movie... I found it overwelmingly depressing, and scary. I've tried watching it sevral times throughout my life at various ages, and never could do it.

I barely remember the plot, and the characters. I don't even KNOW what happens at the end! Do things even work out?

I was severly bothered by the unfairness thrust onto Ms. Brisby. I think the whole thing about the experiments to make the rats smarter really scary as a kid. And I seem to remember the daughters being quite mean to the sick son? It's been nearly two decades since I've seen even a small part of the the movie, so my memory is foggy.

And there were times I was frustrated by the dialogue. That I remember.

"Mommy, what's all that black stuff?" Uh, that would be mud, genius. Didn't you notice your house getting tossed around?

The strange thing is I probably have seen other movies and shows considered FAR more depressing, like Watership Down, or The Wall, and not been that bothered. I like dark music, and shows (check my signature for an example).

So my question here is, what's going on? Why do so many other people seem to love this movie, but I can't even get through it? Why do I like other dark movies, shows, and music, but can't stand this?

Maybe the fans out there can share why this movie means so much to them?

[tb4000]

The movie is extremely mature, and was back in the time when they could do animated movies and rate them G and still have a sense of intelligence about them. This thing would be rated PG nowadays, or even a light PG-13. It's a very dark movie even by today's standards. Anything from an animal's point of view is depressing...Happy Feet is an example.

[Dr.Pepper]

I know what you mean. I found this movie disturbing even when I was little. Pretty much all of Don Bluth's movies are like that.

[Luna]

I actually don't remember Secret of Nimh all that well,though I have seen it before(it's probably been about 20 years since I've seen the film)....I do remember it being fairly dark/having some disturbing scenes...but then,even as a child,I've never been too bothered by anything in an animated film....
Don Bluth seems to like to have disturbing scenes in his animated films....I could easily see children having nightmares from a certain scene in All Dogs Go To Heaven(Charlie's nightmare about going to Hell)...

[XOMiss_Samantha]

I love love love this movie, despite how 'dark' it can be. Although, I doubt the little kids who are watching don't realise it until they are older. Sure, some of the themes are a little depressing, but the movie does end in a rather happy way. (If I can remember right) and the sequal is pretty good itself. I don't think it ever crossed my mind that there were some more matureish quailties until I looked back at it just now, but even still they are amazingly PG13 stuff.
If you really want a dark scary childrens movie, go watch WaterShip Down. It beats Nimh in the :eek: factor by about a billion.

[SirLemming]

It's certainly dark for a children's movie, but I don't see anything excessively horrific about it these days.

[Michael24]

Although, I doubt the little kids who are watching don't realise it until they are older.

I know that's true for me. I used to watch it on cable all the time back in the '80s and never had a problem with it. It was only years later that I saw it again (for the time in many years) and said to myself, "Man, this movie is pretty dark for a kid's film." Just gives me an even greater appreciation for it nowadays, and I'm eagerly anticipating the upcoming Special Edition Don Bluth talked about on his website.

[Baltofan]

I love Secret of NIMH!

Those NIMH fan fic days!

[launchpad25]

The movie is extremely mature, and was back in the time when they could do animated movies and rate them G and still have a sense of intelligence about them. This thing would be rated PG nowadays, or even a light PG-13. It's a very dark movie even by today's standards. Anything from an animal's point of view is depressing...Happy Feet is an example.I agree. G rated movies are very rare these days. It use to be that the G rating was for all ages, not it seems like it's only for the toddler crowd, and that PG has become the new G so to speak.

[Silverstar]

You want to see an example of an abomination? Watch the made-for-video Secret of NIMH II: Timmy to the Rescue. That film was everything the first movie wasn't, or so I'm told.

[launchpad25]

You want to see an example of an abomination? Watch the made-for-video Secret of NIMH II: Timmy to the Rescue. That film was everything the first movie wasn't, or so I'm told.No arguement there. That's a textbook example of how not to do a sequle to a dark film.

[Crash]

The strange thing is I probably have seen other movies and shows considered FAR more depressing, like Watership Down, or The Wall, and not been that bothered. I like dark music, and shows (check my signature for an example).

So my question here is, what's going on? Why do so many other people seem to love this movie, but I can't even get through it? Why do I like other dark movies, shows, and music, but can't stand this?


80s Theatrical animation. When it wanted to be creepy, it could be CREEPY. Between this and Black Cauldron... Secret of NIMH had some especially moddy/haunting scenes in it. Particularly at the begining. (The Great Owl, Brisby's descent into Mr. Ages lair, again into the Rats Nest... Its easy to see how that could get to someone.

Or you could blame it on the 'hero-shot,' or at least the shot that I remember. Mrs. Brisby, sitting atop a rock or tractor or something. Hunched over (like a real mouse, not some cutesy animated mouse) wearing that ratty red cape, with a moddy background. (Dewdrop on bent-over grass and such). When how you remember the hero is kinda creepy, it definately sets the tone for how you remember the movie.

If its not obvious, I saw this movie as a pretty young kid, then didn't see it again till I was in high school. When I did see it, it was because I searched it out, based on remembering the scene where Mrs. Briby goes to see Mr. Ages. Like I've said, it stayed with me because, for lack of a better word, it felt haunting. And I've loved the movie ever since...

[Michael24]

You want to see an example of an abomination? Watch the made-for-video Secret of NIMH II: Timmy to the Rescue. That film was everything the first movie wasn't, or so I'm told.

Just the title makes me want to stay away. Ahd I read that II is also a musical. :eek: I believe Bluth said he has plans for his own direct sequel to the original, so I hope they avoid the musical route and keep in very much in style with the first one.

[FightingDreamer]

You want to see an example of an abomination? Watch the made-for-video Secret of NIMH II: Timmy to the Rescue. That film was everything the first movie wasn't, or so I'm told.

Oh, trust me, it is. The first movie was a dark, mature tale with loads of atmosphere, wit, and stunning animation. The sequel is a crappy, almost sickeningly bright-colored musical with bargain-bin animation.

[XOMiss_Samantha]

Oh, trust me, it is. The first movie was a dark, mature tale with loads of atmosphere, wit, and stunning animation. The sequel is a crappy, almost sickeningly bright-colored musical with bargain-bin animation.


I liked the sequel:crying:

[tb4000]

It still has nothing on Watership Down, the 1978 version. I'm a 29 year old man and that movie still scares me. :(

When I have kids and they're all, "can we watch Watership Down?" I'm gonna be all, "hell naw we can't watch no Watership Down!"

[Draven]

If you really want a dark scary childrens movie, go watch WaterShip Down. It beats Nimh in the :eek: factor by about a billion.

See, that's the THING. I've SEEN Watership Down, and I made it through the movie, tear-free, I might add. I was 17 at the time, already jaded, and had just read the book. I've also seen other movies like Heavy Metal, and Heavy Metal 2000. The Wall, and dark shows, like The Venture Bros. Utena, various animes which almost always have some tradegy in them...

So dark and scary almost never ruins my experince. But Nimh....Nimh has always freaked me out.


80s Theatrical animation. When it wanted to be creepy, it could be CREEPY. Between this and Black Cauldron... Secret of NIMH had some especially moddy/haunting scenes in it. Particularly at the begining. (The Great Owl, Brisby's descent into Mr. Ages lair, again into the Rats Nest... Its easy to see how that could get to someone.

The Black Cauldren I LOVED. I think I even liked The Horned King and his castle! I wasn't even that phased when the Horned King got sucked into the Cauldron, and put up a BIG fuss about it. The only real part that moved me in the that movie was...

"But Gurgi....Gurgi has no friends." And throws himself into the Cauldron. That was upsetting. I LOVED Gurgi.

I think you hit the nail on the head with Nimh...The great owl, the way his eyes GLOWED was really neat, but really freaky too. I also hated the way he spoke I think, almost like a ghost. And yes, those decents in those lanterns was creepy. I can't even remember paying attention to the movie, and what was going on. I was too fixated on that creepy decent into the depths...

I don't even REMEMBER Ms. Brisby hunched over like you said....I probably bailed out long before that part.

That is what is so confusing to me...I dig all these other movies, but Nimh just overwelmed me when I was younger.

[Xerroo]

First one = Win

Second one = Fail.

Why must they lighten the mood for the next sequal.

Same goes with Land Before Time and An American Tale.

Don Bluth knew what he was doing.

[Darking]

I disliked the movie, not because it was scary, but because it really deviated from the original source material, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. All the magic and special effects ran against the idea that the Rats were creatures of Science.

[Kagetsu]

You want to see an example of an abomination? Watch the made-for-video Secret of NIMH II: Timmy to the Rescue. That film was everything the first movie wasn't, or so I'm told.Ha, I think I know you from LoSh talk[/lol] :D

Anyway, I was drawn in to see Nimh by a clip with swords and a battle "You killed Nicodemus". It sounded rather exciting. but I was put off by the animal experiments and the ridiculousness of the rest of the story. Didn't care about the characters or the out come by the end.

[Warrior Kitana]

I love this movie and the book. I've always loved this movie ever since I was about 4 or 5 years old. Yeah it might be considered too dark for a G-rating nowadays, but it didn't really bother me back in the day. Most of Don Bluth's films has a certain dark element to it. I still wish he was making animated movies today.


You want to see an example of an abomination? Watch the made-for-video Secret of NIMH II: Timmy to the Rescue. That film was everything the first movie wasn't, or so I'm told.

Good God, that movie embodies nearly everything you should not do with a sequel, including adding pointless characters, creating plotholes and inconsistences, destroying/dumbing down old characters' personalities, changing the dark and mature theme of the original to a bouncy, light-hearted, musical.

To simply say that it pales in comparision to the original movie would be a huge understatement.

[Patchwork]

You know, neither Brisby hunched over nor the Great Owl really sticks out in my head. What I always remember is that wonderfully dark scene in the NYMPH labs, with the needles injecting the shining syrum into the rats, the dog howling mournfully in the cage, and the rats discovering they could read. All with the haunting narraration in the background.
That and Brisby breaking out of the birdcage, which I fondly remember for the fantastic animation that had the same basic effect of the real mouse effect that was mentioned earlier.


It still has nothing on Watership Down, the 1978 version. I'm a 29 year old man and that movie still scares me. :(

When I have kids and they're all, "can we watch Watership Down?" I'm gonna be all, "hell naw we can't watch no Watership Down!"

Ha, just wait 'till you see Plauge Dogs. I've yet to see an animated movie that's darker than that.

[shadowspiderider]

martin fighting auntie shrew in film:D

[Joe]

Yes, this film genuinely creeped me out when I was little. A very unusual film for its time, I suppose. I never really followed what was going on until I watched it again as a teen. I still kind of forgot half of it, though.

[Anarky]

NIMH was awesome. It was new when I was young and loved watching it over and over again on HBO. I'm willing to bet I'd enjoy it all the same now that I'm 30. I remember it had fantastic animation (I wonder if it still stands the test of time). The Lab scene was great, as was the duel at the end, as well as the escape from the birdcage. Loved the scene w/ the Great Owl...and that crazy crow.

[J_Vincent86]

I know this movie is a classic, and beloved by many people, and has a devoted cult following...

But I never could make it through this movie... I found it overwelmingly depressing, and scary. I've tried watching it sevral times throughout my life at various ages, and never could do it.

I barely remember the plot, and the characters. I don't even KNOW what happens at the end! Do things even work out?

I was severly bothered by the unfairness thrust onto Ms. Brisby. I think the whole thing about the experiments to make the rats smarter really scary as a kid. And I seem to remember the daughters being quite mean to the sick son? It's been nearly two decades since I've seen even a small part of the the movie, so my memory is foggy.

And there were times I was frustrated by the dialogue. That I remember.

"Mommy, what's all that black stuff?" Uh, that would be mud, genius. Didn't you notice your house getting tossed around?

The strange thing is I probably have seen other movies and shows considered FAR more depressing, like Watership Down, or The Wall, and not been that bothered. I like dark music, and shows (check my signature for an example).

So my question here is, what's going on? Why do so many other people seem to love this movie, but I can't even get through it? Why do I like other dark movies, shows, and music, but can't stand this?

Maybe the fans out there can share why this movie means so much to them?

You say haven't ever made it through NIMH but the dialogue you mention is right at the end of the movie. If you had just wait probably another five minutes you would have made it to the end.

[Draven]

You say haven't ever made it through NIMH but the dialogue you mention is right at the end of the movie. If you had just wait probably another five minutes you would have made it to the end.

When I saw that particular part, I THINK I walked into a room where somebody else was watching it. I hadn't watched since the begining, I didn't stick around for the end either...

It just happens to be one of the FEW examples of the movie I remember.

I seriously have no clue what happens after that. You know that "hero-shot" Crash mentions on page 1? I've NEVER seen that ever. I had no idea it existed until he brought it up!

I'm also thinking... because this movie bugged me so much when I was younger, is THAT why I can watch even darker stuff NOW and like it? I want to hear some insight!

[J_Vincent86]

Well I don't know what kind of insight to give you seeing as everybody's perception of what is dark and light are different. All I can say is that now that you are older and hopefully more mature you can sit down and enjoy NIMH.

[Brandon Pierce]

"Secret of Nimh" is one of my favorite films ever. The original novel is also an excellent read.

I really don't think the movie is as "dark" as some people say. I think the only "dark" moment is when Jenner stabs his sidekick Sullivan, and then Sullivan throws a knife in Jenner's back. Yeah, that's a little extreme, but hey THIS MOVIE WASN'T MADE JUST FOR KIDS!
MGM seems to forget/ignore that. The movie was made for all moviegoers.

Also, the line "Mother, what's all that black stuff?" I always assumed that line was a strange homage to Disney's Bambi.

"Mother! What's all that white stuff?"

Yeah..... that would be snow.

[Baltofan]

I liked NIMH 2 too! :D

[Draven]

Also, the line "Mother, what's all that black stuff?" I always assumed that line was a strange homage to Disney's Bambi.

"Mother! What's all that white stuff?"

Yeah..... that would be snow.

*laughs*

[DarthGonzo]

I liked NIMH 2 too! :D

.....why??:confused::confused:

[Baltofan]

I liked Secret of NIMH 2, it was just OK.

"Mother! What's all that white stuff?" :o

[Emperor Fred]

I don't recall The Secret of NIMH ever bothering me much as a kid. I suppose in my mind I just expected some darkness, scariness and tragedy in a trip to the movie theatre. I mean, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Bambi all had some pretty intense, scary or sad scenes. The scene in The Fox and the Hound where the widow has to say goodbye to Tod still makes me bawl like a baby. Secret of NIMH and its incredible animation and direction really created a dark atmosphere and had perhaps more than its share of scary scenes, but it was nothing I wasn't used to.

Transformers: The Movie was actually the movie I remember really freaking me out as a kid because that was just heartlessly brutal for a kids' film. The image of Ratchet's eyes turning yellow and flames coming out of his mouth as he keels over, Wheeljack's severed head among the robotic debris, as well as (obviously) the death of Optimus Prime will forever be burned into my brain. I mean, having watched the show on TV every day, those characters were like good friends!

You know, Draven, maybe you ought to just sit down and make yourself watch The Secret of NIMH from beginning to end. At least then you'll be able to fairly judge for yourself whether you like it or not, and whether you feel as if the fans' accolades - and perhaps your own fears/perceptions - are justified or not. You're entitled to your own opinion... as long as you come to it fairly, after all.


I believe Bluth said he has plans for his own direct sequel to the original, so I hope they avoid the musical route and keep in very much in style with the first one."The Real Secret of NIMH II," huh? Man, how awesome would that be if that's true! Not only to create a worthy successor to an awesome film, but to stick it to those DTV cheapquel makers. :evil:


First one = Win

Second one = Fail.

Why must they lighten the mood for the next sequal.

Same goes with Land Before Time and An American Tale.I've gotta take issue with your assessment of American Tail II. While it was certainly an entirely different type of movie from the original with a much lighter mood, I still found it to be highly enjoyable and a lot of fun.

[Brandon Pierce]

Actually Don Bluth wants to get his Dragon Lair movie out first before he works on his own Nimh sequel.

We're screwed.

[Artimus Gigan]

Actually Don Bluth wants to get his Dragon Lair movie out first before he works on his own Nimh sequel.

We're screwed.
I'd be up for a Dragon's Lair movie

there's nothing wrong with dragon's lair. Especialy considering that the games have been re-released ob Blu Ray there's still alot of intrest in the series. So any form of new media material would be welcome.

[Brandon Pierce]

Actually, what I meant by "we're screwed", was that I have doubts that Don Bluth's Dragon Lair movie is going to be completed anytime soon. It's been in develpment hell since 1999, and it hasn't even entered the animation stage yet.

I just think it'll be a long time before Dragon Lair makes it out, and an even longer time before Bluth works on his own Nimh sequel.

[Draven]

Transformers: The Movie was actually the movie I remember really freaking me out as a kid because that was just heartlessly brutal for a kids' film. The image of Ratchet's eyes turning yellow and flames coming out of his mouth as he keels over, Wheeljack's severed head among the robotic debris, as well as (obviously) the death of Optimus Prime will forever be burned into my brain. I mean, having watched the show on TV every day, those characters were like good friends!

See, THIS is what I'm talking about! I LOVED the Transformers movie! And I was 11 when I first saw it. I completly BLEW my mind that in the series, the Autobots and Decepticons could shoot at each other at point blank range, and hit nothing but the ground....

Then in the first 5 minutes of the Transformers movie, a WHOLE planet gets slain. Ratchet getting killed... that image has never left my mind, but that's not a bad thing... And Optimus getting killed....Holy HELL what an epic moment in Animation. Optimus friggen PRIME DIES!

And THEN. MEGATRON gets kicked OFF the ship and left to die in space, it didn't happen...but damn, can you even IMAGINE the Decepticons even THINKING about that? The Transformers movie was seriously a real mind job.

See, I can dig stuff like THAT, but Nimh has always just been really unsettling to me. And I can't figure it out for myself.


You know, Draven, maybe you ought to just sit down and make yourself watch The Secret of NIMH from beginning to end. At least then you'll be able to fairly judge for yourself whether you like it or not, and whether you feel as if the fans' accolades - and perhaps your own fears/perceptions - are justified or not. You're entitled to your own opinion... as long as you come to it fairly, after all.

I MIGHT give it a shot. The desire sure isn't there, but maybe I will just give it another try. Maybe that really IS the solution I need?


Actually, what I meant by "we're screwed", was that I have doubts that Don Bluth's Dragon Lair movie is going to be completed anytime soon. It's been in develpment hell since 1999, and it hasn't even entered the animation stage yet.

I just think it'll be a long time before Dragon Lair makes it out, and an even longer time before Bluth works on his own Nimh sequel.

That reminds me of Guns N' Roses "upcoming" album The Chinese Democracy. I first heard about that album back in 99 when they put a song from it on the End Of Days soundtrack, since then....NOTHING. I'd LOVE to see a Dragon's Lair movie, that would actually kick a lot of ass. But may as well as wish Guns N' Roses does the soundtrack. Hell, we'll probably see A Nimh sequel before The Chinese Democracy comes out.