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25 Years Ago: The Best Genre Year Ever! Part VI! Cartuna Remember THE SECRET OF NIMH!

first by Cigsandcoffee1756	May 21st, 2007 01:54:36 AM
i hope
Great movie! by lost.rules	May 21st, 2007 01:55:22 AM
Remember it. Don't watch it again as an Adult. You'll be dissappointed.
"Somewhere Out There" by lost.rules	May 21st, 2007 01:59:07 AM
"Then we'll be together. Somewhere out there." DAmn, wrong movie.
Yawn, Talking Rats... by HEADGEEK	May 21st, 2007 02:09:14 AM
Heh - I love that THE SECRET OF NIMH led to you animating Moriarty and I in a Sixty-Nine with phasing in and out cloaked figures! Thus is its legacy!
I bet all the good stuff is gone... I'll take Grease 2 by Alonzo Mosely	May 21st, 2007 02:11:44 AM
Seriously who gets 'The Thing'? 'Cause if someone in that TB manages to claim it is shit I may actually commit murder...
Will there be retrospectives outside of '82 Mori? by IndustryKiller!	May 21st, 2007 02:35:43 AM
Because there are certainly alot of films that deserve this treatment. I would hate to see a feature so wonderful go the way of the dinosaur after the 82 season is over. It's just not often enough that we get to sound off on our passion for film outside of a knock down drag out talkback around here and the intention of these is something we could use alot more of. Excellent job Cartuna, I think just about every one of these features has nailed my feelings for the films they commemorate brilliantly.
speaking of canadian armpits by BadMrWonka	May 21st, 2007 02:55:23 AM
Shania Twain is STILL smokin' hot!
"Yawn, talking rats."???? by lost.rules	May 21st, 2007 03:05:08 AM
So, I guess Harry won't care to see Brad Bird's new movie. Christ, Harry. You're getting very annoying. Stop apologizing for Spiderman 3, and get back to your roots. Don't suck up,all the time,to Hollywood! Be Yourself, Dammnit! I have faith in you, brother. You can dislike something every once in awhile.
And I don't say that to be insulting, I say it out of.. by lost.rules	May 21st, 2007 03:07:44 AM
RESPECT! I've been coming to your website for a very long time, Harry.
Secret of NIMH...a very underrated film by sith-vol	May 21st, 2007 03:11:38 AM
Great pick Mori, NIMH was an awesome film. Actually not my favorite Don Bluth film as that would have to be Titan A.E.
yeah, i love them talking rats too: by newc0253	May 21st, 2007 03:24:31 AM
my favourite Bluth film. and did you know Jimmy Stewarts last role was in All Dogs Go To Heaven?
"Damn!" by NNNOOO!!!	May 21st, 2007 04:11:04 AM
First time I heard a cartoon character swear. Great stuff.
Give credit to the book, you fucking philistines by Hardboiled Wonderland	May 21st, 2007 04:22:40 AM
Mrs Frisbee and the Rats of Nimh, by Robert C. O'Brien. It is NOT Don Bluth's creation, you fucking goat herders.
Hardboiled... by TheRealMoriarty	May 21st, 2007 04:39:11 AM
... you'll see that in the intro, I referred to it and even mentioned that it was a Newberry award winner.
This thing really imprinted on my childhood by Killah_Mate	May 21st, 2007 04:50:25 AM
I watched it as a kid, and I honestly couldn't tell you much specifics about the movie, but I clearly remember the effect it had on me: I was dumbfounded. It was unlike anything I've ever seen before. I didn't even know cartoons could be like that. And though I've never seen it again (a fault I intend to correct as soon as possible), it remains an unmistakable touchstone of my imagination.
First time I'd seen cartoon animals commit murder by Doc_Strange	May 21st, 2007 05:16:06 AM
That was some heavy shit for a kid to see. Though later I saw Watership Down. Now there's a talking animal cartoon that's definitely not for kids. Blood, dead rabbits, you name it. Fuck.
Cartoon not as good as the book by theBigE	May 21st, 2007 05:29:42 AM
My main reaction at the time (and I saw it in the theater!) was the cartoon wasn't as good as the book, which at 11 I'd already read. Maybe it was just different from the book, but that's how I remember it. I haven't watched it all the way through since, though my kids like the old VHS copy I picked up somewhere.
Watership Down by classyfredblassy	May 21st, 2007 05:30:28 AM
Any love for this film? Seems almost forgotten. I'd say even more underrated than NIHM. Crazy rabbits ripping the ears off of each other? Come'on people!
Excellent. by Nordling	May 21st, 2007 05:57:11 AM
Cartuna should write animated reviews more often.
Secret of Nimh by emeraldboy	May 21st, 2007 06:12:07 AM
was made in ireland. In the studios of Sullivan Bluth.outside dublin. They made a number of films there untill the studio was dissolved in the late 1990. Bluths last animated film was Titan AE. He joined forces with Sullivan and that partnership made all dogs go to heaven, NIMH, American tale. He then joined joined forces with the berg. and under the amblin deal he made the land before time series, american tale two and all dogs go to heaven. Some of those were made between Ireland and the UK. His last irish film was the pebble and the penguin. But due to the fact that his animation studio was then financial turmoil. Production was then halted. So if you want blame anyone for the penguin craze blame don bluth.
NIMH and watership by solitaire	May 21st, 2007 06:22:36 AM
I recall a woman coming into a video store I managed to rent a cartoon for her five year old twins, and selected Watership. She was talking about how they were so sensitive, and they had just lost their pet rabbits to a stray dog, and how beautiful the animation looked...I had to find the nicest way possible to explain that while, yes the animation WAS beautiful and yes, it WAS a great film, both her kids would undoubtably crap a buick twenty minutes in and be scarred for life. That film is amazing, I think the general is cemented in my mind as a classic movie villian the was Justin of the guards from Nimh has always been one of my favorite heroes. The use of music, voice and action in the final fight between Justin and Jenner is still one of the most suspenseful moments in any film I have ever seen.
And Then They Fucked It All Up With A Sequel. by Led Gopher	May 21st, 2007 06:28:44 AM
Seriously, this movie was a favorite of mine back then. When I saw a sequel had been made a few years back, I was curious to say the least. Turns out, the shitty movie was a brighter and happier musical. Fucking Hollywood raped my childhood.
NIMH by beelkay	May 21st, 2007 06:41:01 AM
I remember going to see this film at a drive-in with my mom. She rarely took me to movies, and they were always animated ones. I don't think this film was what she would have been expecting. I actually remember the storybook better than the film, although the Great Owl definitely stuck with me. As an adult, I read the original book, and it was great.
Girlfriend... by dark antifyre	May 21st, 2007 06:43:37 AM
...introduced me to this a few months back, and as a return i introduces her to Watership Down. I will always prefer the rabbits, though.... Waterhsip Down is still shown very regularly over here (Ireland)...emerald boy, did'nt that studio in Dublin do some the old TMNT catoons too???
Justin and Jenner are both badass by darthflagg	May 21st, 2007 06:44:52 AM
The final fight between them rivals Anakin vs. Obi-Wan!
Wrong about Jimmy Stewart... by crashcow	May 21st, 2007 07:23:10 AM
His last role was in An American Tale: Fievel Goes West. He wasn't in All Dogs Go to Heaven. Unrelated: Does any one recall the first (and should be, the only) The Land Before Time?
While not as good as the book... by Bones	May 21st, 2007 07:29:27 AM
...Jerry Goldsmith's score is one of his absolute best. When you stop and think that he was also doing Poltergeist (One of his other absolute finest scores)you forgive him for not having time to do Star Trek II--Which in turn, led to the opportunity for James Horner to step up with his first big soundtrack. The animation is magic as well--it is a textbook example of the former Disney guys's story department breaking the story into pieces and then developing those sequences into very memorable sequences. The stalking of Mrs. Brisby and Jeremy by the cat, the Sentry Reel where Mrs B is driven away from NIMH, The story of the rats, the escape from the farmer's house--and the accident/swordfight. I remember seeing this movie on my ninth birthday, after reading the book, and being horrified at all the death and murder they put into the movie (Jenner is not even a living character in the book)and being outraged that they would put such violence in a story that hadn't had it before. But a funny thing happened. As disturbed as I was, I wanted to see it again. And again. The "Secret" of the movie is that "Movies is Magic" as Josephus from History of the World Part I would say. The combination of the Animation, the Music and the incredible Voice Talent make a film that stays with you, forever. There were a lot of repeat movie viewings that summer: ET, Star Trek II, Secret of NIMH, TRON (and a local theatre that was still showing Raiders)--and hundreds of repeat viewings when it hit Cable the next year (Christmas of 1983 will always be associated with Secret of NIMH and Man From Snowy River on HBO). Secret of NIMH was a film that I debated with my teachers, who all loved the book, and it opened me to the world of criticism and discussion. The book may be better--most books are--but I love the movie more. Jenner--"If I have learned anything it is this--Take what you can, when you can" Justin--"Then you have learned...NOTHING"
They may have used the studio by emeraldboy	May 21st, 2007 07:43:45 AM
to make TMNT cartoons. but I have no idea.
Excellent article, Cartuna... by Moonwatcher	May 21st, 2007 08:08:34 AM
This was MILES ahead of anything Disney was doing at the time, live-action or animated (The Black Hole, anyone?). It was the first non-musical animated film I ever saw, and I kept waiting for the next one to come around (Princess Monoke). Come on guys, there's an adult audience just salivating at the chance to see what this medium can do with an adult setting. Where's the vision?
I loved this movie too. LOVED it. by Nice Marmot	May 21st, 2007 08:30:03 AM
It's now a bit dated and I could barely stomach the other Bluth stuff, but I watched NIMH every chance I got. I also love reading all the love for Watership Down. I grew up on the book and the film. I'm wondering if anybody ever saw another dark, kind of adult, animated film called "The Mouse and His Child (Son?)" It was about two toy mice that could talk. My sister and I used to watch it all the time in the early to mid 80s and get kind of creeped out by it. I've never brought it up to anyone that has ever heard of it.
Still waiting for by Diagnostic	May 21st, 2007 08:37:20 AM
the Megaforce review....
Now, I'm going to rent this again - has been years by Mister Man	May 21st, 2007 09:13:38 AM
82 WAS a great year. Thanks for the reminders.
?? widescreen DVD by aujahlisa	May 21st, 2007 09:15:29 AM
I, too, ADORE the Secret of NIMH. Does anyone know if there will ever be a widescreen DVD released? (Until my VCR dies the noble death,) I really don't see the point of purchasing a DVD that isn't really an upgrade from the VHS version. quick note on the book sequels - both were written by the daughter, the first in '86. Looks like she was trying to cash in. Book 3 was a lot better than 2, but neither hold a candle to her father's work.
APOLOGY TO MORIARTY by Hardboiled Wonderland	May 21st, 2007 09:29:56 AM
I wasn't refering to you, Mori, but I apologise anyway. I'm refering to the regular talkbackers, who are surprising me today with posts about Watership Down. AICN talkbacks just gained a little respect back.
APOLOGY TO MORIARTY by Hardboiled Wonderland	May 21st, 2007 09:30:10 AM
I wasn't refering to you, Mori, but I apologise anyway. I'm refering to the regular talkbackers, who are surprising me today with posts about Watership Down. AICN talkbacks just gained a little respect back.
This movie managed to be only slightly less by Raymar	May 21st, 2007 09:31:36 AM
traumatizing than the Dark Crystal when I was younger. Brrr!
One of the better writers at AICN is the animator? by partyflavor	May 21st, 2007 10:13:19 AM
Seriously Cartuna, great writing. It was also a real trip down memory lane. My only real criticism with what you wrote is that the business men, agents, and lawyers shouldn't be messed up with creative. I will agree that sometimes that is the case, but it is completely unfair to label someone as un-creative just because they have one of those titles. There are a lot of those people with those kind of titles who are just taking a different approach at exercising creativity. For whatever reason, they may feel they have a better chance of influencing the world for the better if they are of the people that shape the creative side of show business through the business side.
NIMH sequel and other thoughts by tylermo	May 21st, 2007 10:25:47 AM
I remember seeing the re-issued dvd of the original NIMH on the shelves(thankfully I bought the first release which had a better looking cover) and also seeing a NIMH sequel on dvd??? Never even bothered watching that one. There's no way it could live up to the original. I learned the hard way when I bought the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer sequel(they offered a bonus soundtrack cd for the original) Uuggh. Total piece of trash. ANd, I'm not just talking about the cgi. Everything was wrong, but what do you expect. They might as well do a sequel to Wizard of Oz. Yeah right. As for 1982, it was a great year for films. Some I saw at the theater, some on HBO and early cable runs. Love many of the afore-mentioned films, including WRATH OF KHAAAAAAAN!
CARTUNA should have reviewed Spiderman 3 by mrsinister7381	May 21st, 2007 10:28:04 AM
Not the corporate taint licking, jizz gurgling, redheaded fatass. SECRET OF NIMH was amazing as a child. Cartuna hits the nail on the head : Kids can handles simple and complex. I think it's parents who can't. That's why the idiot flock will continue to take their spawn to see WALDEN MEDIA shit.
NIMH is 3/4 of a perfect film. by TimBenzedrine	May 21st, 2007 10:33:54 AM
Unfortunatly it was the closest he ever got. The Magic Amulet (which was not in the book)is what ruined this film for me. Sure, it made for some specatular effects animation at the end, but it was completely out of place for the story that was being told. Around the same time he introduced the game DRAGON'S LAIR and SPACE ACE and I wish he had continued along these lines in his feature films. A SPACE ACE style sci-fi feature would have been so much better than TITAN AE. Dragon's Lair seemed to be crying out to be made into a feature, but instead of doing something along these lines, he teamed up with Steven Speilberg,(which I'm sure seemed like a good idea at the time) who took him down the road of cute widdle baby talking fuzzy wuzzy mice and dinosaurs. Everything that happened after that was a total letdown.
Re: Widescreen DVD by Osmosis Jones	May 21st, 2007 11:03:05 AM
It's coming out on June 19th (two days befofe my birthday, Yippee!), a 2-disc set with both the original (correct) 1:33 ratio and a newly-created 1:85 widescreen version. It'll also have Don Bluth/Gary Goldman and a featurette. As for Cartuna's article, a beautiful review for a beautiful movie. And yeah, the "magic" elements of the film aren't adequately explained, but I kind of like that it isn't. It's one of the reasons why I'm so fascinated by the film, that it's so dense with character and story that it can introduce a magical amulet into the book's narrative, not explain it in the slightest, yet still hold me spellbound. Plus, NIMH has that AWESOMELY violent swordfight climax, Jerry Goldsmith's gorgeous musical score, comic relief that was actually funny...we desperately need more films like this, especially with the current glut of "Farting CGI Animal" movies clogging multiplexes. I only wish that NIMH would get a theatrical reissue someday...
Great writing, Cartuna! by CoolFrood	May 21st, 2007 11:33:00 AM
Cartuna's reflection is a wonderful read. We should all think back on a major defining moment in our childhood and put it to paper. The fact that NIHM happens to also be an excellent animated movie only makes his story even better. Thanks, Cartuna, for sharing!
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Dr.Sonus	May 21st, 2007 11:43:18 AM
Was an amazing book. Loved the movie. Would love to see a sequel, but afraid Michael Bay will direct, and the rats will be CGI abominations, with monstrous explosions punctuating their jerky one-liners...Yeesh, that IS scary.
I got dibs on FIREFOX by durhay	May 21st, 2007 11:46:03 AM
Yep, the only movie I saw in 1982 was Firefox, because my movie going experiences were also based on the whims of my parents. I don't know how I got my dad to take me to Empire though. Anyway, he wanted to see Firefox, and I guess I begged to go with. Not a movie for nine year olds. Clint has 'Nam POW flashbacks, a guy commits suicide to avoid being captured by the commies. The only part I liked was when the sub crew waved at the Mig flying over.
I've always admired N.I.M.H. by theonecalledshoe	May 21st, 2007 11:50:40 AM
For me, that's how animation should be done. I just hope that I'd get a good shot at doing a couple animated pieces like the forementioned NIMH.
Huh?!? Can't hear you over the soundtrack! by droxford	May 21st, 2007 12:00:57 PM
Ugh. I got Nimh on DVD and watched it with my daughter. The audio was complete shit. We couldn't hear any of the dialog over the soundtrack. I hope they fix this in this summer's release.
Cable TV kicked so much ass in those days. by fish tacos	May 21st, 2007 12:19:11 PM
I was so lucky that my parents had HBO and Showtime. I watched NIMH, Flash Gordon and Khan probably every time they played them. What a great time that was to grow up... it's a shame that there's aren't intelligent, quality animated films like NIMH being made for kids today.
woohoo...awesome by Bouncy X	May 21st, 2007 12:51:09 PM
i'm not a huge animation fan, there's only a handful of animated movies i love dearly and this is one of them....so it was cool seeing it mentioned and he descried his love for it better than i ever could. it didnt change my life or anything like it seems with him but i loved it and still love it to this day and i'm glad its finally gotten a proper special edition. and hey, First Choice? god..that brings back memories....to this day when i see ads for first choice hair cutters, or even the actual salons, i always think of that channel....didnt realize AICN had a canadian in its team, that's cool.
rats by Darth Scourge	May 21st, 2007 01:15:39 PM
Yeah, I remember this movie. I even had the book as a kid, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of N.I.M.H.... I haven't seen this movie since it was first out.
THE SECRET OF NIMH WAS THAT THERE WAS NO SECRET by Pound Sand	May 21st, 2007 01:15:47 PM

summer 1982 by ufoclub1977	May 21st, 2007 01:23:34 PM
I saw "ET" and "Poltergeist" five times each in the theatre, alternating them over the course of middle school vacation.... listened to the soundtracks on vinyl... also made my first stop motion movie... whew, wasn't Star Trek II a bit earier the same year? Incredible time... and then Creepshow later...
The Plague Dogs eats N.I.M.H. for breakfast. by tonagan	May 21st, 2007 01:52:39 PM
Seriously, if you're a dog-lover, you'll be a wreck by the end of that movie, even as an adult. Plus, it's got Patrick Stewart doing a bit of voice work, for all you trekkers out there.
Incredible book, too bad the movie didn't live up to it by minderbinder	May 21st, 2007 02:12:12 PM
The movie was OK, but didnt' stick close enough to the original, too much monkeying around with things like magic. The original was more scifi, and "real" if such a thing is possible with talking rats. This article makes me curious about the movie, but really makes me want to read the book way more.
1971 Animation Rebuttal... by idahomer	May 21st, 2007 02:42:59 PM
Since 1971 was the best film year ever, here you go. A Christmas Carol. Won an Oscar. Done by Richard Williams (Animation Director for Roger Rabbit.) The Point. Music by Harry Nilsson. Directed by Oscar winner Fred Wolf.
Mrs. Brisby was the best thing about NIMH by deathbird	May 21st, 2007 03:52:31 PM
I can't sympathize with a spoiled, precocious bitch like Ariel, who basically wants to marry rich and get laid; but a young widow who's set on saving her children definitely has my support.
Harry, I always thought you by beerbeastredux	May 21st, 2007 04:12:54 PM
Harry, I always thought you were a fat, talentless turd. Now, with your backhanded NIMH comment, you've proven it. You have no grasp of a quality film. Why doncha go tongue Michael Bay up the ass. I hope Mrs. Brisby fries your meat puppet head with her amulet.
Man, this film scared the CRAP out of me as a kid. by brokentusk	May 21st, 2007 04:27:49 PM
Must have watched it a dozen times, though. I can't remember it clearly, I just have flashes of certain characters in my mind. I think it's time I saw it again.
The only time a movie has been better than the book. by onusbone	May 21st, 2007 04:33:11 PM
The book was horrible. I felt the entire idea of the tinkers wagon, and the abandoned mansion were not the best ideas ever. Their deletion more than made up for the amulet/McGuffin. But I saw the movie prior to reading the book, so take that into consideration... I also have to agree that this movie scared the crap out of me as well. When Mrs. Frisby first enters the rosebush, and is chased...yeesh. Not to mention the owl.
Guys! by TheRealMoriarty	May 21st, 2007 04:44:23 PM
Harry was kidding! It's called sarcasm. Maybe we need a special font for it just so no one gets called a "turd" over a joke.
the film of NIMH is too simplistic... by beamish13	May 21st, 2007 04:55:34 PM
It has this "magic=good/science=bad" attitude that was completely absent from the book. I do love the scene where Brisby escapes from the farmer's house, and the animation is gorgeous, but I was so disappointed with how Bluth handled the material.
magic/science as false dichotomy by onusbone	May 21st, 2007 05:08:14 PM
sorry beam, I don't see that. The rats are portrayed as thirsty for tech, and rather succesfully utilize, to no discernable detriment. The rats also see the value in the amulet itself. One could argue that the destruction of the scaffolding in the final scene is meant to depict the failure of technology where faith then prevails, but given that it is quite apparently destroyed by Jenner, I would say that this underlying theme is absent. Other than in the hands of the NIMH scientists, the end result of which is the creation of something undeniably beneficial (the rats, Mr. Frisby, and the Frisby children by proxy), where is technology portrayed as "bad"? Albeit, magic saves the day, but so does the medicine.
"The book was horrible" by minderbinder	May 21st, 2007 05:13:21 PM
I beg to differ. As well as all the other kids that loved it. And the people that decided to give it the newberry award. I guess it's just not your cup of tea. But "horrible"? Pshaw.
I absolutely love this movie. by Novaman5000	May 21st, 2007 06:19:51 PM
One of my favorite animated movies of all time, I think. It's not perfect, but I'm ok with it. Oh, and that fucking owl always scared the shit out of me... Same goes for Nicodemus... I know he was good but goddamn if he wasn't a bit nightmarish.
Droxford, you weren't imagining it by Frietag	May 21st, 2007 06:36:11 PM
The DVD release of SECRET OF NIMH is notoriously bad. The sound sucked, and the picture quality was worse than the VHS version (yeesh). Hopefully that'll get fixed in this new release. Incidentally, WATERSHIP DOWN and PLAGUE DOGS both rule. I wish they'd release the latter on DVD.
NiceMarmot, I saw MOUSE AND HIS CHILD too by Frietag	May 21st, 2007 06:44:48 PM
That is one seriously fucked up film. I saw it in a drive-in theater when I was young, and if I hadn't read the book first I don't even want to think about what it would have done to my pliable brain. I mean, NIMH and WATERSHIP we think of as very unusual for kid's films. But THE MOUSE AND HIS CHILD is just psychotic. And not in the loosey-goosey YELLOW SUBMARINE way. MOUSE has some of the most wacked-out shit I've ever seen in a kid's movie. It should have been called A CHILD'S GARDEN OF DADA. Incidentally, if you've never read the book it was based on (by Russell Hoban), do so immediately. It's much better than the movie. The filmmakers couldn't include lots of stuff -- the shrew battles, I mean massacres! The whores! Etc. -- and watered down most of the rest. (Although they did Manny Rat surprisingly well.)
Can I taste your bitter tears? by enrique_o_k2000	May 21st, 2007 07:09:24 PM
Another film elitist who laments that movies are made so that most people can enjoy them. And it's kind of reaching to say that Roger Rabbit and Little Mermaid were done in response to NIMH. Never saw "Secret," but I read the book and enjoyed it quite a bit.
Dug it by Chifoilisk	May 21st, 2007 09:58:54 PM
Years later, when we finally got a VCR, the Rats of NIMH, The Princess Bride, and Indiana Jones and the last Crusade were the movies that were taped off TV and watched over and over and over again. And treeplanting buddies called Kapuskasing the armpit of Ontario - but I imagine your from a different armpit...
re: Frietag by beamish13	May 21st, 2007 10:28:14 PM
The director's cut of "Plague Dogs" can be found here: http://diabolikdvd.com/ it might be sold out at the moment, though. Oh, and I hope you have a region-free DVD player that can take PAL discs
re: "The Mouse and His Child" by beamish13	May 21st, 2007 10:31:11 PM
ah, yes. Based on the Russell Hoban book one critic dubbed "Beckett for children". Fascinating movie. Wish it was out on DVD somewhere. It was co-directed by Charles Swenson, who was partially responsible for the 1983 classic "Twice Upon a Time" (damnit, Warner Bros., RELEASE IT ALREADY!)
You can also see the uncut Plague Dogs on YouTube by Osmosis Jones	May 21st, 2007 11:58:57 PM
Although I'd love to have a nice DVD release...
Kids need this stuff. by rickets419	May 22nd, 2007 12:23:06 AM
Adults always under estimate the amount of "grown up" problems children can actually handle. As an avid reader as a child (and still as an adult) certain books and movies always stood out as ones that just gave you the facts and let you know that the world is a terrible place and struggle is a common occurance. N.I.M.H., Where the Red Fern Grows, The Bridge to Terabithia, Number the Stars, and Hatchet are all great books that show kids that they can achieve and overcome anything that want to. As long as they ask for help when needed and stop at nothing to accomplish their goals. These qualities in movies and books have given me the strength to pursue anything and everything in my adult life. SO there!
NIMH DOGS by Harry Weinstein	May 22nd, 2007 07:09:28 AM
Bluth never even came close to this level of greatness again, but man, did he ever smack this one out of the park. Import the uncut PLAGUE DOGS on DVD from Australia.
Fantastic Film, Excellent Animation, Great storytelling by Daniel De Leon	May 22nd, 2007 07:26:17 AM
What a great film! I saw this & 'The Land Before Time when I was very young (5-6?). I was born in Sept. '82 so... But yeah, they really broke it to kids hard & like it was. "Life's tough, get ready for it! BUT you can make it through w/the right help and love in your life." I was moved, touched, and inspired, by these films as a child and I just bought the DVD version of N.I.M.H last month as I was just taking a trip down memory lane recently and came to find out that the net has recently lit up with talk of NIMH lately due to the new special anniversary edition coming out in June this year (next month)! How cool. Now here's a question/thought I've had for a little while now: What if Bluth gave the rights to some CGI house to redo NIMH in state-of-the-art, photo-realistic CG Animation -BUT!- kept the exact audio track(s) [voice acting] from the original (maybe re-record the score also BUT note-for-note, for better clarity)?? How cool would THAT be?! Anyone else ever thought of that? Or am I the only one? I'd def. pay to see it!! I mean, damn!! Imagine it, nearly frame for frame the same, with as tight and fluid and close to the exact movements portrayed in the original but just redone w/in brilliant CGI of today?! WOW... that's my 2cents! :) Daniel
read the book by misnomer	May 22nd, 2007 04:48:40 PM
as a kid and enjoed it. never saw the cartoon. Waterships a classic...still held in high regard in the UK.
Daniel, that would be horrible by TimBenzedrine	May 24th, 2007 09:59:41 AM
The artwork to NIMH is beautiful as is---Jeremy the crow in 1982 was one of the best pieces of character animation to come along in almost 20 years. CG would add nothing to this film, in fact it would totally obliterate all the hard work and artistry that went into the character designs and background art. Why would you throw all that away in exchange for a lot of synthetic textures? Would Bugs Bunny be funnier if he were covered with a thick coat of pixels like those taxidermied Over the Hedge characters? Plus, the whole reason Don broke from Disney in the first place is that he wanted to do a truly state of the art cartoon, not cost-cutting stuff like Robin Hood and The Rescuers. NIMH has multiplane shots, transparent contact shadows, lush background art with lots of effects animation, even some rotoscoping thrown into the mix. NIMH represents everything that animation was capable of doing in 1982, and they did it damned well. Although some may disagree, YES IT DID give Disney a swift kick in the ass, promting them to make riskier films(costwise, not contentwise) like Little Mermaid and Roger Rabbit possible,although the one that really had them worried in the mid eightes was the more successful(but less impressive, just more overproduced and better marketed) American Tail.
Diagnostic. MEGAFORCE!!! by Stuntcock Mike	May 24th, 2007 01:40:37 PM
Wow, I'd blocked that one out. Barry Bostwick's finest hour.
yeah, this flick just kicks fucking ass by thekylegassproject	May 28th, 2007 03:37:52 PM
i'm so glad someone took the time to remember. and btw, this is an exceptionally awesome smoking movie if that's you're thing.
A classic film that ushered in a change by council estate scumbag	May 29th, 2007 01:19:16 PM
..and forced Disney's hand to stop churning out rubbish like "The fox and the hound". Bluth, dispite dat geeza's shortcomings, did a great job on this one and its the only film i'm satisfied with of his. i remember this when i was a kid too and i loved it then and i like it now. It harked back to the golden age of the 30's and 40's with its soft pallete, unlike the disgusting look of fox and hound and to a lesser extent the rescuers. this is Bluth's one shining glory, even though he then became a nonce who i dispise.
Hey, don't diss The Fox And The Hound by Osmosis Jones	May 30th, 2007 10:49:18 PM
.
Nimh & Watership Down by Maui	May 31st, 2007 11:07:39 AM
Wow, I still have this movie in VHS, with a torn jacket. A classic. It sits on my VHS tape shelf right next to Watership Down, which in my opinion is an equally impressive animated movie.
Sorry, Osmosis Jones by council estate scumbag	Jun 3rd, 2007 08:05:13 AM
Sorry, fella, but that film stinks like my mama's ass after she's shat herself sfter an undercooked vindaloo. Look at both 'Nimh' and 'Fox & Hound' and tell me which one is better, son. recognize.

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