Review of The Secret of NIMH (1982) by Jose P — 18 Jul 2008

This certainly isn't a Disney movie, and it's obvious in everything but the animation. Kids should stay away, far away, as there's material here that's liable to give them nightmares for weeks, yet the story is far too simplistic and dumbed down for this to be taken as a serious adult piece.

Unlike Pixar, who somehow manage to make films for both adults and kids, Bluth has created one that suits neither, probably why it was such a commercial flop. And although I would normally discredit an entertainment piece for failing to choose an audience, in this case the result is so refreshing that I can't hold a grudge against it.

It all comes off as a nightmarish childhood dream, weirdly trying to both make you love and fear it simultaneously. With great animation, voice acting and a pretty good soundtrack, the nutjob story (which, by the way, is the only talking-animal story that actually explains why the animals are talking in the first place: kudos on that point) actually does get intriguing despite massive plotholes and inconsistencies.

It's free on hulu and certainly worth your hour and some odd minutes.