Rating: 
Summary: a classic to remember and a good buy
Review: This movie is well written. A swell adventure and fantasy to enjoy. Based on a classic book. Don't wait. Buy it's harder to find older movies.
Rating: 
Summary: The book is better than the movie, as usual
Review: You gotta love this flick, if only because Robert O'Brien's book is an absolute classic, and it's actually pulled off pretty well here. Of the three big animation houses these days (house of Disney, house of Bakshi, house of Bluth), I've always thought Bluth's animators were third-best, but after a while you forget that and get caught up in the story. Still, you're probably better off reading the book, unless you get a perverse thrill from hearing the voices of a ten-year-old Shannen Doherty and an eleven-year-old Wil Wheaton. * 1/2
Rating:
Summary: A rare and beautiful cinematic achievment.
Review: It's hard for me to write a review of "The Secret of NIMH", because it is quite simply one of most powerful and awe-inspiring film productions ever created. Its dazzling animation and truly profound storytelling defeats any attempt at trying to capture in words the magic it performs in the hearts and minds of viewers. But here goes. Director Don Bluth and his team of animators left Disney to start this production, as a reaction against the steady abandonment by their former employers of the classical art of animation for a more streamlined, cost-effective approach. As story material for this project, they enlisted the seminal children's book "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH", by Robert C. O'Brien. It details the story of a young widowed field mouse who, in order to save her family from the dreaded farmer's plough, must throw in with a cadre of rats who guard a miraculous secret: due to scientific experiements undergone at the National Institute of Mental Health (the NIMH of the title), they have been genetically altered to posess intelligence on par with humans. Stealing electricity from a nearby farmhouse, they have formed their own underground civilization that they must ultimately abandon as NIMH returns to eliminate them. While the film only uses the core premise of the book as its foundation, it exhibits the rare film adaptation quality of actually improving upon its literary source, by adding a mystical element that ends up telling a better, more visually dynamic story. And along with the revamped, Tolkienized plot are lovingly crafted characterizations, creating a vibrant community of animal players who you truly begin to empathise with. It's not often that a movie allows such emotional investment by viewers into the plight of its characters...NIMH does this, and then some. And then, of course, we also have the incredible artwork. It is easy to see how dedicated Bluth is to recapturing the lost days of lush, colourful, amazingly detailed animation. Every scene vibrates with visual content, whether it be a brilliantly composed background or a breakneck action sequence, both of which NIMH does in spades. I've lost count how many times I've watched NIMH, but there never fails to be chills running up and down my spine in certain scenes, due to the devestating power of the images. Such a synthesis of dramatic storytelling and miraculous visuals is something to be truly cherished. Unfortunately, when NIMH was released in 1982, it was knocked aside by the release of Spielberg's powerhouse film E.T. and has been relegated to cult status, revered by those lucky enough to have been witness to one of the greatest animated features ever produced. If you want to refresh your spirt and mind, as well as watch a true practitioner of classical animation out-Disney Disney itself, submit to the awesome magic of NIMH today.
Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece and a cornerstone of my heart
Review: I would simply say this: -This movie is the best animated film ever produced. -I belong to the following it has generated. -I worship Don Bluth -I am writing a fan fiction novel, based on the movie(and book) -I keep all three books and the DVD at my desk at all times. -This movie is a part of me, without it, i would be nothing.
Rating: 
Summary: A complete betrayal of the novel
Review: I can't believe it. Robert C O Brien wrote a beautiful children's novela called Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. IN it, characters rely on intelligence, thier own problem solving skills and each other to solve their porblems. In the movie, it's all solved by a magic amulet that wasn't even in the book. The origins of the rats of NIMH are completely glossed over yet their plight makes for the most fascinating aspects of the book! Even little things are annoying. Why is she called Mrs. Brisby? Why is Mr. Ages so bad tempered instead of the kind white mouse in the book? Why do Jeremy and the Shrew have such major roles? Why is Jenner vilified and made a baddie? In the book he is shown to be a sympathetic character who just had different beliefs from the rest. He nad his friends split away, amicably, only to meet in tragedy. Where is the open endings regarding the possibility of Justin's noble self sacrifice? This movie is the worst adaptation of a book I have ever seen in that it completely betrays the spirit and intention of the novel. They cut tons of wonderful character development and interaction in the book just to replace it with silly scenes with the shrew and Jeremy. O'Brien didn't feel the need to patronize his readers so why should the makers of the film talk down to their audience just because they're children? Horrible. I teach "Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" to my class and we will be watching this movie so the students can write a paper about the differences between the two.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie, great book!
Review: When I was little, I wore out both the paperback book and the movie! Its still my favorite animated movie of all time. This is because it has supurb animation, great characters, and a fabulous plot. Justin the rat is the best! I highly recommend this movie for both children and adults. Im 26 and I still will watch it periodically!
Rating:
Summary: A "Cartoon" with Heart
Review: "The Secret of N.I.M.H." was released several years before the onslaught of the Disney triumphs of the late eighties and early nineties, so it has gotten lost in the shuffle. This is truly unfortunate because this is a rare animated classic: a film that touches the heart with a message about the abuse of animals for scientific research. With a very subtle appeal for better use of animals, the film tells a simple story of a mother rat who sets out to learn about her deceased husband, a laboratory rat elevated to high status by his fellow "inmates." In the process of saving her children from possible death at the hands of an unknowing farmer, Mrs. Frisby - the mother rat - learns many secrets about her spouse and the work at the lab. With superb animation, the vocal talents of true actors, and an outstanding score by legendary film composer Jerry Goldsmith, the film shines from start to finish. No home with children should be without this one. In fact, every home with a VCR should have this film to view over and over again. It, like fine wine, improves with age!
Rating:
Summary: Great movie-terrible DVD
Review: This movie has always been one of my favorites. It was one of the only movies I watched as a kid, on a bootlegged 8mm that I wore out with use. When I saw it on the rack at Blockbuster, I was overcome. What joy! What perfection! What... full screen transfer! Now, I don't know if this movie even had a wide screen version at any point in its life, but I'm assuming it did. And full screen just doesn't do it for me. No extras, no letterboxing, nice liner notes though. I can only hope that they re-release it with some nice character sketches or something. Alas.
Rating: 
Summary: OK film looks great compared to rest...
Review: There is no arguing that the Secret of NIMH is a competent film with a strong music score and fantastic visuals, but one wonders that if America actually had a strong heritage of animation instead of a floundering history of so called classics with silly musical numbers where this film would stand. Clearly Bluth wanted something more serious, and he came as close as he was going to get with this film, then promptly abandoned it...and that is sometimes the way this film feels--sort of a footnote. Not terribly well thought out, even occasionally nonsensical, parts of the film are rushed, and short of a dashing errol flynn hero in the form of Justin, we have virtually no reason to sympathize with the rats who seem as greedy and self centered as the humans who made them. More so, the movie seems to wrap up about 30 minutes too early, and the ending that is provided feels so terribly cliched that children who enjoyed the book first will no doubt be dissapointed by the hollywood style finish. Not that The Secret of NIMH is a bad film by any means, but it makes clear just how baddly the studios are in need of good story tellers. A look across the ocean at Miyazaki's Totoro, Kiki's and Mononoke demonstrate how good story can translate to film without compromise and degenerating to one-liners or musical numbers. As things stand, this is still probably the best American animated film for kids, but it falls short from being the best possible, to which I blame those producers who felt that children (or anyone) need to be addressed with a 'greatest common demoninator' mentality, obvious examples being the dumbed down ending (the original story had no villians) and the portrayal of experimenters as evil animal torturers. There was a lot of room for something great with this film--the studio clearly cared (for once) abouth their product, and they had good material to work with, an excellent cast and good musical score. Why this so-so attempt has been taken as the best that is possible and not the first step toward something far superior is something I still don't understand.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent animated feature!
Review: This is one of the best animated features ever made. It's the story of a courageous mouse trying to save her family. With highly imaginative and detailed characters. Most certainly worth your time.
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