Rating: 
Summary: Maybe you should read the book instead
Review: Movie and book can agree on one thing here-Mrs. Jonathan Frisby (or Brisby, as the movie wrongly insists) is our unfalteringly kind, tenderhearted, and courageous heroine. The movie and the book (titled Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH) seem to have irreconcilable differences in every other way. I could name so many of these differences, since The Secret of NIMH is truly not a movie of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. Most importantly, in the book, Jenner was not a villain! Jenner was not evil! I cannot stress this fact enough. It was an injustice to Robert C. O'Brien to make Jenner out to be a murderer of his best friend. Also, Mr. Ages was not a jerk, the Shrew was not quite that vile, and Jeremy was not so painfully dumb. Perhaps the name of the book was changed for the movie because everyone involved in the production could not, in good conscience, claim that the movie was similar to the book. If that is so, then I fail to comprehend why the producers made a movie that is not wholly based on the book, yet is geared mainly towards those who have read the book. An example is the story of Timothy's spider bite. The book explains the horrible effect a spider bite had on Timothy when he was very young. He almost died, and Mr. and Mrs. Frisby took turns carrying his paralyzed body to Mr. Ages so that the doctor could heal him. Since barely surviving the spider bite that was so severe that the spider might as well have been a black widow, Timothy was never very strong. In the movie, when Mrs. Brisby goes to visit Mr. Ages because of Timothy's fever, Mr. Ages asks, `Oh, is he the one with the spider bite?' and no more about this matter is ever discussed in the movie. Obviously, one who hasn't read the book has no idea why Mr. Ages made that inquisition. So, I'm asking why would the filmmakers make a movie that wants people to have read the book beforehand, but take such liberty in changing the book's plot? It's so unfair to gloss over the details of the story of the rats of NIMH themselves. What took the book about seven chapters to explain took the movie a mere two minutes. There is no talk of the rats' stay in the Boniface Estate, where they read a newly married couple's entire library and gained much of their knowledge and wisdom. There is no talk about their discovery of the toy tinker, whose tools they acquire and benefit from greatly. Robert C. O' Brien also offers a very detailed account of the experiments performed on the rats, but all of it is left out of the movie. How disappointing. Okay, quite a few things disturb me, obviously, but I'm most troubled by the portrayal of Jenner. The distortion of the facts about his character is damaging in many ways. First of all, Jenner was cynical, doubtful, foolish, and rebellious, but he was not murderous, evil, wicked, and he CERTAINLY was not `consumed by a lust for power!' Let's get the facts straight here. In the book, Jenner didn't believe the Plan would work. He thought that Nicodemus was being naïve to think they could build a civilization in Thorn Valley, and so he took six of his rat friends and ran off. Later, he and his rat friends ended up dying tragically. But the movie makes Jenner a threat to everyone! Jenner murders Nicodemus, who has been his friend for years! This misrepresentation of the plot and Jenner's character is atrocious. Furthermore, all those silly scenes with Jeremy are pretty far from accurate. Jeremy is also made out to be incredibly stupid, and he was stupid enough in the book to begin with. Mr. Ages is almost sarcastic in the movie when he says, 'Oh, and I'm sorry about the death of your husband, but I have things to do,' or something to that effect. He's also very obnoxious and disparages Justin for some reason. In the book, he is very kind, sympathetic, and harbors no contemptuous feelings for Justin. Nicodemus is very much the same in the movie as in the book, except for one little detail. The aging process was slowed significantly for the rats of NIMH as a result of their injections, but Nicodemus is very old and frail in the movie. Why the amulet? Why the magic? Why the violent battle scene at the end? These things were not necessary to make the book good. Okay, for a moment, let's pretend there is no Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, and this movie was an entirely original concept. I feel a lot better about it already. The movie is visually stunning. The animation is beautiful. I think it's better than that of most of the animated movies of today. The story is actually very good. Mrs. Brisby is an incredible character. She has `true courage of the heart,' as Nicodemus would say. The scene in which her house comes out of the mud is miraculous. Justin, Nicodemus, and Jeremy are very charming characters. Tiger looks especially intimidating. The deserving Jeremy gets a girl at the end and that satisfies the viewer. But there is a Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, and somebody really didn't do it justice. Go and read the book. It is more entertaining, elaborate, and many messages are conveyed in it that are not even touched upon in The Secret of NIMH. I am sorry to make these declarations, because I loved this movie when I was a child. I suppose it's easy to love if you don't read the book. I give it two stars for beautiful animation and some adequate characterization, but I can't be more generous than that.
Rating: 
Summary: Animation's best-kept "Secret"
Review: Based on a fondly remembered book, "Secret of NIMH" is one of my favorite animated films. The story is this: a widow fieldmouse needs to move her family before the plow comes. Her young son is ill, so she seeks the aid of mysterious, remarkably skilled rats who live in a rosebush. With their help, she learns the true magic and power of love. For the most part, it was a thrill to see my favorite passages from the book brought to life, but a few changes surprised me: in the book, Brutus the Guard is described as a young rat, but the film depicts him as a hulking colossus, fiercely attacking Mrs. Brisby when she attempts to contact Nicodemus (the rats' leader). The film also adds an enchanted amulet, which requires a greater leap of faith to accept: at least the super-intelligent rats are explained by secret laboratory tests--are we to infer that NIMH was also experimenting with otherdimensional forces? Don Bluth's animation imbues the characters with richness of expression and body language. Truly spectacular voice-over performances complete the illusion. I can't think of a better voice for Jeremy the Crow than the ever-talented Dom DeLouise! Bonus trivia: listen carefully for a young Shannon Doherty. With heartwarming songs, a family-oriented theme and whimsical characters, you'll want to watch "the Secret of NIMH" with your children again and again!
Rating:
Summary: "Courage of the heart is rare..."
Review: This just keeps getting better and better. I loved this movie when I was two, and I love it now on DVD. It's a story about courage and family and just what you would do to keep what you loved safe. Mrs. Brisby (changed from Mrs. Frisby in "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH") is just an ordinary little fieldmouse, a widow with four children and a desparate fear of spring. The field that she lives in is about to be plowed over, and one of her children is very ill, and cannot be moved. So she seeks help from a host of characters, including a mad scientist of a mouse, a bumbling lovelorn crow, and an owl that STILL, almost twenty years later, frightens me. Eventually, she seeks the rats...super-intelligent rats that have escaped from the National Institute of Mental Health. This movie does contain some scenes of violence and one mild swear word, but none of this detracts from the flawless beauty of the film (or how hot Justin is...ah, my first crush, and it was on a rat...some things never change).
Rating:
Summary: great dvd, but wish it was in widescreen......
Review: A beautiful and touching animated don bluth film. Do not have a bad word to say about it except that it is only on standard format and not widescreen......grrr (why do they do that?)
Rating: 
Summary: Not Completely Faithful, But A Marvelous Adaptation
Review: What a wonderful story this is. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH was the first novel I ever read, waaaaay back in kindergarten... and it remains a favorite to this day. As noted, the movie isn't entirely faithful to the book... but the changes add surprise rather than marring the original story. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: The Secret of NIMH DVD
Review: The Secret of NIMH is a heartwarming and touching story the entire family will enjoy. It is one of the best animated movies I have ever seen.
Rating:
Summary: charming children's story
Review: The Secret of Nimh is a charming animated children's movie, loosely based on the book, 'Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh.' It's a favorite from my childhood. The animation is good and the story is a good one. The biggest problem I have with the film is that the filmmaker's copped out and used magic to solve all problems at the end. But up til then, it's a good story. There are discrepancies between the book and the movie, but it is an adaptation, and a good show in its own right.
Rating:
Summary: The best animated film to come since "Beauty and the Beast"
Review: This dark, animated fantasy film is loosely based on an earlier book of a different name. However, unlike that of insubstantial children fare like that of 'A Troll of Central Park' and 'All Dogs Go To Heaven,' "The Secret of NIMH" is a rare surprise to come in a line of mixed Don Bluth animated films; it is a darkly animated film with a strong storyline and good voice acting, to boot. Ms. Frisby, a widowed field mouse, learns that the place where she lives will soon be will be used for electronic plowing. Not wanting to put herself and her family (she has a young son with pneumonia) at great risk, she enlists the help of a crow and a group of unnaturally smart rats that can help her move to higher ground. Whilst the movie has heavy omissions from the book, as to appeal mainly for kids, the movie is wholly enjoyable on its own merits as much as the book that inspired it. The movie is interwoven with comedy, pathos and drama-such as the moral that love can conquer all-which makes it enjoyable, but it wouldn't be as successful as it was without the gorgeous animation and its strong storyline. The movie is definitely one of the best animated movies of all time, which ranks up with Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Little Mermaid" as one of the best, because like children, adults can fully enjoy the hypnotic visual and magical wonders of "The Secret of NIMH" as well.
Rating:
Summary: the ultimate in animated movies
Review: I'd give this movie 10 stars if possible. I watched this movie everyday when I was a kid and when i watch it now, i can still recite it. This is such a great movie. As some of the other reviewers said, this movie is a little more realistic, a little grittier.
This movie truly does have something for everyone. Children will love the talking creatures, the ridiculous crow, Jeremy, (voiced with perfection by Dom DeLuise), and they'll recognize the overwhelming, self-sacrificing love Mrs. Brisby (the mother) displays for her family. Adults will enjoy the more subtle humor as well as the message of pure love conquering all obstacles. This movie (along with my role model mother) formed my image of how mothers should be: loving, strong and self-sacrificing. Even when Mrs. Brisby if forced to face her deepest fears (an owl, the cat), she does it, not without fear, but to save her son's life. This is a touching movie.
Another point of appreciation for this movie is that it does not try to simply dumb things down for kids. I like most Disney movies but this aims a little higher. There are some deep issues, such as death, jealousy, fear and hate, that aren't dwelt on but are brought up and as children grow older, they will grow to understand and love this movie more and more.
Rating:
Summary: best animated movie of all time!
Review: EVEN WALT HIMSELF CAN'T TOUCH THIS MOVIE. THE SECRET IS YOU DON'T NEED DISNEY TO MAKE THE BEST ANIMATED MOVIE OF ALL TIME. I FIRST SAW THIS MOVIE WHEN I WAS 8 YEARS OLD, NOW I'M 26 AND I STILL LOVE THIS MOVIE THE SAME, IF NOT MORE. IT'S A MAGICAL TALE ABOUT A WIDOW MOUSE WHO IS FORCED TO SEEK HELP FROM THE RATS TO AID HER IN MOVING HER HOME TO A SAFE PLACE. THE STORY IS DEEPER THAN THAT, BUT THAT EXPLAINS THE PLOT. THERE IS ALSO A SEQUEL. IT'S O.K. HOWEVER DOESN'T HAVE THE MAGIC OF THIS 1982 CLASSIC.
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