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adamwatchesmovies · 2 years

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The Secret of NIMH (1982)

The Secret of NIMH is an inspired, ambitious film; a serious contender for Don Bluth’s best work. I’d never seen this animated film before and though some of the ending stood a little uneasy with me, I look forward to seeing it again. It’s the kind of film I love to discover because I can recommend it to just about anyone.

Mrs. Brisby (voiced by Elizabeth Hartman) is a meek, recently-widowed field mouse. Her son Timmy has been diagnosed with pneumonia and needs rest to recover. Unfortunately, the owner of the field in which she lives is preparing to plow. She will need to overcome her fears and ask for help from the Rats of NIMH to save her family.

The most striking element of The Secret of NIMH is its protagonist. You’re used to seeing strapping young farmhands onto which a bold destiny is thrust or a young woman who dreams of more than her small town can offer. Mrs. Brisby couldn’t be more different. She isn’t special, brave, or particularly talented. She’s just a regular, widowed mother who wants to save her son. Her only assets are her determination and her former husband's reputation. It makes her adventure that much more tense and captivating. Her weaknesses and drive to overcome them make her a three-dimensional but unlikely hero, a strong character you happily cheer on.

You could write volumes about Mrs. Brisby, her name's significance (the film doesn’t spell it out for you but think about it and you’ll understand what I mean), the differences between her and the Rats of NIMH, and her role in the conclusion are teeming with details and subtlety that give the film endless re-watch value. It would be a mistake not to look at what else the film has to offer, however. It’s a wonderful story with danger, humor, and memorable characters. They're certain to endure not only because of the way they look; it's their personalities, and what they contribute to the mythology of this universe that makes them great. Normally, I find Dom DeLuise’s animated characters to be treacly and annoying. Not here.

The visuals are exceptional, with many special effects added to give key elements of the film an ominous, overwhelming feeling. The Secret of NIMH is the kind of picture you see when you’re young and enjoy it. When you then return to see it years later, you'll find yourself enjoying it even more than the first time. This is a story that stimulates the imagination and inspires. This is something special. Even when there are bits that stick out as a bit odd (the ending is rather abrupt), it feels right. While it may be too intense, too cerebral, and maybe even a bit too frightening for the smallest of children, that’s a good thing. It means parents will have to sit down with the younger viewers and discuss with them what's going on, how they feel about it, and really put some thought into the story. That’s what great films do. They don't merely entertain, they nourish.

It took me much too long to finally sit down with The Secret of NIMH. I assumed that much of the plot had been spoiled for me, that knowing what NIMH stands for (National Institute of Mental Health) would damper a big revelation. I was wrong. The Secret of NIMH lives up to its reputation (On Blu-ray, March 18, 2016)

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adamwatchesmovies · 4 years

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Home on the Range (2004)

People still talk about Lilo & Stitch. Sometimes you even hear some discuss the merits of Brother Bear. No one talks about Home on the Range. Was the second-last theatrically-released Disney Animated really THAT bad? No. I’d even recommend it for young audiences. Just know that for everyone else, it's mostly unremarkable.

When their farm is threatened with foreclosure, cows Maggie (voiced by Roseanne Barr), Grace (Jennifer Tilly), and Mrs. Calloway (Judi Dench) make it their mission to come up with the money by capturing wanted outlaw Alameda Slim (Randy Quaid).

Bits and pieces of the 45th Disney animated feature film are likable. The main characters, for instance. Jennifer Tilly is consistently funny as Grace. Having a trio of cows in this western adventure is a nice departure from the stories we're accustomed to from the studio. The visuals aren't revolutionary, but there are a couple of well-drawn scenes, with a noteworthy one that recalls the "Pink Elephants on Parade" insanity of Dumbo. It's the highlight and with the way it plays out, Home on the Range might be worth seeing - once - just for that sequence. There are also a couple of nice sight gags here and there, including some pretty good ones with the villain.

All that said, this is not a particularly strong picture. It contains many dated or odd elements. The story isn’t fresh. You can't quite put your finger on it. There’s something about Home on the Range, its character designs, the peg-legged rabbit Lucky Jack (Charles Haid), and the selfish horse, Buck (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) that doesn’t pop.

The obvious flaws include the abundance of "generic animated jokes”. I’m talking about characters given silly quirk that don’t really make any sense and do not deepen them or make them more interesting in any way. A perfect example is Buck. Why does he know Kung Fu? For no reason except to have a bunch of silly scenes for the kiddies where he jumps around screaming Hi-yah! The film is made for children, yes. That’s the problem. Children is the only audience this will appeal to. Adults Can still watch Snow White, Fantasia, Aladdin or Beauty and the Beast and never feel like they're stuck babysitting someone. Why can’t Home on the Range, be on the same level?

I wouldn’t have even guessed that this was a Disney movie if it hadn’t known going in. Home on the Range doesn’t contain that magic. It’s a child-friendly animated movie about some funny talking farm animals, that’s it. I was initially going to collect every single Disney animated film, but after seeing Treasure Planet - it's just ok - and then this one, I think I’ll just stick with the ones that have truly stood the test of time. I still don’t think Home on the Range is all that bad. I’m even going to give it a mild recommendation because it’s watchable, even enjoyable if you’re in the right mood. It just isn’t very strong overall. (On DVD, February 16, 2015)

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