MovieChat Forums > The Secret of NIMH (1982) Discussion > maybe this movie was just bad?

maybe this movie was just bad?

posted 18 years ago by silverskysurfer3
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I watched this with my girlfriend last night, and I really didn't enjoy this movie. Although it might make me geeky, I love watching these old movies from my childhood, and a lot of them hold up from my memory. Unfortunately, Secret of NIMH can never rank with these films. Honestly, I found most every aspect of the movie lacking but the animation. There are so many plot holes I could barely stand it. What is this unelaborated-upon place "NIMH?" Some random scientific lab, where they have MAGIC potion to put into little rodents? And only enough to use on a couple rats, and no more? Also, all rodents could already talk... and even rats who WEREN'T from NIMH could read, i.e., the wife of Jonathon. Why wouldn't the owl eat her? Why couldn't all those rats realize Jenner was up to no good? Honestly, this movie pissed me off, and if I hadn't fooled around afterwards I probably would've gone home a little disssatisfied and angry about watching such a bad film.

[–] pierce-mn1 12 years ago

NIMH does, indeed stand for the National Institute for Mental Health. This is a bad movie, and if you are confused, you should read the book, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. It starts out as a rather simple story of a mouse trying to help her son who is very ill, and turns into a very involved Science Fiction novel that's quite good. I read it to my class every year in October. They love it! I don't show this movie, though, because it's a terrible film!

[–] Blueghost 12 years ago

by silverskysurfer3 (Mon Mar 5 2007 00:02:34)
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I watched this with my girlfriend last night, and I really didn't enjoy this movie. Although it might make me geeky, I love watching these old movies from my childhood, and a lot of them hold up from my memory. Unfortunately, Secret of NIMH can never rank with these films. Honestly, I found most every aspect of the movie lacking but the animation. There are so many plot holes I could barely stand it. What is this unelaborated-upon place "NIMH?" Some random scientific lab, where they have MAGIC potion to put into little rodents? And only enough to use on a couple rats, and no more? Also, all rodents could already talk... and even rats who WEREN'T from NIMH could read, i.e., the wife of Jonathon. Why wouldn't the owl eat her? Why couldn't all those rats realize Jenner was up to no good? Honestly, this movie pissed me off, and if I hadn't fooled around afterwards I probably would've gone home a little disssatisfied and angry about watching such a bad film.

Dude, it's a children's cartoon. What were you expecting? A National Geographic special?

[–] supergenius6020 12 years ago

I watched it for the first time a few months ago, and I had more or less the same reaction. Maybe this is one of those films that is only really enjoyable through the lenses of nostalgia goggles.

[–] chrisdaco2 12 years ago

Watched it again with my kids just a couple of weeks ago and was astounded at how good it was. Maybe it seems better than it did because everything aimed at kids today is so saccharine and peppered with pop culture references. Still every now and then you get something good like Wreck it Ralph but nothing with the balls to actually show lab rats getting needles stuck in their guts. Watership Down is another good animated movie from that era.

"Sorry I'm late. I was taking a crap."
Paul Newman

[–] LadyMiraculous 11 years ago

maybe this movie was just bad?

Or maybe you just didn't understand the movie.

Let the storm rage on, the cold never bothered me anyway...
[Formerly CosmosX9]

[–] sailorspysedna 10 years ago

I think I've had different thoughts about this film, ever since I saw it. First I liked it, then not liked it because of the changes from the book, but now looking back on it, I think it's great. Not as good as the book, but I see both as two different versions.

[–] king_of_bob 10 years ago

I watched this with my girlfriend last night, and I really didn't enjoy this movie.

Then there is something seriously wrong with you as a movie watcher.

There are so many plot holes I could barely stand it.

Then perhaps list a few.

What is this unelaborated-upon place "NIMH?" Some random scientific lab, where they have MAGIC potion to put into little rodents?

It's where all the intelligent rats came from. How is it random? And it wasn't magic. It was scientific, but most of the rats can't differentiate between magic and science. Kind of like that old saying. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

And only enough to use on a couple rats, and no more?

There was an entire rodent city. There were many rats, but only two mice survived the escape. It was an experiment. You understand that when a scientist experiments on rats they don't use an infinite number of rats, right?

Also, all rodents could already talk... and even rats who WEREN'T from NIMH could read, i.e., the wife of Jonathon.

They could communicate with each other, that doesn't mean they were speaking English. And Mrs. Brisby could only read because Jonathon taught her. The super intelligent rats learned to read on their own.

Why wouldn't the owl eat her?

Because it didn't want to? Why don't you eat every bit of food in your fridge?

Why couldn't all those rats realize Jenner was up to no good?

Some of them might have suspected, but what were they going to do about it?

None of the things you mention are plot holes.

Prof. Farnsworth: Oh. A lesson in not changing history from Mr. I'm-My-Own-Grandpa!

[–] sailorspysedna 9 years ago

The film is really good, but you didn't pay attention...

The film's also based on a book, which is better.