MovieChat Forums > The Secret of NIMH (1982) Discussion > Don Bluth's best movie

Don Bluth's best movie

posted 16 years ago by trisp
6 replies | jump to latest

I personally think it is. Some of his other movies are entertaining, but they have become either too juvenile or stories with too many plot holes (In ADGOTH, the dogs can't talk to rats but they can sing with an aligator?). There are a few plot-holes in here, but not as many to distract from the story. And unlike other Bluth movies, the characters aren't as obnoxiously cutesy as, say, the Troll in Central Park.

Those are my thoughts on it. What do you guys think?

"HOPSCOTCH!"

[–] racroen 16 years ago

trisp: "What do you guys think?"

I think you're right. Secret of NIMH is Bluth's best film.

I've found his career rather disappointing, actually. After seeing NIMH, I'd hoped he was going to take American animation in a more adult direction, exploring more sophisticated and erotic themes as the Japanese have done, but with Disney-quality execution. Bakshi and Kricfalusi are to be commended for trying, but their work falls far short of Disney quality.

NIMH hinted that Bluth might go that way, but instead he went the other direction: deeper and deeper into kiddyland. It's a shame.

[–] TheHiawatha 12 years ago

NIMH and the Land Before Time were Bluth's crowning jewels, while "Anastasia" was a commendable effort. The problem with his other films is that they were either: A) incredibly stupid and clearly marketed for the little kiddies, or B) they tried too hard to bounce between kiddie fluff and ghoulish horror ("An American Tail" and "All Dogs Go to Heaven", I'm looking right at you). Also, with An American Tail, there were far too many characters, and with All Dogs Go to Heaven, the songs were ridiculously awful (despite featuring some great vocal talent).

[–] maxskyfan-9 13 years ago

Not only is it his best work, but it is probably the best animated film ever made. I will match it with any other animated film (cell or digital).

It put to shame anything that Disney was doing at the time, which is why they had to release (I think it was) Bambi to draw off some of the attention away from Bluth’s opus.

This was also one of the few times where the film was better than the book by far. All the elements were present and clicking just right with characters that jumped off the screen without the aid of 3D effects. Motivations were as clear as day and the villain so believable and conniving he made the short list of cinema’s greatest.

Other films truly don’t know the first thing about constructing an antagonist, they go the easy way out and declare them either born evil monsters that bleed black blood or are bored lost souls that can only amuse themselves by shooting pony tailed little girls in the face and strangling babies while they sleeps.

But I am afraid it was mostly downhill from here with a few exceptions, not like with Pixar that mostly had hit after hit and could do no wrong.

[–] CosmosX9 13 years ago

I like this movie, but I still don't get the consistency of the magical amulet. Did Nicodemus make that thing with his magic? Was it an old relic that was passed down to the next rat, or am I missing something?! O_O

And further more, what was with The Great Owl? Did he start out as a test subject for NIMH, just like the rats? If not, then how did he get so smart?

Plot holes aside, I still like it, but I don't think it's Don Bluth's "best".

"I kick arse for The Lord!" (Dead Alive)

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] 12 years ago

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