SunnyHello Nice effects though.

Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

InformationRap This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Smoreni Zmaj It is not Disney, so it didn't have a promotion as Disney have, and therefore it passed pretty much unnoticed and underestimated, but it's better than many Disney movies. It's too complicated for smaller children and has a couple of unexplained details, but essentially very nice and quite original cartoon.7/10

Bill Reid A beautifully drawn and magically realised tale of personified critters, with strong performances from its cast and enough maturity to see that The Secret of NIMH stands out from its counterparts.The Secret of NIMH follows the adventures of a recently widowed field mouse, Mrs. Brisby (played by the talented yet tragic Elizabeth Hartman) who must consult the various beasts of the field to find a cure for a her sick son and preserve their family home in the face of the coming Spring.This is the first I've seen of a Don Bluth as an adult, (and the first Don Bluth Production following his and his colleagues split from Disney) I must say that I was absolutely swept up within the first few minutes. The elegance of the animation had a weight to it that seems eerily real to one used to the CGI schlock of the 2000s, which coupled well with very strong performances, Dom DeLouis's bumbling blackbird Jeremy being a standout. Although very visually reminiscent of 70's to 80's Disney animated productions, and clear in its demographic, The Secret of NIMH never once patronised its audience that meant it carried a consistent classiness throughout that one might not find in similar Disney productions, sometimes feeling closer to that of Martin Rosen's Watership Down (1978) in its seemingly allegorical nature, although nowhere near as violent.All in all, I was very content with the film which had enough magic, twists, peril, punch and good pacing to keep me very much glued to the screen for the entirety of its run-time. BR

sciencedog777 Don Bluth left Disney to start work on this masterpiece, and I'm glad he did because this film deserves to be celebrated and persevered. Don't be fooled by it's animated format: this is quite a heavy film for kids and is better enjoyed by adults who can understand the situation that the main character is going through.Mrs. Brisby is a field mouse who is looking after a gravely ill child, but her life takes unexpected turn when she must move her home, which would risk the life of her son. Desperate for help, she stumbles upon a world that amazes her, and the residents speak highly of her deceased husband. What follows is political drama, an aging prophet, and Brisby's faith in her children put to the ultimate test. Her emotions are not only genuine, but very easy to relate too. The supporting cast is full of personality and their relationships with each other are what make this film work. Combine this with truly brilliant animation and you have a fantastic film!

MissSimonetta The Secret of NIMH (1982) is an 80s animated film with the sensibility of an early Disney feature. Produced during the darkest age of animation to date where selling toys was a greater priority than artistry or storytelling, NIMH was a rebel with its beauty and darkness.Never once does it pander to children by painting the world as a rosy place. Like Disney's first features, it evokes terror just as often as it does wonder. Mrs. Brisby might just be the greatest female character in all of American animation. She is no crooning ingénue nor a hard-nosed warrior, but a mother who's willing to face the worst dangers imaginable to save the life of her child. Her struggle is truly powerful.The animation and music also deserve praise. It's hard to tell that this was a low budget project, so fluid is the animation. Jerry Goldsmith's score is a perfect match for the dark yet hopeful tone of the film.I'm not the biggest fan of much of Don Bluth's later work, but this movie never fails to astound me. It's his magnum opus most certainly. In many ways, this is a precursor to the animation renaissance that would flourish from the late 80s and into the 90s. It deserves more attention than it has been given, that's for sure.