A Widdle Field Mouse (Secret of Nimh Review)

Kat and Ryley read the one-star reviews for Don Bluth's first feature animated film outside of Disney!

Review Overview: It brings up great commentary on animal testing. Magic is brought up briefly, but the lore of it is never explored. It was probably a matter of budget, so that is forgivable. It does leave you feeling like something was lacking, though.
It's a pretty movie and Mrs.Brisby is such a cool and strong character.
Kat: 6.5/10
Ryley: 6/10

EASY BAKE TAKES 0:10

Hello,

Kat 0:11

And welcome to

EASY BAKE TAKES 0:12

Easy Bake Takes,

Ryley 0:14

the podcast.

Kat 0:15

Where we read you the one star reviews of your favorite movies and more. My name is Kat.

Ryley 0:19

And I'm Ryley. And today we are going to do the movie, The Secret of NIMH.

Kat 0:24

What was the theme that I picked?

Ryley 0:26

The theme you picked was like, movies that we thought we made up in our head. Like we didn't know if they actually existed.

Kat 0:33

Yes.

Ryley 0:34

And it kind of reads- this movie is like a fever dream to me, like.

Kat 0:37

100%

Ryley 0:38

It's like a Disney movie, but not for kids. It's kind of

Kat 0:42

Yeah, that's I mean, that's Don Bluth in a nutshell though.

Ryley 0:45

Absolutely. And oh my god. Well, I think this is our first storm blues movie to review.

Kat 0:50

Yes.

Ryley 0:50

We've talked about him multiple times. It was made in 1982, it's rated G surprisingly, it's an hour and 22 minutes.

Kat 0:59

If anyone already knows what happens in this movie, obviously you can skip ahead, but if you haven't, we're gonna go through the plot.

Ryley 1:04

Yeah, we're gonna go heavy. So strap in.

Kat 1:07

Yeah.

Ryley 1:09

Mrs.Brisby, A little field. A widowed field mouse, lives in a cinderblock with her children-

Kat 1:14

A widdle field mouse.

Ryley 1:16

Trying to say it not like that but.

Kat 1:19

A widdle field mouse.

Ryley 1:21

That's how it sounds. Anyway.

Kat 1:23

Maybe they did that on purpose.

Ryley 1:24

Maybe they did.

Kat 1:25

But go on, I'm so sorry.

Ryley 1:27

She lives in a cinderblock with her children in a field on the Fitzgibbons farm. She needs to move her family out of the field as plowing time approaches. I would feel like that happens every year so why live there in the first place that's just me.

Kat 1:40

Time feels longer when you're that small

Ryley 1:42

i-Yeah, you don't live as long so it's like. But her son Timothy has fallen ill. She visits Mr. Ages, a friend of her late husband Jonathan. Mr. Ages diagnosis the illness as ammonia,

Kat 1:54

pneumonia,

Ryley 1:54

And provides ms frisbee with medicine. And warns her that Timothy must stay inside for at least three weeks or he will die because like there's still a chill in the air and he's just not well enough. On her way home, Mrs. Brisby befriends Jeremy, a clumsy but friendly crow. They both narrowly escaped from the Fitzgibbons cat, Dragon. The next morning, Brisby discovers that farmer Fitzgibbons has started plowing early. Although her neighbor Auntie shrew helps her disable his tractor, Brisby knows she must devise another plan before the farmer fixes it. Jeremy takes her to meet the Great Owl who tells her to visit a colony of rats that live beneath a rosebush on the farm and asks for the services of Nicodemus, the rats wise and mystical leader. Brisby enters the rosebush and encounters an aggressive guard rat named Brutus, who chases her away. She has led back in by Ages and is amazed to see the rats use of electricity and other technology. She meets Justin, the friendly captain of the guard, Jenner, the ruthless and power hungry rat opposing Nicodemus and finally Nicodemus himself. From Nicodemus, she learns that many years ago the rats, along with her husband Jonathan and Mr. Ages, were part of a series of experiments at the National Institute of Mental Health, NIMH for short. The experiments boosts their intelligence enabling them to escape as well as extending their lifespans and slowing their aging processes. Nicodemus has authorized a plan for the rats to leave the farm and live independently in the area that refers to as Thorn Valley. Not much is known about the valley I wish they-

Kat 1:54

That was something I was confused about. I was like, I really wish we would have seen more of the

Ryley 3:27

Yeah.

Kat 3:27

rats at Thornton Valley. There's a second one, right?

Ryley 3:31

There is a second one but everyone will tell you not to watch. It was a straight to DVD movie.

Kat 3:36

Yeah.

Ryley 3:36

Nicodemus gives Brisby a magical amulet that will activate when the wearer is courageous. Because of the rats relationship with Jonathan, they agree to help her move from her home. First they need to drug Dragon so that it can be done safely. Only Brisby can do this as the rats cannot fit through the hole leading to the house. Jonathan was killed by Dragon in a previous attempt to do this while Ages broke his leg in another.

Kat 4:00

Allegedly.

Ryley 4:01

Allegedly. That night, she puts the drug into Dragon's dish but the Fitzgibbon's son, Billy, catches her. While trapped in a bird cage, she overhears a telephone conversation between farmer Fitzgibbons and the staff of Nimh and learns that the Institute intends to exterminate the rats in the morning. Brisby then escapes from the cage and runs off to warn them. As a rainstorm approaches, the rats began moving the Brisby home with the children and Auntie Shrew inside. Jenner, who wishes for the rats to remain in the rosebush, sabotages the assembly with his reluctant accomplice Sullivan causing it to fall apart and crush Nicodemus to death. Brisby sooner arrives to warn the rats about NIMH's arrival but Jenner attacks her and intends to steal the amulet. Sullivan alerts Justin who comes to Brisby's aid. Jenner mortally wounds Sullivan, but his injured by Justin in the swordfight. As Jenner attempts to attack Justin from behind the dying Sullivan. then throws a dagger into his back killing him. The Brisby home begins to sink into a mud puddle and Brisby and the rats are unable to raise it. Brisby's will to save her family gives power to the amulet, which she uses to lift the house and move it to safe to safety. The next morning, the rats with Justin as their new leader have departed to Thorn Valley as Timothy begins to recover. Jeremy soon meets Miss right another crow who is just as clumsy as he is. That character not need to exist in this movie. I know as a children's movies and it's for laugh but like

Kat 5:20

Yeah.

Ryley 5:20

I literally introduced him at the beginning of this and then the ending is like oh, and he found a girl crow.

Kat 5:25

He spends a good chunk of it looking for more strings.

Ryley 5:28

Yeah. Exactly. Directors of course Don Bluth, who has directed many childhood classics like The Land Before Time, American Tale, All Dogs Go To Heaven, Anastasia.

Kat 5:38

Anastasia is the one I almost picked.

Ryley 5:41

That's a good one.

Kat 5:41

The music in that movie.

Ryley 5:43

I've never actually seen it all the way through.

Kat 5:44

All you need to do is listen to Once Upon a December and you're good. Such a good song.

Ryley 5:50

The Secret of NIMH was the first feature film to be directed by Don Bluth, was written by Don Bluth, John Pomroy, Gary Goldman, and Will Finn. And it's based on the novel Miss Frisbee and their Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien. Apparently they're very different so we'll get into that a little bit.

Kat 6:07

Okay.

Ryley 6:08

The cast we have Derek Jacobi playing Nicodemus, Elizabeth Hartman playing Mrs.Brisby. We have Arthur Mallet as Mr. Ages, Don DeLuise playing Jeremy. John Carradine, he played the Great Owl. Here's a little bit of trivia. Don Bluth, John Pomeroy and Gary Goldman all left Disney to pursue this project, which had originally been rejected by the former employer as too dark to be a commercial success. Followed soon after by 20 other Disney animators dubbed the Disney defectors. At the time of the release, it was the largest non Disney animated movie. The small dragonfly Mr. Ages chases away near the beginning of the movie is Evinrude from the Disney's The Rescuers. And that was one of the last movies Don Bluth worked on at Disney before leaving the company.

Kat 6:52

That makes so much sense.

Ryley 6:54

It makes so much sense like

Kat 6:55

Yeah.

Ryley 6:55

Why that's like one of my favorite Disney movies. I didn't even know Don Bluth was like part of it. And this was Don Bluth's favorites of his movies that he made. Tell me your thoughts about this movie.

Kat 7:05

Like I watched this as a kid. I didn't realize how like, it's not gory, but it's a lot more violent than I thought it was. Like I wasn't expecting to see blood or see someone get their throat slit.

Ryley 7:15

Yeah.

Kat 7:16

It didn't scar me as a kid. So I guess it's not that big of a deal. I liked when Jeremy said hey, you were a girl once to Miss Mrs. Brisby. I have a love hate relationship with characters like Jeremy because like, I want to punch them but they're also funny like you said like he just seems kind of like a- Why-why was he in this movie? But they need a chaos rune in every movie.

Ryley 7:36

Functions as like Hey, kids, this is the silly character.

Kat 7:39

Yeah, Mrs.Brisby's son. That's how I imagined you were as a kid. I don't know why. The one that's like I'm tough. Like I could do this. I'll fight them.

Ryley 7:49

Yeah, I Yeah. A little bit.

Kat 7:52

Yeah.

Ryley 7:52

Maybe when I was a little bit older.

Kat 7:54

Yeah. And then the scream that was it, the bad guys is that Brutus?

Ryley 7:59

Jenner

Kat 7:59

Jenner. Jenner.

Ryley 8:00

Brutus only pops up in that one

Kat 8:02

one time.

Ryley 8:02

Yeah.

Kat 8:03

Yeah. The scream he lets out when he gets killed is terrifying to say the least. It's also like the most dramatic, it sounds like the audio peaked and cut out whenever he screams. I just thought that was really funny. But like, also terrifying. It's a literal like blood curdling scream. And I guess that really added to how violent this movie is.

Ryley 8:26

Yeah, cuz like after being, you know, stabbed. I'm trying to think of a Disney movie- like there's characters that fall to their death in Disney movies. That's a common death among villains and they'll scream as they're going down. But like this is like I've been wounded.

Kat 8:40

He gets stabbed in the stomach and the back.

Ryley 8:42

Yeah.

Kat 8:42

And he screams both times. It's just blood curdling.

Ryley 8:45

It's disturbing.

Kat 8:47

I will say like, it felt a little lacking in some aspects of it because it is like it's only hour and 22 minutes long. I know that like at this time it was still hand drawn. It took a long time to get all of it done, so I won't fault them there. But it made me want to go watch Alice in Wonderland like it made me want to watch like classic Disney movies. This is the kind of movie that like if I watched it to go to sleep as a kid because I would watch movies like this like old Disney movies to go to sleep as a kid. I would have to fall asleep before Jenner gets killed because I would have to start it over because for Alice and Wonderland I had to start it over if I didn't fall asleep before the Cheshire Cat showed up.

Ryley 9:22

That's so funny that you would time yourself with a movie

Kat 9:25

I've had anxiety my whole life.

Ryley 9:28

Why not just put on a nice movie?

Kat 9:29

I wanted Alice in Wonderland damnit. But that's all that's all I have for my thoughts and opinions. What do you what do you have?

Ryley 9:36

I'm a huge Don Bluth fan.

Kat 9:38

I was just gonna I should say I didn't realize how many of his movies I watched as a kid until like, I met and became friends with you and you told me who he was.

Ryley 9:45

Yeah, yeah. This is an old one. I think I love it because it has darker tones. Rewatching this, it is a movie where I wish they did have more funding. It lacks because of it.

Kat 9:59

It could have gone a lot further.

Ryley 10:00

Like someone described and I'll read it the review later but they're like I just wish there was another like good 15 to 20 minutes more of this movie I think it needed in I think really just to flesh it out because it ends really abruptly. Also there's, so these rats are from they were animal tested, they got their intelligence because of it. But also there's this amulet this magical tone to it. And it's like that's kind of random and kind of doesn't make sense too

Kat 10:26

We don't learn anything other than, yeah.

Ryley 10:29

Yeah, I don't I don't understand that. And I think it takes it away from the, the rest of what's going on.

Kat 10:35

I kind of like that the rats have like a moral conundrum of like, is it okay to steal electricity from the humans?

Ryley 10:41

Yeah, like they're like upset about it.

Kat 10:44

Yeah.

Ryley 10:45

But it's also like the point of like, they want to be more independent. They don't want to have to rely because like, it's the topic of like, they're not going to live much longer.

Kat 10:52

Yeah, there's too many dangers involved.

Ryley 10:54

I do like this movie. I just, I really wish it was, I wish it was longer. I wish it was more fleshed out.

Kat 11:00

Oh, yeah. Is that everything?

Ryley 11:01

Yeah, there's about everything.

Kat 11:03

Okay. Let's hear what these critics have to say about it.

Ryley 11:05

And this is from the Fort Worth Star Telegram. This is "NIMH, like Disneyland. It appeals to everyone." by Perry Stewart. "In Bambi it was man the hunter who terrorized the meadow. In The Secret of NIMH it's the man the farmer whose home wrecking tractor sends the field mice family scurrying from the borough's. Every frame is a banquet of rich color. Mousy whiskers Twitch from an eyes twinkle and in the background tree sway and leaves twirl to the ground. That's a lot of artwork as witnessed by the legions of animators and cell painters listed in the credits. Bluth has stated that NIMH was a multi level appeal. Sure enough, I count three audiences for this film sub teams will like the cute figures in the sight gags adults will be intrigued by the hands of plagued dogs." Have I ever talked to you about that movie?

Kat 11:51

Yes, it's by the same people who made Watership Down, right?

Ryley 11:54

Yes. "And the light show set will respond when wizard like rodents, write with fiery pens."

Kat 12:01

He's just saying nerds will like it too.

Ryley 12:03

Yeah, I didn't know what that meant. I was like gonna ask.

Kat 12:06

Like the d&d Nerds will like it basically because it's like got a fantasy element to it.

Ryley 12:10

Absolutely.

Kat 12:11

When I was watching it, I was like, this is like a little animal version of like, Lord of the Rings. The Hobbit cartoon.

Ryley 12:18

Oh, watch that really badly. Because like that looks interesting.

Kat 12:21

It's what The Black Cauldron thought it was doing.

Ryley 12:23

Yeah. Literally what is ripping off was trying to rip off. That's an interesting one that we should talk about in the near future.

Kat 12:30

Yes, we should.

Ryley 12:31

"I base this on the reactions of my group. I turned the film with Faye, who is 32, who responds in the manner of the teen audience and Rachel who's 10, the adult in the trio."

Kat 12:42

That's so cute. This is so- why is this so cute?

Ryley 12:45

I know

Kat 12:45

Sorry

Ryley 12:46

No, you're fine.

Kat 12:47

He represented the preteen, oh my god.

Ryley 12:49

"I represented the preteen viewer, my mental age being wonderfully flexible."

Kat 12:53

Same, dude.

Ryley 12:54

"We all enjoyed ourselves. So Bluth can only hope we add to some kind of crazy, quilt cross section American moviegoers. As visually warning as it is man finds its real forte in the area of voice characterization. The actors speaking the lines were chosen with scrupulous care, and they're perfect." And he gave it, I guess three out of five stars.

Kat 13:15

It's probably three out of five or three out of four some people go-

Ryley 13:17

Yeah, because he liked it.

Kat 13:19

I like that that review mentioned to like the different audiences that it appealed to. And I like how none of them were really, children.

Ryley 13:27

Yeah.

Kat 13:27

I could see how this movie would really appeal to like an older crowd.

Ryley 13:30

I think it just has to be because I for little kids. I mean, I was little when I watched this, but it's like.

Kat 13:36

Yeah.

Ryley 13:37

I remember being scared at some points, absolutely, so.

Kat 13:40

When we were growing up, if they saw cartoon on something, they were like that's for you.

Ryley 13:44

That's for you. You go and watch that. I'll be in the other room.

Kat 13:47

Yeah, I'm gonna go take a nap.

Ryley 13:50

Don't bother me. This next one is, "Exquisite animation is Secret's drawing card," by Robert W. Butler in 1982 by the Kansas City Star. And they say, "it's a terrific film animation this detailed lifelike and eye popping hasn't been seen for years. Background paintings are exquisite, and some of the special effects are knockouts." And then they say, "elements of science fiction and fantasy are mixed in NIMH, along with old Disney formula of giving animals human personalities. The results are neither wholly logical nor entirely convincing as storytelling, but the film's stunning visuals help gloss over any deficiencies in script and character. Despite it's G rating, NIMH isn't really a children's film. It offers some good laughs Of course, largely from a hopelessly clumsy Crow, but the film was surprisingly somber and menacing, and tone." They go on to say, "the Secret of NIMH even include some violent moments, which if filmed with live actors, instead of animated characters will most certainly have earned it a PG. It may be a bit too heavy for preschoolers. Everyone else should have a fine time." Well, yeah.

Kat 14:57

At a G rating, you'd think it was being directed to a childhood audience. I just find it interesting that it's- it really didn't appeal to that audience but it still did well with other groups. Very very interesting to me to get a bunch of adults to go see a cartoon.

Ryley 15:12

It is interesting, but like what this reveal points out like critics love this movie, mostly because of the animation.

Kat 15:18

I miss this like hand drawn animation. Don't get me wrong the 3d CG animation is amazing. Incredibles being able to like zoom in and see the details of every fiber in their shirt. But like it's it's like this close to being like this could really just be a live action thing to where like this was like this is truly animated. Like, this looks like a cartoon.

Ryley 15:40

It's an art form.

Kat 15:42

Yeah, because it's getting too close to like looking like real life.

Ryley 15:46

I think there's a point where it's like, at what point are we just get to live action? Because it already looks like real life anyway, like.

Kat 15:52

The amount of computer graphics that are in live action movies nowadays, too. Have you seen how they replaced green screen?

Ryley 15:59

No.

Kat 16:00

So they have this circular thing of just screens. They decorate the set with the foreground and then they can literally put the background graphics on those screens as they're filming so they don't have to add those things in in post,

Ryley 16:16

That's insane. Oh my God, that's insane. Good Lord.

Kat 16:20

sci fi movies are going to come out so much fucking faster now.

Ryley 16:24

Yeah, well, that's the whole thing. And so I'm gonna take for because you know, back in the day, Pixar took forever to make movies.

Kat 16:29

and now they have it to a science like.

Ryley 16:31

Yeah, they have it down now. It's, it's Yeah, but.

Kat 16:34

Sorry. That was just-

Ryley 16:35

No no, I totally get it because it is very interesting. How much there- how much shit has changed? Within just like a few decades?

Kat 16:43

It's a little dystopian not gonna lie.

Ryley 16:44

It's because at one point is it just gonna be like, what's real? What's not VR reality?

Kat 16:50

You know what I just fucking realized?

Ryley 16:51

What?

Kat 16:52

That's how they were filming Katniss' like little campaign video thing that in Mockingjay it was literally like the same exact setup that they're using now.

Ryley 17:01

Oh, my God. Jesus.

Kat 17:05

Hunger Games did it first.

Ryley 17:08

They kinda predicted it. Oh, my God.

Kat 17:09

Oh my god. Okay, sorry. Sorry. We can move on.

Ryley 17:12

No, you're fine. They said it's like not convincing as storytelling. I love the premise of what they have. And this movie like the plot device. I just wish it was extended. I wish it was just

Kat 17:24

Yeah.

Ryley 17:24

More details was added into it.

Kat 17:26

Maybe that's the issue they had.

Ryley 17:27

Yeah.

Kat 17:28

I do think it's still an interesting story.

Ryley 17:30

Yeah.

Kat 17:31

I don't think a cartoon about mice, rats and birds with magical necklaces has to be entirely logical.

Ryley 17:38

And that's where they kind of lost me with that. I was like, it's a cartoon.

Kat 17:41

Don't bring logic into my Don Bluth cartoons. Okay.

Ryley 17:44

Do not, don't you dare.

Kat 17:46

He literally made a movie about dogs going to heaven. Okay. Like.

Ryley 17:50

Yeah, don't don't. This next one by Roger Ebert. He wrote this in 1982. "The Secret of NIMH contains that absolute rarity among feature length animated cartoons, an interesting premise. There have been smart animals in the movies for years, of course, but they were always playing quasi humans in a universe where the real humans were seen mostly from the knees down. Now, here's a story that concerns itself with the problem of being a rat and having a superior intelligence." And that's what I love about this movie. It has like there's humans involved. And there's, it's crazy. You know, it's not just like, this hidden world that humans are never concerned with, like, no, it's like, this is a problem with the rats.

Kat 18:30

I just think it's interesting that there is such like a big world issue as like the basis for it. And like, none of the critics really raised any issue with it being talked about in a cartoon.

Ryley 18:43

Yeah. Well, they would say like, Oh, it's too dark for kids. And I'm like, I don't know. And a lot of people were like kids, kids are smarter than what you think. And they're able to absorb information more than what you think.

Kat 18:49

They're smarter than you think. But there's also like even me saying, Well, this movie is really violent, but I literally didn't pick up on how violent it was as a kid.

Ryley 19:00

I still watched it. "While the idea was what intrigued me about the Secret NIMH, the movie itself represents a philosophical statement for its makers. The main difference between traditional Disney animation and cheaper newer methods is in the areas of body movements and backgrounds. Bluth and his followers wanted to make a movie in which the characters would have lots of body language, not just moving lips and rolling guys, and in which the backgrounds will be detailed and interesting, not just repetitive roll roll bys and the secret name they have succeeded in producing the marvelous detail and depth of the Disney classics. The story is perhaps a little complicated at first, especially for younger viewers, but a flashback helps make things clearer. It is not quite such a success on the emotional level, however, because as so many characters and involves them in so many different problems that there's nobody for the kids in the audience to strongly identify with. I guess you could say that the Disney tradition lives but the Disney Magic still remains elusive." I don't agree that there isn't a character like Miss Brisby, I think is the main character we're cheering for and her children.

Kat 20:04

Her stature never really seems to be an issue. There are some parts where it's like the fact that she's a woman is more of an issue than how small she is. It's not even that big of an issue. Like she's like, I want to deal with Dragon and they're like, Are you sure? And she's like, Yeah.

Ryley 20:19

Yeah, that's for her family.

Kat 20:21

Which I think is a part of this movie that no one really gets into- no one's really gotten into so far. It's like she's a very strong mother character. Disney loves to kill mothers off and this movie did quite the opposite. The dad is dead. The mother is the really strong leading character in this.

Ryley 20:37

Yeah, absolutely. And that's one of the reasons why I like it too. A lot. She's, yeah, it's goes the opposite Disney direction. You know, which I find very cool.

Kat 20:44

bad bitch moms.

Ryley 20:45

Yeah, hard working single mom.

Kat 20:47

We love a hard working single mom in this.

Ryley 20:50

The Secret of NIMH by Tasha Robinson this was written in 2007 from av club.com. They talked about how Don Bluth left Disney because they didn't like how the animation was being done and wanted to create a film with old fashioned Disney style animation. "Bluth's directorial debut has its clunky side particularly and it's baffling alterations to the plot of a beloved children's classic but the animation was as Bluth and company had promised a spectacular return to old school craftsmanship booth and company threw in a lot of extra comedy business involving a clumsy crow voiced by Dom DeLuise and were fantasy tropes into what used to be a simple story free of magical gem cracks, but the visuals are splendid compared to modern anime films. NIMH moves at a lackadaisical pace the main villain doesn't even appear until an hour in and Bluth is content to let character spend time slowly wandering through blush settings and complicated scenery. Even at its most narratively unbalanced, it's well worth drinking in at leisure." They have points.

Kat 21:51

They do. And I would agree like I guess they were kind of saying like, it's not- it's enjoyable if you're not looking at it critically.

Ryley 21:58

Yeah.

Kat 21:58

So do you know what deus ex machina means?

Ryley 22:01

No.

Kat 22:01

An unexpected power or event saving a seamless- seemingly hopeless situation? So like-

Ryley 22:07

The amulet.

Kat 22:08

That is a kind of cheap thing to go through especially since they don't explain anything about it until that point really I agree there it is. Surprisingly bloody.

Ryley 22:16

Beautiful film. No one's gonna deny that. All right, now we can go on to the audience reviews this one is first a 10 out of 10 from IMDB is titled "Don Bluth's masterpiece." This is written in 2009. "I will confess I saw this for the first time on YouTube and I loved it. I always said that Anastasia and American Tale were the best Bluth's movies but I now think that this beats them both. The story is very dark and mysterious but magical all the same. The animation is just stunning with beautiful backgrounds and excellent character animation. Brutus is a little frightening though, and his animation is, so is the same with the Great Owl which is incredibly haunting. The music by wonderful late Jerry Goldsmith is phenomenal, very reminiscent of his score for the European version for the Legend, the Ridley Scott film. The song I think is called Flying dreams It's heart rending and just shows the talent the man had, and I'm grateful that there weren't too many songs to interrupt the flow. The characters are all very well done and the brave yet timid, Mrs.Brisby, the dashing Justin and the villainous Jenner, the wise Nicodemus and the wisecracking Jeremy. Nicodemus and Jeremy are very impressive voiced warmly by Derek Jacobi and Dom, DeLouise. And Jenner, while not as sinister and finding a villainous Hexus, Chernabog or the horn king he is still very convincing. Oh in the scenes with Miss Busby's children and Auntie Shrew brought some fun into a dark story and didn't interfere too much. Elizabeth Hartman gives a star sorrowful and poignant portrayal as Miss frisbee I haven't read the book in its entirety. But I do remember my year six primary school teacher reading the chapter when Miss Brisby, or frisbee in the book, meets Brutus for the first time. All in all beautiful film and I'm very sorry has taken me so long to see it. I advise you to avoid the sequel though. It's awful. 10 out of 10 Bethany Cox." This is a three out of 10 from IMDb Azur in 2006, and it's called "terrible waste of money." "I'm amazed at the positive reviews are read for this film. Like many others, I watched this as a child and was excited to see it offered at the local half price store. I watched it with my husband and two toddlers and was shocked at how badly written it was. My main critique is the complete inconsistency between the use of magic and science." That's a good point. "Why is there an amulet in the story at all? If the rats are smart because of the science and how why do they suddenly become mistakes and magicians? I don't think the disconnect would bother me so much if there was at least some attempt to explain it. But there isn't. For all the talk of the intelligence of the rats. I didn't see much evidence of it miss Rigsby," so they said her name wrong, "didn't receive the injections, but she seems to be doing just fine other than suffering from a lack of confidence and the fear of flying. She was smart enough to keep herself and her family alive, in any case. I realize it sounds ridiculous to talk about more motivations of a rat. But I thought the idea that the rats need to leave the rosebush to become self sufficient because they knew too much was flimsy at best. I can understand if they thought that ultimately living off the humans was not sustainable but to want to leave because they felt guilty for pilfering the farmers electricity? That is a stretch. Finally, the ending was so abrupt that it felt like the producers just ran out of money and had to cut off the movie as quickly as possible. After watching the rats duel it out over whether to move out of the rosebush, it seems strange to relegate that the plotline to a simple line uttered by Miss Rigsby. Shouldn't we see the rats move or something? The plot completely fizzled at the end. I will however give the movie three stars for animation. The visuals were nice. And despite my intention to return the movie and get a refund. My three year old loved it. So I guess that's worthy of a star or two."

Kat 25:48

So your kid liked it. Your kids got taste.

Ryley 25:50

Yeah.

Kat 25:51

Something I want to mention is like it's a cartoon. So I feel like there's already the implication that all the animals are going to be able to talk. The rats are just smarter. That's all.

Ryley 26:02

They're- they can read. Apparently that is you can read mine where she says she can read kind of well she can she can she reads like a whole ass sentence doesn't she?

Kat 26:10

She reads the entire entry about her husband dying. She can read. They're smarter in the realm of science.

Ryley 26:17

They say, "I realize it sounds ridiculous to talk about motivations of a rat." That's the character of the movie, you kind of have to. It's not silly. That's just the character of the movie. It's the whole plot. Don't be like Oh, it's a rat. It's not real. It's like a cartoon movie. That's the character's you're supposed to talk about their motivations. They had some good points not saying they didn't like there's some things I agree with him about like.

Kat 26:38

Yeah.

Ryley 26:38

Like the like the ending it fizzles.

Kat 26:40

Yeah of course.

Ryley 26:41

I think it cuts abruptly.

Kat 26:43

Oh yeah.

Ryley 26:43

This is a four star review from letterboxd. "Gorgeous animation, mature themes, some funny dialogue, a near masterpiece, but extremely rushed pacing could have done with an extra 15 minutes of runtime spread about each scene and really bring out their import slash tone, which would only have brought it to 95 minutes, but I'm not sure they had the budget." I think that's why it was cut short, they just probably ran out of money. Three out of 10 star is written 2003 from IMDB. "I saw this film, having never never read the book. While looking for movies for my son. I don't intend to show it to him anytime soon. It is a mindless attack on science and technology with a liberal dose of mysticism offered as the desirable alternative. There are a course thoughtful and compelling criticisms to be made of science and technology. And I found a few when I later read the book. The movie retains none of these themes, however, as I said, offers insulting and ignorant path. I'm sure some would argue that this is too fine of a point for a children's movie, but I disagree. Children do understand such things especially when as in this movie sciences portrayed as the great Satan and the day is saved by magic as others have noticed. It's also a rather violent movie for children. It contains two or three graphic murders depending on how you count them and a lot of frightening imagery. I would like to see a thoughtful adaptation of the book. I had a problem with the magic in this movie only because like it wasn't explained.

Kat 28:07

Yeah.

Ryley 28:08

Is he saying like science and technology were like demonized in this movie?

Kat 28:11

Yeah, science was the villain. I think it was the humans testing with science because it's clear that the rats use science to their advantage.

Ryley 28:19

Yeah.

Kat 28:19

the humans are the bad guy.

Ryley 28:21

It's the humans and how they use science.

Kat 28:23

The humans and Dragon are the bad guy.

Ryley 28:25

Yeah. And dragon eats mice, so.

Kat 28:27

and Jenner but he's a rat.

Ryley 28:28

Yeah, so that was one interesting take. Three and a half stars from letterboxd. "The bird sucks." kind of agree.

Kat 28:35

He does.

Ryley 28:36

He doesn't need to be in the movie. All right, this next one is two out of 10 stars from IMDb, written in 2007, "opportunity wasted." "Miss Frisbee and the Rats of NIMH is a wonderful story about how a few rats and mice have evolved things to experimental injection to a human level cognition. The essence of the book then centers on how they have learned to embrace the best parts of humanity selfless nobility. The driving tension in the book comes from a race to survive both for the rats and the mice. In this movie adaptation" quote unquote "adaptation the entire essence of the plot is dropped and replaced with much less interesting themes. Most of the rats are hesitant to help Miss frisbee and one rat becomes an outright villain. The efficiency and skill of the rats is replaced with arbitrary magical powers. The race against time is replaced with bickering and swordplay. The subtle character development of all the main characters is completely whitewashed, but the," coop degres

Kat 29:29

coup de gras

Ryley 29:29

What was it?

Kat 29:30

coup de gras. You literally took French.

Ryley 29:32

I know. Don't remind me. "But the coup de gras is that the the ending of the book is both sad and uplifting, whereas the ending of the movie is like a complete afterthought adding no emotion to the story at all. Perhaps if you haven't read the book you might find some of the plot contrivances acceptable, but if you have read the book then you'll realize the lost opportunity and no doubt pine for a remake that at least captures the book's essence of humanity, if not all of its specific details." I really want to read the book now.

Kat 29:59

Yeah, cuz I want to I want to see how the book ends this thing

Ryley 30:03

I do and like I read- so I watched the movie Watership Down, when I was a kid and I last summer I read the book version and it was very good. I really liked it. Not nearly as violent as the movie. Yeah, but now we're gonna read I want to read this book, so. I didn't even know there was a book adaptation.

Kat 30:19

Me neither.

Ryley 30:19

Four stars from Letterboxd. "I'm torn because I feel like if Disney actually funded this movie, more people would have known about it. But the fight scene at the end wouldn't have been nearly as gruesome as it was." Well wasn't the whole point they left Disney so Disney didn't have any?

Kat 30:33

Well, Disney wouldn't make it remember?

Ryley 30:34

Yeah, cuz it was it was too dark.

Kat 30:36

Yeah, so they're right. I agree. Yeah.

Ryley 30:39

So it probably wouldn't have looked as great though. That's the whole thing too.

Kat 30:42

Yeah, exactly. It wouldn't have been as beautifully stunning it would have- I mean, it still would have been stunning.

Ryley 30:46

It's a Disney, yeah.

Kat 30:47

It would have had those shortcuts that they were talking about.

Ryley 30:49

Yeah, four and a half stars, "dazzlingly well animated, but truly lol that there is a hot rat character."

Kat 30:56

Wait, what rat does this person thinks is hot in this movie?

Ryley 31:00

Probably Justin.

Kat 31:02

I meant to say this earlier. But why do all the rats have such frat boy names?

Ryley 31:06

They do.

Kat 31:08

Also, Jeremy

Ryley 31:09

Jeremy

Kat 31:10

Jeremy Justin Jenner

Ryley 31:12

It has a lot of J names.

Kat 31:13

Yeah.

Ryley 31:14

But yes, there's a hot rat character. Five stars. "Wow. After finally giving it a rewatch for its 40th anniversary this year. I gotta say this shockingly still holds up on this day and still an amazing brilliant masterpiece, but we don't talk about the unnecessary and cash grab sequel. No, no, no, no. Just watch the first one instead." So yeah, don't watch the sequel. It will ruin- it will ruin what you think of this movie. One out of 10. "Depressing dark, even terrifying. If you want to feel heaviness in your soul. You can watch the animated film for adults otherwise it's not recommended. It's too dark and certainly depressing." That's why I liked this movie. I like to the movie because it is- it has a much darker tone than most children's movie so.

Kat 31:55

Oh yeah.

Ryley 31:55

That scene where it's the flashback to NIMH and how they escape essence like goosebumps up my arms. I that sequence itself is like a like a short film in itself like It's haunting. This is five stars. "My brother was mad at me as stepped on the DVD. I had this and I cry for three days. I'm still mad. It's been 17 years. 10 out of 10 Justin the rat I am single." This is five and a half stars. I wish Don Bluth didn't have such such shitty luck. This film is fucking beautiful. And should 1000% be rated G kids film everyone should respect kids intelligence just a little bit more and not shield them from some of the more terrifying aspects of life. Obviously, this film is not gory, and I'm- I'm tired of people saying it's too dark for kids."

Kat 32:44

It isn't gory. I agree.

Ryley 32:46

It's not terribly gory.

Kat 32:47

Just the fact that you literally see blood was a little too much for some people.

Ryley 32:50

It really just depends because it's like I saw this movie, but it's like, I wasn't-

Kat 32:54

You didn't pick up on it.

Ryley 32:55

I watched this so many times growing up. It's not like.

Kat 32:58

It didn't traumatize you.

Ryley 32:59

Yeah, it didn't traumatize me. I've watched this movie a ton of times.

Kat 33:02

Yeah. You'd already been traumatized by Watership Down.

Ryley 33:03

Yeah, exactly. When you grow up watching certain stuff you're going to be you know, you're not going to try to put this in words. But

Kat 33:11

Here's the thing. I feel like people could argue that like showing kids dark things is desensitizing them to dark things like even if they're not terrified by it, but I honestly don't think that this movie is the reason that I watched the movies I watch now like I.

Ryley 33:24

Exactly. I think this person has a good point kids kids are more capable of watching stuff than you think. This is ones four stars. "I feel like this film fairly demonized cats." First off, they spelt that wrong. I think any movie any cartoon movie with a cat pretty much portrays a cat the same way so don't start with this movie about demonizing cats.

Kat 33:43

It was right. They rightfully demonized the cat. And they did it well.

Ryley 33:47

Yeah, I mean, what do cats do? They eat mice.

Kat 33:49

That's what they're saying.

Ryley 33:51

Oh, they're okay. They're saying like this is a well

Kat 33:54

Yeah, they demonize the cat good- in a good way.

Ryley 33:56

Okay, I thought they were like going like it's mean to cats. This one's four stars. "Needs more rat torture."

Kat 34:02

Jesus Christ.

Ryley 34:03

I wanted to include that, just throw it in there.

Kat 34:05

Someone needs to check on that person.

Ryley 34:06

Yeah. This is four stars. "The Secret of NIMH was surprisingly dark. Animal testing, a political power struggle and multiple character tests are all present here. Bold choices to showcase in a movie that clearly targeted towards children. Although I imagine the intensity is why this film was so memorable to those who did watch when they were young. I feel certain scene lengths could have been reduce, cut altogether in order to allow itself to go much deeper into the lore or the chance to develop certain characters further. Even so, Miss Brisby is a strong lead protagonist not physically as she is only just a tiny Field Mouse after all, but she courageously pushed herself through potentially dangerous situations again and again in hopes to save her children's lives. I'll have to get the book read as I feel there's a lot more more to be explored." Same.

Kat 34:55

Yeah, I liked that a lot of people that seem to like it are just like yeah, I wish it was longer.

Ryley 34:59

Yeah. Ah, it's more disappointing that it just didn't have more to it. That's the disappointing part about this movie just didn't have enough.

Kat 35:06

Yeah.

Ryley 35:07

This is our last review. It's a 10 out of 10. The title was "magical fantastic, a real delight" Writting in 2005. "The Secret of NIMH after 23 years is still an absolutely fantastic film. I hold it in such high regard as the even more secure Gay Paree with a voice talent of Judy Garland also wonderful criticisms can be made of the film from why faithful isn't exactly an adjective that can be used when describing its relation to the source material Miss frisbee in the Rats of NIMH by Robert O'Brien. However, the novel has a Newbery Award winner and observing the excellent film, which is what it received the book itself had two separate storylines, one focusing on Miss Frisbee and her plight, and the other a lengthy backstory involving the Rats of NIMH. For the animated feature Don Bluth and his team chose to focus on Mrs.Frisbee's plight. And for this I am grateful. In Miss Brisby we have a totally unique and truly delightful heroine. She isn't some young boy getting ready to go on a fantastic adventure or some sort of great, brave hero. She's just a mother, a mother whose first concern is her family and she makes a fantastic hero showing that Courage isn't just involved in facing down fears monsters, then when she has to do that she finds the courage. She never stops pushing herself and though she might be a very small mouse, she has a very big heart. As a kid I walked away thinking how cool Justin was, but now that I'm older I have complete respect for Ms. Brisby. It's an excellent film both for children and adults alike. And how about Derek Jacobi as Nicodemus, Don DeLuise as Jeremy, not to mention Elizabeth Hartman who short career was nevertheless magnificent thank God for film that we might have for her talents available to us for all time." That's a sweet one.

Kat 36:46

It is.

Ryley 36:46

they put the good stuff from perspective.

Kat 36:49

They did. I'm having a hard time thinking that I would rate this movie like it wasn't a movie that I watched a bunch. It wasn't really a Don Bluth movie I went to a lot. Because of that, it's not to say it's not good. Mostly just for like the issues I had with how short it was and how I felt like more could have been done for it but it was beautiful. So I'm think I'm gonna say six and a half out of 10

Ryley 37:06

Yeah, mine I was gonna say six just because this was a childhood movie. I watched a lot but watching it as an adult, I do I see its flaws, could have been better.

Kat 37:16

It could've.

Ryley 37:16

It could have been done better.

Kat 37:17

And it's not really at their fault.

Ryley 37:18

It's not. If they had more of a budget.

Kat 37:20

Yeah.

Ryley 37:20

There's not a lot of lore.

Kat 37:22

Yeah.

Ryley 37:22

To what they bring, like they bring up this very interesting topic, but don't go into the lore of it. I really wish they did. I think that we made this movie more interesting. And

Kat 37:30

Yeah.

Ryley 37:31

I'll give it six out of 10, you know, to be fair.

Kat 37:34

Okay. Well, do you have any other comments or anything that you want to make before we wrap it up?

Ryley 37:37

No.

Kat 37:38

Okay.

Ryley 37:38

I think I've said everything.

Kat 37:39

Okay, same here. So, if you have any comments or suggestions of movies or any feedback for us, you could DM us on our Instagram at Easy Bake Takes. Also, if you like what we had, don't forget to like, rate and review us on whatever podcast app you're listening to. It really helps us out. And as always, thank you so much for listening. This has been Easy Bake Takes. I'm Kat

Ryley 38:00

and I'm Ryley.

Kat 38:01

Easy watching out there. Bye.

Ryley 38:11

Bye.