Updated 1-1-99 (Hey, I've been busy!)
Hi, fellow NIMH fans!
Welcome to my page.
"We are not amused." -- H.M. Queen Victoria
Unfortunately, this pretty well sums up my reaction to The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue. (Frankly, anything with "______ to the Rescue" in it's title is going to be pretty suspect in my book!) For over a year now we NIMH fans have been "anticipating" this release; some with all the joy we'd muster for an upcoming root-canal, others with a more forgiving "let's give it a chance and see what happens" outlook. Admittedly, I took the latter approach; hoping that this sequel wouldn't go the route of the Land Before Time or All Dogs Go to Heaven series. (This was, however, tempered by the knowledge that NIMH2 was being made by MGM/UA strictly for financial gain, with no pretensions toward advancing the art of animation or trying to tell a decent story.)
How'd they do? Well, in the animation department NIMH2 doesn't rate anywhere near it's predecessor. Most of the characters are darn near unrecognizable (including poor Mrs. B.; who looked like, of all things, an aging hippie!) and when Timmy arrives in Thorn Valley (don't worry, I'm not giving anything away), I noticed that, unlike the original, I couldn't tell the rats from the mice! The animation itself was flat and uninspired; with none of the rich, lush, dimension of the original. Also, where the original used it's palette of colors to subtly convey or enhance mood; NIMH2 can't seem to make up it's mind whether it wants to be merely a pale imitation of it's predecessor, or assault the audience with it's garishness. The story (what little there is of it, anyway) isn't much better. It starts off with a "flashback" sequence using scenes from the original (a huge mistake, in my opinion; it only serves to emphasize just how poorly animated this movie is!) which tells of a "prophecy" by the late Nicodemus that: a) NIMH would return to endanger the Rats of Thorn Valley and b) Timmy Brisby would, like his father; Jonathan; before him, save the Rats from this threat.
The problem? Nowhere in the original movie is such a prophecy even so much as hinted at! While Mrs. B. does promise a visit to Thorn Valley to her children "...when you're older!", thus leaving open the possibility of a sequel (probably the weakest scene in an otherwise excellent movie), it seems; to my mind at least; a total cop-out that the writers felt that they had to go completely outside the bounds of the original movie in order to come up with what turns out to be an inferior storyline.
Another quibble: Where's the Amulet? One would think that even if it never again manifested the powers that Mrs. B. used to save her home in the first movie, it would either have become a "badge of office" to denote leadership of the Rats (even if Justin was no longer the holder of the office) or it might possibly have become the centerpiece of a "shrine" dedicated to Jonathan's heroism. But for some strange reason, it's never even so much as mentioned. So much for continuity...
Other major problems I have:
Voices. Due to her suicide in 1987, it was pure speculation as to who might be chosen to replace the memorable Elizabeth Hartman to be the new voice of Mrs. Brisby. A number of excellent possibilities were advanced by various fans, but ultimately an unknown named Debi Mae West was chosen. Sorry, Ms. West, but I'm afraid you're no Elizabeth Hartman. And while I like Doris Roberts and think she's an excellent character actress, she absolutely cannot do the late Hermione Baddeley's indignant British Matron. Justin is now voiced by Fargo's William H. Macy. Only Dom Deluise and Arthur Malet return to their respective roles as Jeremy and (get this!) "Mrs." Ages. (Hey, that's what it says on the end credits!)
To be Continued...
Links to other sites on the Web
Robin's Fan fiction Archive
The Mrs. Brisby Webpage
Charlie's Secret of NIMH Webpage
The Robert C. O'Brien tribute page and archive
Daphne Lage's "The Secret of NIMH" Justin and Jenner Shrine
Seoman's Homepage
© 1997 reynard@mindless.com
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