Book Made Into A Movie Review: The Secret Of NIMH

To save her ill son, a field mouse must seek the aid of a colony of super-intelligent rats, with whom she has a deeper link than she ever suspected.

After reading Mrs. Frisby And The Rats Of NIMH, I had to get the movie out and watch it. I remember loving the book and the movie a lot, although I knew there were some differences that I wasn't too fond of. Those things can be overlooked though sometimes.

What I found very strange about watching The Secret Of NIHM is HOW MUCH it was different. Sure, the main plot is still there, Timmy is sick and his mother needs to find a way to move their home before the plow comes. But there were so many other little things that were just not the same. AT ALL. First off, Mrs. Frisby's name was changed to Mrs. Brisby. Why? I have no idea. I can let that one go. There were, however, several overly dramatic scenes added to the story that were not in the book. I'd elaborate, but I don't want to ruin either the book or the movie for any of my followers who haven't seen/read one or both.

One thing I AM going to point out is this: there was no magic in the book. I have absolutely NO IDEA how that got placed in the movie when it had nothing to do with the book. Maybe they thought the book wasn't dramatic enough. Or maybe it's because in the book there were a lot of stories intermingled together. A lot of detailed stories that probably wouldn't be too easy to convey in the movie.

Another thing was that Jenner wasn't present at all in the book. He was spoken of often, about how he didn't approve of The Plan and how he and a few other rats took off on their own, but he wasn't there trying to ruin plans. And some of the characters were a teensy bit off when it came to the way they spoke and acted. Mr. Ages was a bit too gruff, and Mrs. Brisby got a little too irritated with Jeremy, neither of those things being the case in the book. I have to say though, that I found myself giggling in spite of how atrociously off a scene was from the book, just because of how silly it was. Especially the scenes with Jeremy. You can tell they probably did that for the kids.

Although there were a lot of differences between the two, I still adore each just the same. I still can't help but wish that they created the movie a teensy bit closer to the book (I mean, seriously, adding in magic when that wasn't even in the book? Come on...). I am, however, quite pleased at the animation. It is amazing. I would have loved to see this one in the movie theater when I was a kid. The backgrounds are gorgeous:

So, my conclusion is this: While I loved them both, I still recommend the book over the movie. But, once you read the book, you should see the movie at the very least for the animation. Oh, and Wil Wheaton voices a character in the movie as well, so that's a bonus.

Review: Mrs. Frisby And The Rats Of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien

Title: Mrs. Frisby And The Rats Of NIHM
Author: Robert C. O'Brien
Published: 1971
Source: Purchased
Genre: Children's Fantasy
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Caution: May contain spoilers

There's something very strange about the rats living under the rosebush at the Fitzgibbon farm. But Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with a sick child, is in dire straits and must turn to these exceptional creatures for assistance. Soon she finds herself flying on the back of a crow, slipping sleeping powder into a ferocious cat's dinner dish, and helping 108 brilliant, laboratory-enhanced rats escape to a utopian civilization of their own design, no longer to live "on the edge of somebody else's, like fleas on a dog's back."

This unusual novel, winner of the Newbery Medal (among a host of other accolades) snags the reader on page one and reels in steadily all the way through to the exhilarating conclusion. Robert O'Brien has created a small but complete world in which a mother's concern for her son overpowers her fear of all her natural enemies and allows her to make some extraordinary discoveries along the way. O'Brien's incredible tale, along with Zena Bernstein's appealing ink drawings, ensures that readers will never again look at alley rats and field mice in the same way.

My Thoughts:

I read this back when I was still in school and it was, by far, one of my favorite childhood reads. I read it multiple times. Before I even reread it this year, I could remember the story like it was yesterday. It's amazing how certain things just stick with you like that.

The story of the rats of NIMH, their journey past and present, is one that cannot be matched. The world building alone is phenomenal. Like the synopsis says, it is an unusual novel, but that's what makes it so amazing. A group of rats that escaped the National Institute of Mental Health with exceptional intelligence? Insane. And how Mrs. Frisby fits into the story of the rats is nothing short of brilliantly played. I felt as if I was walking through it as Mrs. Frisby herself. Learning all these things about her late husband's ties to the rats and learning how to find the strength within herself to do what needs to be done.

The details contained within describing the surroundings were so vivid. I could picture all the different rooms and halls the rats built in my mind. The background of the rats gets told by Nicodemus to Mrs. Frisby to explain how they knew her husband and how it was possible for them to do what they do. I always loved that part of the story. And Justin, one of the rats. How is it possible that his personality is just so lovable?

Mrs. Frisby And The Rats Of NIMH is, in my opinion, one of the greatest stories written. I absolutely adored it, even more so now. As I was reading it, I couldn't help but feel like I was transported back to my childhood, sitting there with my eyes glued to the page in wonder and joy. What's amazing is that it's not just the story itself, it's also the emotions tied to it that make it all the more powerful. The book is much better than the movie, even though I still love the movie (I'll be reviewing the movie tomorrow). If you're ever in the need for a great chapter book to make you feel like a kid again, this is absolutely the one you need to pick up.

My Rating: