Neil Burger Penning The Secret of NIMH Remake
With Hollywood suddenly finding itself in the midst of a wave of adaptations of classic children’s books (Where The Wild Things Are, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Alice in Wonderland), Paramount has decided to bring back one book that was already a proven success on the big screen back in the early ’80s. Robert C. O’Brien’s Newbery Medal-winning book Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH provided the source material for the animated film The Secret of NIMH, which was released back in 1982 to moderate commercial success and huge critical praise. I remember loving this movie when I was younger, perhaps because it was a bit darker than a lot of the other animated films of the time (it was produced by an independent studio of ex-Disney employees).
According to The Hollywood Reporter, director Neil Burger (The Illusionist, The Lucky Ones) is in talks to write a new screenplay based on the book, with Cary Granat (Spy Kids, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Scary Movie) on board as a producer. The somewhat depressing part of this news is that they will likely turn it into a live action/CG hybrid “in the manner of Alvin & the Chipmunks“. While I can appreciate that they are doing something a little different with the material, I can’t help but turn up my nose every time I hear someone mention Alvin & the Chipmunks as a point of reference for a new film. What do you think, is it time for a new generation to experience The Secret of NIMH or does the original still hold up today? If you want to revisit it, you’re in luck because the entire movie is now available for free on Hulu!
Comments (15)
Neil Hamburger should be penning this script.
Posted by Shaun Hatton on July 28th, 2009Elizabeth Hartman is rolling around in her grave.
Posted by Monterey Jack on July 28th, 2009Yes, the original still holds up. God I hate that fucking question.
sorry, Secret of NIMH is my favorite animated movie ever…so of course it needs chipmunk feces all over it.
Posted by Bob The Slob on July 29th, 2009Dear God…why? What, was NIMH II not horrible enough? They’re going to remake one of the most beloved traditionally animated movies in history into a live action/ CGI hybrid??? And it’ll be like the Alvin and the Chipmunks remake?? How dare they!!
To quote Darth Vader, “NOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo!!!!!”
I can just see them trying to add potty humor and over-used pop culture references to it and everything and make it all kid-friendly. This is the worst thing they could ever do. Are you happy now Hollywood? You’ve remade and ruined so many classics already, now you’re going to mess with NIMH?
The only thing worse now would be a CGI An American Tail remake…*knocks on wood, quickly*
But who knows, maybe they’ll suprise me and it won’t be made like G-Force, Kung-Fu Panda, Shrek and that dreaded Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. I’m too scared to go see it though
Posted by Suren on July 29th, 2009NIMH is one of my childhood favorites, both in film and print.
I dearly hope this doesn’t come to pass. The original is nothing short of an animated masterpiece, but with today’s moviegoing audience yearning for bland humor and straightforward plots… I just can’t imagine this turning out well.
Needless to say, with NIMH’s complexity and serious themes, I don’t think many families will be as open to it as they were with, say, G-Force.
Posted by Kayden Toone on July 29th, 2009Lame. Leave this one alone.
Posted by Ovenball on July 29th, 2009Actually, if the book were followed more closely than Bluth did, the story is a rather good science-fiction story. While the animation on the film was ground-breaking and incredibly well-done, the storyline made me wince, as I had read and re-read the actual book many times.
Posted by Gafoxtaur on July 29th, 2009Hey, Jay C.
Rodney said his kids got bored watching The Secret of NIHM. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it?
Posted by Dave on July 30th, 2009Please leave my childhood alone.
Posted by Katy on August 8th, 2009Oh God. I might cry.
What the hell is this?
Posted by Austin on August 17th, 2009These people have no imaginations, so they just have
to go and rape my childhood?
Leave NIMH alone and make your own movies, you bastards!
This better not come to pass..
Someone should send suicide bombers to Hollywood.
Posted by Cr0 on August 18th, 2009These guys definitely need to make frickin’ polls each time when they are planning a remake of some classics, to see if fans agree. But nooo, as long as they can fill their pockets with mo’ money, they’ll remain deaf and blind in front of fans raging.
Everyone needs to organize and make an online (less likely out in public) protest, demanding Hollywood to give up on such blasphemy.
you know…the idea isnt a bad 1…i grew up watch SoN and i still enjoy it..but i always thought that the story had certain elements that if they had been more fleshed out could be great and could make for an awesome epic style cgi movie..but thats the only way i see success in a remake is if the went more towards a serious animated film like 9 instead of going for a lil kids version…id love to see it turned into a serious toned 2 and a half or 3 hour movie with beefed up action and more adult character development and story elements…
Posted by rev919 on September 18th, 2009I can see 3 possible outcomes for this
1. This movie will be Epic/more Epic than the original.
9 did exceptionaly well, with its dark tone and awsome action sequences, If hollywood had any sense, they would atempt to repeat this achievement, so we might be safe where the tone and action are concerned (key emphasis on MIGHT). I just hope they make it MORE THAN 72 FRICKIN MINUETS LONG! *glares at 9*
2.THIS MOVIE WILL RAPE YOUR CHILDHOOD
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was one of my favoret childhood movies, AND THEN THEY MADE THAT REMAKE AND SCREWED IT ALL UP! It’s like the people who wrote the remake didn’t even see the original! If the past is any indication of the future, then it is safe to asume that a remake of NIMH will be horrible. may god have mercy on our childhoods.
3.Ehh, nothing special
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for AT LEAST this, the movie is’nt bad, but not great. It wouldn’t be destruction of our childhoods, but it might be slightly embarasing to think about.
In any case, I want to see a trailer before I get worked up.
Posted by Ian on September 30th, 2009im not so sure about this i love the original a lot of legendary actors in it but i think it is time for the new generation to see it. it shouldnt be a cgi they should get all the old files animations etc. use that work for the remake. if they dont it may turn out to be nimh 2 all over again. thats just my thought tho
Posted by jake on October 20th, 2009I’d say the original one still holds up. Definitely. It’s of a quality so amazing I can’t remember watching anything better looking.
If they make it CG-LA; I’ll cry. What the heck is wrong with making movies in the good old traditional cartoon style?
Posted by Illmad on November 6th, 2009Leave a Reply