The Stone reacting to other NIMH characters?

Mikey

13-11-2008 15:21:21

Reviewing the movie for the last time I made an interesting observation.
Let's get back to the scene in which Mrs Brisby is persuading the rats to leave the Rose Bush. Jenner strikes Mrs. Brisby and draws his sword, casting Mr. Ages aside. Next moment we see Sullivan running to get Justin. Justin sees what's happening, and runs between Jenner and Mrs. Brisby. Around Mrs. Brisby's neck, the Stone suddenly flashes bright red for a moment, and the whole background turns red also...
So the question is: could it be that the Stone felt Justin's bravery (yeah, just compare a flamberge with a mere stick!) and "woke up"? Or maybe it's Jenner's lust for power that resonated the hidden power of the Stone? And what if it's nothing but a drama effect created by animators?
I want to share this thoughts with you and to hear your opinion on this matter.
As for me, I tend to Justin's valor and determination that woke the Stone up. Haven't I mention I'm Justin fan? :wink:

maxx

13-11-2008 19:06:01

Huh. I've never really thought about that one particular part, really. It was always the bigger scene in which the stone reacts to Brisby when her home is in danger that always seemed to catch my attention for some reason. x.x

As to your question, and from the point you make, I would think that it very well may have reacted to Justin's bravery. Then again, it could also have been picking up Jenner's determination for power, or maybe.....both! :shock: From Mrs. Brisby, Justin, to Jenner, the stone seems to react differently to varied types of people and the strong emotions they emit (almost like a conductor). When it came to Brisby clinging to her childrens' lives (as well as her own) by a large stretch of rope she couldn't possible pull, the stone gave her so much power that it literally torched her hands and allowed her to pull (levitate?) her home out of the mudhole.

However, if it came to saving and risking a life, then why didn't Justin turn red and roasted Jenner with laser eyes (I know, too much sci-fi XP) when he was protecting Brisby? Maybe that risking one life to save a life doesn't necessarily compare to one life saving a box full of drowning children? Did the stone somehow feel that it wasn't the opportune moment? Or did Mrs. Brisby just have some kind of "aura" about her that awakened ths stone? Who knows, it could also have been feeding off of Brisby's feelings for Justin leaping out sword blazing for her. :P

Really, I'm having a hard time coming to an 'official' decision on ther matter, but I vote more for Justin on this one. I feel Justins' bravery may well have been more of a cause of the stone's activation that outweighed Jenner's greed.

As for me, I tend to Justin's valor and determination that woke the Stone up. Haven't I mention I'm Justin fan?

Honestly, who can deny Justin's awsomeness? With swordsmanship, bravery, humor, wit, and good looks, I wouldn't be surprised the stone 'woke up' because of his purpose and duty to be cool. 8)

Mikey

13-11-2008 22:53:22

Thank you for your concern! And these warm words about Justin! :D
Well, anyway, I've decided to use a poll to make this question clear. Hope it's gonna help!
Still according to NIMH NOTES by John Cawley, director of Public Relations in Bluth team (which you can find here http://www.thornvalley.com/library/articles/nimhnotes.php):
"...The amulet was a device, or symbol, to represent the internal power of Mrs. Brisby. It also was a gift from her husband, a sign of his love. The stone/amulet had no real power, itself. It was only when Mrs. Brisby's strength was employed that it could become a force. In many ways, it was an extension of Mrs. Brisby... a visual extension of an internal (and harder to show in a film) power..."
OK, then what happened to the Stone in the scene I've mentioned? Its reaction to something or somebody is too obvious to take it as mere special effect (IMO)! It looks like the creators of the movie had left us lots of unrevealed secrets, "The Hidden NIMH", as J.Cawley says later in his "Notes". So I'm looking forward to have your opinion!

maxx

14-11-2008 16:24:12

Thank you for your concern! And these warm words about Justin! :D

Sure. ^^

http://www.thornvalley.com/library/articles/nimhnotes.php):
"...The amulet was a device, or symbol, to represent the internal power of Mrs. Brisby. It also was a gift from her husband, a sign of his love. The stone/amulet had no real power, itself. It was only when Mrs. Brisby's strength was employed that it could become a force. In many ways, it was an extension of Mrs. Brisby... a visual extension of an internal (and harder to show in a film) power..."

So the stone only becomes active when Brisby uses it. Hmm. So why was it imprinted only to her? It was a gift from her husband, sure, but why does it only read her strength and not everyone elses'? What about Justins' courage, as mentioned before? Can it also read opposite strengths as well, such as Jenner's lust for power? :?

I remember reading a fanfiction story of NIMH, titled "Freeze Frame", that depicts the stone as a 'keeper of fate' so to speak. It transformed a human into a rat, and kept her as such until she fulfilled what she felt was right. I don't wish to spoil anything, so if you're curious (and assuming you haven't read it yet) here is the story.
http://www.egoworks.com/shrine/fframe/index.html[]http://www.egoworks.com/shrine/fframe/index.html

Anyway, I think the stone has more than enough protential to react to other forms of characters if their 'strong' enough. At least, that's what I can make out so far. :3

Slew724

16-11-2008 08:45:28

I would agree that the Stone reacts to other character's emotions. I got to thinking about the scene where Jeremy meets Mrs. Brisby in the pond (or wherever it is) and starts telling her about Auntie Shrew, and then the Stone flashes, either in reaction to his excitement or possibly Mrs. Brisby's confusion about what Jeremy is saying.

Here's a thought...say Mrs. Brisby was captured by Billy still wearing the stone, and they didn't notice it or didn't bother with it. (On the human scale, it would have been pretty small.) Then when Mrs. B heard the farmer speaking to NIMH, it's reasonable to think her emotions would make the Stone flash. Then what if the farmer turned and said "What the heck was that?" But considering the storm outside, he might have thought it was just lightning.