I watched this movie for the first time in well over a decade yesterday, and unlike some films from my childhood - which don't survive my more judgemental older brain - the Land Before Time stands as strong as it did back in 1988. The only difference is I probably won't watch it twice a week for the next two years.
The Land Before Time tells a simple story of a dinosaur named Littlefoot, who loses his mother to the deliciously one-dimensional, gravity-defying, vicious tyrannosaur known as "Sharptooth". Together with four other lost dinosaurs he searches for the Great Valley, but is slowed by the group's lack of cooperation or trust for one another. The must overcome their personal differences - and the ever-prowling Sharptooth - to reach their goal, and choose to do things the "right way", even if that means choosing the hard way.
For a movie that suffered so much during its production phase, and one which left the producers and directors dissatisfied, its a wonder LBT underwent the success it did at the box office. Don Bluth delights in making cartoons that are both dark and heartwarming, and LBT is no different. The characters will scream and shiver in fear as Sharptooth prowls around their hiding spot, but in other scenes they laugh and interact as would 'normal' children. Due to Spielberg's influence a lot of these darker scenes were cut from the film (probably good due to the film's young audience) but many still remain, enough to make the movie reasonably suspenseful, and with more "bite" than a typical Disney film (quite literally).
The orchestral score is as beautiful as the artwork depicted in the movie, arguably better than the film, though it is often obscured by the sound effects employed. The two elements come together to shroud the world in an air of mystery, adding to the quest-like atmosphere in typical Bluth fashion.
The film does stoop to a few predictable elements, such as the character that appears to die dramatically only to return less than a minute later. Littlefoot's mother also dies (no real surprise there) but watching Littlefoot's misery afterward - and little touches, of his wandering footsteps shown from the air following a much larger pair of footsteps in a search for companionship - has the potential to pull your heartstrings, as it did mine.
The film tackles the issue of racism that was (aparrently) prominent in America at the time. In the beginning of the film, Littlefoot is prevented from playing with Cera because "threehorns never play with longnecks". Cera heeds her father's (poor) advice, but only by working with Littlefoot are the group able to reach their goals. It's nice to see a film with underlying messages like this. Modern films, like The Lion King, though good, are rather hollow in that aspect (though I hear many children now fear their uncles). The Land Before Time will teach younger children that they'll do far better if they put pride and discrimination behind them. Doing so in a humanistic fashion is more than tolerable considering the film's audience.
All the characters in LBT are colourful but Littlefoot is the most likable (in this writer's opinion). While re-viewing this film after so many years, it was interesting to see the obvious emergence of his ability to lead. Though he is a child, when hiding from Sharptooth, he directs Cera's movement to prevent their discovery. He soon becomes the deferred leader of the group, mostly because he's the only one who knows how to reach the great valley, but also because he's a genuinely motivating and kind character, without being repulsive in an over-sweet manner.
There is SOMETHING missing from the film however, possibly exactly what Don Bluth has commented on when he mentions his own dissatisfaction. The film ends after a measly 69 minutes (due to all the cuts), and as a child I was always wanted more. I am no different as an adult, the only difference is I now turn to the internet rather than rewinding the film and starting again. Something just isn't satisfying in the Land Before Time. That might be why so many sequels were spawned, and though they're entertaining for younger children, with singing and adventures and reasonably-tolerable dialogue, they don't have the darkness, that makes the light at the end of the tunnel that much brighter.
The Land Before Time tells a simple story of a dinosaur named Littlefoot, who loses his mother to the deliciously one-dimensional, gravity-defying, vicious tyrannosaur known as "Sharptooth". Together with four other lost dinosaurs he searches for the Great Valley, but is slowed by the group's lack of cooperation or trust for one another. The must overcome their personal differences - and the ever-prowling Sharptooth - to reach their goal, and choose to do things the "right way", even if that means choosing the hard way.
For a movie that suffered so much during its production phase, and one which left the producers and directors dissatisfied, its a wonder LBT underwent the success it did at the box office. Don Bluth delights in making cartoons that are both dark and heartwarming, and LBT is no different. The characters will scream and shiver in fear as Sharptooth prowls around their hiding spot, but in other scenes they laugh and interact as would 'normal' children. Due to Spielberg's influence a lot of these darker scenes were cut from the film (probably good due to the film's young audience) but many still remain, enough to make the movie reasonably suspenseful, and with more "bite" than a typical Disney film (quite literally).
The orchestral score is as beautiful as the artwork depicted in the movie, arguably better than the film, though it is often obscured by the sound effects employed. The two elements come together to shroud the world in an air of mystery, adding to the quest-like atmosphere in typical Bluth fashion.
The film does stoop to a few predictable elements, such as the character that appears to die dramatically only to return less than a minute later. Littlefoot's mother also dies (no real surprise there) but watching Littlefoot's misery afterward - and little touches, of his wandering footsteps shown from the air following a much larger pair of footsteps in a search for companionship - has the potential to pull your heartstrings, as it did mine.
The film tackles the issue of racism that was (aparrently) prominent in America at the time. In the beginning of the film, Littlefoot is prevented from playing with Cera because "threehorns never play with longnecks". Cera heeds her father's (poor) advice, but only by working with Littlefoot are the group able to reach their goals. It's nice to see a film with underlying messages like this. Modern films, like The Lion King, though good, are rather hollow in that aspect (though I hear many children now fear their uncles). The Land Before Time will teach younger children that they'll do far better if they put pride and discrimination behind them. Doing so in a humanistic fashion is more than tolerable considering the film's audience.
All the characters in LBT are colourful but Littlefoot is the most likable (in this writer's opinion). While re-viewing this film after so many years, it was interesting to see the obvious emergence of his ability to lead. Though he is a child, when hiding from Sharptooth, he directs Cera's movement to prevent their discovery. He soon becomes the deferred leader of the group, mostly because he's the only one who knows how to reach the great valley, but also because he's a genuinely motivating and kind character, without being repulsive in an over-sweet manner.
There is SOMETHING missing from the film however, possibly exactly what Don Bluth has commented on when he mentions his own dissatisfaction. The film ends after a measly 69 minutes (due to all the cuts), and as a child I was always wanted more. I am no different as an adult, the only difference is I now turn to the internet rather than rewinding the film and starting again. Something just isn't satisfying in the Land Before Time. That might be why so many sequels were spawned, and though they're entertaining for younger children, with singing and adventures and reasonably-tolerable dialogue, they don't have the darkness, that makes the light at the end of the tunnel that much brighter.