Reviews for The Land Before Time

Deliciously follows the KISS rule. Keep it simple, stupid! That's just the way I like things. No bad jokes. No needless songs. No dumb sidekicks. Possibly the only animated movie that throws out the heavy stuff without becoming fluff(see The Tigger Movie). It takes us on an emotional ride(albeit a light one) without delving into the cloying sentimental. It is the ONLY Don Bluth film to do so.

Sadly, The Land Before Time is another underrated gem. Because of the very fact that it is not as accessible to adults as The Secret of Nimh(or most of the Disney movies for that matter), The Land Before Time has a puny cult following, especially when compared with The Secret of Nimh. This is tragic because The Land Before Time deserves just as much praise as its fellow animated movie. It is the very pinnacle of Don Bluth's achievement. In many ways, it is superior to The Secret of Nimh. It is much more focused than The Secret of Nimh(and in many ways, even The Lion King), not relying on extraneous elements and the failed complexities that kept The Secret of Nimh from becoming a grade A+ movie. While it is true that The Land Before Time follows a few formula conventions, such as the use of the mindless Sharptooth as the villain, The Land Before Time follows a more basic storytelling pattern than The Secret of Nimh. It is interesting to see how the characters react to each other and grow during the course of the movie. It is this growth that forms the core conflict of the movie, not the journey that they're on(see Dinosaur for a failed example of a journey movie). Every character is special and unique. They are charming, yet believable, allowing us to become emotionally attached to them. Especially important is Littlefoot's gift from his mother. It is a symbol of her love for him, a symbol that becomes even more important after her death, as it takes on multiple levels and meanings.

There are many reasons why I believe The Land Before Time deserves just as much praise and as big a cult following as The Secret of Nimh. There are many reasons why I think it is even superior to The Secret of Nimh. I could on and on about this movie, but I won't. Needless to say, it is for this movie's charm and warmth, simplicity and sophistication that I give The Land Before Time a magnificent 4.8 out of 5.