The Land Before Time

Rating:
Summary: Very good! The best in the series.
Review: Those who like this DVD seem to have fallen in love with the movie years ago when it was first released in theaters.

We, on the other hand, first discovered the many sequels and then watched this disappointing original. The problem is that they are nothing alike. The sequels are bright, lively, sing-along affairs. The original is somewhat dark and brooding.

If you have a toddler who likes the lively sequels, you can skip this one. Don't let the Spielberg-Lucas names fool you into thinking this will be even better. It's not better, just very different

How does the movie rate on it's own merits? Enjoyable, if you're not a 2-year old looking for singing dinosaurs. And if you're not, there are still shortcomings. The overall look of the DVD release seems dirty and old. The instrumental score is melodramatic, and the animation is a bit cliche': the kids are lost in a world full of shadows and thorns, shadows and thorns. Yuck!

Rating:
Summary: Perfect movie, but a t horrible DVD
Review: Don Bluth's masterpiece, as if it hadn't had enough assualt with the endless terrible sequels, is now forced to endure another indignity: this DVD release. The original fans of this movie are grown up now, and the publishers should realize this and release a version with actual extras. Widescreen, commentary, and storyboards, to name just a few, would be wonderful. It would help if they cleaned up the picture, too; my 15+ year old VHS copy has better images.

Rating:
Summary: The best animated movie ever
Review: I have 22 years old right now......i see this DVD on Theater first, in 1988....It make me cry at that age, and now, i cry sometimes, specially at the end when they found the green valley, it's a awesome movie......the MUSIC is incredible....specially the last classical tune of the movie and the DIANA ross performance...i recommend this movie to everyone, i have a niece and I buy this DVD for him, It's not the best quality DVD but the film is GREAT....

Rating:
Summary: Still going strong
Review: I first saw this movie in the theater and saw it many more times on VHS. I may be an adult, but this movie still has the same effect. It is the only movie to ever make me cry.
The part with Littlefoot's Mom was very well done and remains one of animations saddest momments next to Disney's Bambi. I know have this movie on DVD and it will be a timeless classic.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Art by Don Bluth and Co
Review: This is a masterpiece in my opinion. It is very sad indeed that the work is not in widescreen. However, even in fullscreen format, the light and shade in this movie... both in the art, and in the drama... is superb.
The absence of songs is not a problem; children have more power of discernment than they are given credit for, and if the sequels ( which I also love) had no songs, and concentrated on the story more directly, then they would appeal more to Adults as well as children.
This first film laid a high production value that the studio has failed to stick to, or even surpass.
I suspect that we have either wacko conservative parents, or some biased screen testing to thank for the sequels that fail to live up to the quality of the first film.
Don't get me wrong, I love the sequels enough to have bought everyone I have been aware of, and to date, I think I have missed only 2-3.
I would not class this film as either an Adult or a child's film; simply put, a good film is a good film, and Don Bluth does a great job.
The songs in the sequels are clearly for cross-merchandising... which I don't deny is a legitimate sales point for the studio. However, it does denigrate the memory of the first beautiful film; if they could release the film in its widescreen format, I suspect it would sell like the proverbial hot-cakes.
And, as moving as the first film is, I also find many of the sequels quite emotionally charged, but then I tend to approach these film as a child would view them ... they touch the heart, and this first film does that on many levels.

Rating:
Summary: Land Before Time
Review: This is, and probably always will be, my all time foremost favorite film from my childhood. The sequals are cute, charming, and spell no negative influences that other cartoons seem to be, but they could never be as beautifully animated and scripted as the original. Even if Don Bluth hasn't grasped this "Disney Machine" as you've put it, it doesn't mean it's less honorable; some people actually like traditional animation, thank you very much.
This certainly deserves five stars; If I could I'd give it ten, but I don't have that option I guess.