The Land Before Time (1988)

All Critics (20) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (13) | Rotten (5) | DVD (1)

After An American Tale, Bluth surely had the clout to make a more adventurous animated feature than this ...

February 9, 2006 Full Review

Damon Wise

Time Out

Top Critic

Most of ''The Land Before Time'' is so authentically geared to the thinking of children that it should charm adults as well.

August 30, 2004 Full Review

Janet Maslin

New York Times

Top Critic

There is nothing about either the story or its execution to place "The Land Before Time" alongside the classics, but then again, the age of animated masterpieces may be forever past.

January 1, 2000 Full Review

Hal Hinson

Washington Post

Top Critic

I guess I sort of liked the film, although I wonder why it couldn't have spent more time on natural history and the sense of discovery, and less time on tragedy.

January 1, 2000 Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

Baby dinosaur buddy flick that started the series.

January 1, 2011 Full Review

Common Sense Media Editors

Common Sense Media

What charmed me when I first saw it as a six-year-old in theaters now strikes me as rather middling, indifferent storytelling and character development.

November 24, 2009 Full Review | Comments (9)

Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

A very good animated film, but nothe where near intriguing enough to inspire copious sequels.

August 2, 2002

Phil Villarreal

Arizona Daily Star

It is full of the delightful merriment of childhood, albeit dinosaur childhood not Homo sapiens. For a sweet and simple little picture the whole family can gather round the tube and watch with delight, this one delivers the goods.

January 1, 2000 Full Review

Steve Rhodes

Internet Reviews

• 1. Littlefoot: Mother, what's a long neck?
  2. Littlefoot's Mother: Well, that's what we are, Dear.
  3. Littlefoot: Why can't I play with that three-horn? We were having fun.
  4. Littlefoot's Mother: Well, we all stick to our own kinds. The three-horns, the spike-tails, the swimmers, the flyers... we never do anything together.
  5. Littlefoot: Why?
  6. Littlefoot's Mother: Because we're different. It's always been that way.
  7. Littlefoot: Well, why?
  8. Littlefoot's Mother: Oh, don't worry so much. When we reach the Great Valley, there'll be many many long necks for you to play with.
  9. Littlefoot: [sighs] I wish we were there now.
  10. Littlefoot's Mother: Well, it's a long way yet. Past the Great Rock that Looks Like a Long Neck, and pass the Mountains that Burn... still a long way, but we'll get there.
  11. Littlefoot: Have you ever seen the Great Valley?
  12. Littlefoot's Mother: No.
  13. Littlefoot: Well, how do you know it's really there?
  14. Littlefoot's Mother: Some things you see with your eyes, others you see with your heart.
  15. Littlefoot: I don't understand, Mother.
  16. Littlefoot's Mother: You will, my son. You will.
  – Submitted by MarieBella C (8 months ago)
• 1. Narrator: The Great Valley was all they'd dreamed it would be: a land of green, and leaves, and life. Littlefoot found his grandmother and grandfather at last. The same loving faces he looked into on the day of his birth. And they all grew up together in the valley, generation upon generation, each passing on to the next. The tale of their ancestor's journey to the valley long ago.
  – Submitted by MarieBella C (8 months ago)
• 1. Narrator: One herd had only a single baby, their last hope for the future. And they called him Littlefoot. .All that remained of his herd was his mother, grandmother and his grandfather. He knew them by sight, by scent, and by their love. He knew they would be together, always.
  – Submitted by MarieBella C (8 months ago)
• 1. Petrie: I smell... *sniff* I smell... *sniff* Hm... Ducky.
  – Submitted by Jed G (13 months ago)
• 1. Ducky: Flap your wings, Petrie! Higher! Higher, like a flyer!
  – Submitted by Jed G (13 months ago)
• 1. Ducky: Yep yep yep!
  – Submitted by Jed G (13 months ago)

There are no discussion threads for The Land Before Time yet.