The Land Before Time

Ex-Disney animator Don Bluth (The Secret of N.I.M.H., An American Tale) moves even further away from general audiences in this beautifully animated, but awfully sugary, story of a quintet of baby dinosaurs who, while migrating to the Great Valley (which, apparently, features good eats), are separated from their parents by an earthquake, and must make the trek alone. Stymied by bickering within the multi-specie retinue (including a leader brontosaurus, a fledgling pterodactyl, and a somewhat racist triceratops), the five baby dinos are further hampered by the regular appearance of an adult Tyrannosaurus Rex, who's looking for a snack (or five). Unlike the Disney feature films--which always have at least half an eye on the adult audience--this is strictly for kids. (Although one baby dino, Little Ducky, is so irresistibly cute, that even a few of us Visa card carrying kids will be hooked). Children will, of course, love anything that features dinosaurs, and this one's several notches above most children's video, and very affordably priced. Recommended. (R. Pitman) [DVD Review--Jan. 26, 2004--Universal, 69 min., G. $19.98--Misfiring on almost all cylinders, the 'Anniversary Edition' (15th, one presumes) DVD release of 1988's The Land Before Time sports an unexceptional full frame transfer (with lackluster colors and edge enhancement throughout), and a handful of unimpressive extras that belie a genuine confusion over the target audience for this DVD (ranging from a baby-ish 'how to work my DVD remote' guide to a dauntingly long text list of prefixes and suffixes used in dinosaur names). Other extras include some 20 clips from the 10-part film series, four sing-along songs, five text 'Dino Stats' entries, and a plug for the Jurassic Park Institute (this is listed as a 'special feature,' but it's essentially a web address). Bottom line: a very disappointing release of the solid opener in home video's longest-running franchise series of feature-length children's films.]