The Land Before Time (1988)

The Land Before Time was not the first film I ever watched, but it was the first that emotionally resonated within me enough for me to care... or remember it, for that matter. I remember when I was 4 years old, and would be constantly begging for as much material related to this film as I could get, from colouring books to primtive computer games for my Windows 95 system. The Land Before Time is a surprisingly deep tale of a bunch of unrelated dinosaurs that brutal circumstance - what one would expect in the ancient world of the dinosaurs - forces to come together. The Land Before Time is moody, yet contains dozens of heartwarming moments of light and hope. This film is perfect for children of any age; it is a moral tale that teaches lessons as good as any kindergarten school. Children who watch the film will instantly empathise with the characters; moreover, they will automatically turn one character into themselves, and vice versa. It is a story that empowers childres; they see, on the screen before them, young, seemingly helpless dinosaurs alone in a desolate world torn apart by earthquakes, and chased by a lone predator, whose red eyes instantly convey a sense of wickedness. This villainous Tyrannosaurus rex is seemingly invincible; everyone watching wants this monster that killed the protagonist's mother dead. The Great Valley, the paradise that the protagonist, Littlefoot, and his friends are searching for, is a symbol for hope. The T. rex and the earthquake represent the despair that is an ever-present enemy to hope. The end of the film sees hope prevail. Children might be the intended audience of this charming animated adventure, but The Land Before Time resonates with adults alike. If there is such a thing as a film for all ages, this is it.