Land Before Time Retrospective #20
I did my initial Land Before Time movie sessions over the spring and summer of this year. Since then, I have seen a few of the films a second time. I wasn’t originally planning to include #8 on my rewatch list, or at least not so soon. I was thinking that maybe I’d wait another year or so and then do all of the movies together on my next LBT quest.
However, I was in a conversation with Anagnos, OwlsCantRead, and Flathead770 recently, where we were talking about the part where the Gang builds a snowman of Spike. I said that, despite having watched the movie not that long ago, I didn’t remember that part at all, and Flathead then suggested a rewatch was in order. I decided he was right, and so here I am. I just saw the movie again yesterday, and have compiled some new thoughts for my re-review. This was always one of my favourites of the series and so I was looking forward to seeing it again.
The aforementioned scene also contains a lovely piece of music, originally a cue from the seventh film. Thanks to Owls for showing this to me.
Anyway, I noticed that the film opens on Ducky & Spike, indicating them to be the main characters of this one. Right in the first few scenes, we see that Ducky is already tense with Spike (even before the other Spiketails show up), foreshadowing the film’s conflict.
And this brings us to “The Mad Song”. This is a symptom of the issue I have with Cera in some of the later films, where I feel that she got a bit flanderized into being the “angry” member of the group. Normally she’s my second favourite character, but still, that always kinda bugged me. Regardless, it does lead to a great moment later on when Ducky blames Cera for encouraging her to be angry in the first place, haha. More generally, I like the idea of exploring Ducky’s darker side, contrasting with her normally sweet nature (which itself contrasts so much from Cera). It’s an aspect of Ducky’s character I wish had been shown further in the series.
Mr. Thicknose educating the kids at the beginning seems like it’s their equivalent to school. They also do a good job at making his lecture come across painfully dull.
I’ve seen complaints about the film’s pacing (which I even discussed myself in my original review), but I do like that the snowfall gets a slow build-up. Although I still wish that the second half of the film, after Spike leaves the valley, had lasted longer.
Mr. Threehorn is still quite mean, but we at least see he’s no longer racist, as he tries to backtrack/clarify on his words when the Spiketails announce their departure from the valley, making it clear that he doesn’t blame the Spiketails for the valley’s predicament.
I was critical of the film before for its underwhelming Sharptooth, and I still think that’s something that could’ve been done better. However, watching the film a second time and it made me realize; I don’t feel that the Sharptooth was meant to be the true villain here. The central conflict comes from Ducky & Spike, and the harsh winter that descends upon the valley. Still, I think that the Sharptooth menace either should have been played up, or else removed entirely. The latter might’ve been better, in fact. They already managed to build a compelling story and provide a sense of danger without really needing to have a main ‘villain.’ The Sharptooth doesn’t even show up until the 50-minute mark!
Despite the tense situation with Spike, I like that there’s no animosity between Ducky’s mother and Tippy’s. I also love the scene later on after the Spiketails have journeyed beyond the valley, when they start sliding around and crashing into each other. A classic moment for sure.
Another great moment:
Mr. Thicknose: “Am I correct in understanding that you’re going into the Mysterious Beyond? Without your parents’ permission?”
Cera: “No.”
Petrie: “Yes.”
Littlefoot: “Maybe.”
*Mr. Thicknose glares silently at them.*
Littlefoot: “Okay, yes.”
I kinda wish Spike had departed for good at the end with the Spiketail herd, while still resolving his conflict with Ducky by having them part amiably. It would’ve meant splitting up the iconic Gang for the rest of the series and the creators/writers almost certainly wouldn’t have wanted that. But I do think it would have made for a much more bittersweet and emotional ending, and ultimately a more impactful film.
Still, I like this one a lot. One of the most atmospheric in the series.
