Recently I have been going back to some older movies that I loved as a kid and watching them again. This film is just as intense as I remember, how is this a children's film!? To that end I made a video to find out if it is worth watching, check it out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4Dfbus9x9E
Do you guys think that this is a movie that should be shown to kids today?
Honestly, the last time I watched it, I found it hard to sit through. Not because it was dark and intense or anything, it certainly wasn't that. But it felt strangely childish and I don't usually get that from most 80s animated films. Even "the big scene" and it's follow up with Rooter did nothing for me. I liked this film as a kid, but it didn't hold up with me now. So to answer your question, as long as they're not against 2D animation, it's fine for kids. I certainly didn't find anything objectionable or anything and I remember being fine with it as a kid.
"If life is getting you down and needs uplifting, then please come dance with me!"
Strangely childish? I really don't get that sense from this film at all. Sure there are childish moments but overall I see this film as pretty adult. Other 80's cartoons do this as well but this is the one I remember the most as a child. You felt nothing? It still chokes me up even thinking about it, did you feel anything for other films like Bambi or Lion King?
shareBambi is one of my all time favorite Disney films but it doesn't make me cry. To be fair , the way the film is executed, I don't think you're supposed to. The film is real nature, cruel and unforgiving, but also beautiful and properly optimistic.
The Lion King is full of problems, but Mufasa's death scene is guaranteed to get an emotional response. The combination of the score, the scene that precedes the stampede scene, and Simba's reaction equals Niagara Falls every time.
Land Before Time is well animated enough and has a wonderful score, but not much else I'm afraid.
"If life is getting you down and needs uplifting, then please come dance with me!"
The Lion King is full of problems, but Mufasa's death scene is guaranteed to get an emotional response. The combination of the score, the scene that precedes the stampede scene, and Simba's reaction equals Niagara Falls every time.
This film is special for me, it was a huge part of my childhood and it still gets me choked up when I watch it now as an adult. Hands down it is one of the most emotional animated films ever made, and the only animated film I can think of that actually deals with the grieving process in a fairly realistic way.
Both Bambi and Simba lost a parent, but we don't really see them grieving for very long.
Now we see Littlefoot dealing with depression, anger, denial, and finally acceptance...all on his own. The film even goes so far as to say that time is the only cure for this wound and that it will never completely be healed because Littlefoot will always miss his mom...that's a very realistic way of showing what the loss of a loved one is like.
I think kids should see this film as it is a great film about finding peace and happiness through friendship and working together for a greater goal, and achieving your dreams by believing in yourself and never giving up.
And if they cry at the sad parts that's not a bad thing, children shouldn't be sheltered from feeling sadness...so long as they know its just a movie then its ok to let them be invested in the scene. And parents should talk to their children about death as it is a part of life...if Land Before Time starts that discussion, then great.
Also, its a film about dinosaurs, and what kid doesn't love dinosaurs?
I know and that is why I think too many films targeting younger kids aren't as strong as this film. It actually shows everything that Littlefoot is going through and it doesn't pull any punches. It is a major shame that the later films didn't follow up on this concept but hey, what can be done.
I fully agree that children should be exposed to this because it does give a great message and shows that sadness and negative emotions are alright and should be felt and that is why I will show this film to my future kids