I like Dinosaur over LBT because of the animation and anatomical accuracy of the majority of the dinosaurs. LBT looked, as with most dinosaurs in traditionally-animated cartoons, like someone just drew a dinosaur off of the top of their head, which has always bothered me. I'm a paleo-nerd, so accurate portrayal of dinosaurs in the media is very important to me. It was nice to see Dinosaur's dinosaurs moving around and acting like dinosaurs; hands in the right position, their jaws not shifting from side to side like they're unable to do in real life, all of that helped make them look a lot more real to me. They actually had a few paleo-artists on the design team of Dinosaur, and let me tell you, having David Krentz as their dinosaur consultant was their saving grace. I was actually happy to learn that another of my favorite paleo-artists, Mark Hallett, served as a concept artist at one time.
However, I think Dinosaur's script was one of its setbacks. Perhaps it was too preachy at times, perhaps not enough preach in others. I can never put my finger on it, but I did groan a few times at Zini's jokes and the over-use of monkey puns. I swear, one more "monkey's uncle" joke and I would have chucked my TV out of the window. I don't remember how good or bad LBT's writing was, so I can't compare, but it was really bad.
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POWDERED...
TOAST...
MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!
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JPfanatic93
16 years ago
LBT is more original, but I prefer Dinosaur, because of the Carnotaurs.
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Hyperboievr
16 years ago
I like LBT, because the dinosaurs look much more classic. I love the look of the pre-90s dinosaurs. I also love the art style of LBT, because its much gloomier, in a similar fashion to the Rite of Spring sequence in Fantasia. The dinos in LBT also move much better, they have a very graceful flow as they walk, run, or talk.
"Beneath this Mask, there is an Idea"
-V for Vendetta-
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16 years ago
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three-amigos
16 years ago
Land Before Time - Better story, well defined characters that have stood the test of two decades. Old Fashioned animation done right!
Dinosaur - Visually more realistic thanks to computer annimation/FX etc
In my opinion copied many key details from Land Before Time:
1.) Main character hatched at beginning of film
2.) Prehatched egg in danger before the hatching, including falling into a river/waterfall
3.) Survives a natural disaster early in film earthshake/meteor crash
4.) Assembled herd of various species of Dinosaurs travel together to a green, lush place "The Great Valley" or "The Nesting Grounds"
Dinosaur "borrowed" these scenes from LBT and copied it's basic story arc, daring to go a little more intense where Land Before Time was reigned in as to not make it as graphic or scary for little kids. Disney opted to go for the PG version of the same basic concept.
Personally I prefer "The Land Before Time". It endures as the better overall film and can be enjoyed multiple times. Characters were well developed. An original!
Dinosaur -visually more realistic looking thanks to newer technology, but ultimately borrowed too much of it's plot from the other film.
Doesn't stand up as well to repeated viewings.
Shmon......it's Chaaaaad!
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OmegaWolf747
15 years ago
I've loved LBT since I first saw it 20 years ago. I was a kid on a dinosaur kick (from which I've never fully recovered) and just had to go and see it. I fell in love with the movie instantly and dragged my poor mother back to the theater multiple times.
I just wish that cut footage could be restored! I'd love to see the violent, bloody parts of the Sharptooth/Earthshake sequence.
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"House. My room. Can't walk. My medal. My father. Father, don't!"
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three-amigos
15 years ago
One update from my previous comment:
For those who enjoyed the documentaries like "Walking with Dinosaurs" and "Dinosaur Planet" or even "Dinosaurs 3D IMAX", you will probably enjoy "Dinosaur" more than LBT.
Now that my child is into those realistic documentaries that essencially use the same computer annimation FX used in Dinosaur and the JP films, he prefers to see "Dinosaur" again instead of the LBT films which he previously loved but now seem too cartoony for him. He prefers the real looking ones now!
Although aging, the annimation of "Dinosaur" holds up well when compared to these more recent documentary films.
As far as actual story arc, I still believe the original Land Before Time film had a better written story which created interesting,defined characters using minimal dialogue. It remains a great example of good old fashioned hand drawn annimation.
"Dinosaur" did borrow many key plot elements from LBT, and in my opinion got a little side tracked with the whole "Lemur family/love monkey silliness".
But if you want a good film that features realistic looking dinosaurs, Disney's Dinosaur remains the one the best choices out there.
What can I say, I like both films.
"Not all my tricks, ROOKIE!"
Paul Newman as Doc Hudson
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