The Land Before Time 30th Anniversary Retrospective Part 9

With Movie 8 not at great as 7, but otherwise great nonetheless, we wonder how this one turns out.

Our narration begins in the water. This time, there isn’t any indication of evolution, but rather regarding the numerous creatures in the sea (Elsie makes a cameo). On the mainland, a prolonged storm has been shaping the earth. Even the Great Valley isn’t safe, but at least it didn’t become another Land of Mists. But with the dinosaurs either moving to another or doing some spring cleaning, Littlefoot is left alone. His grandparents assure him that “in a world so full of life, he’s only as alone as he chooses to be. Maybe there’s something yet to be discovered.”

In a flooded region of the valley, Littlefoot does indeed discover such a creature: an Ophthalmosaurus named Mo, voiced by Rob Paulsen. Apparently, the storm scared him into the flood waters and washed him into the Great Valley. Littlefoot and his friends are excited about this until they find that Mo’s not alone. A Pliosaurus also was washed up into the Valley, but he doesn’t do much though when an earthquake traps it in a cave. However, the kids get separated from their families as well. But Littlefoot sees this as an opportunity and gets his friends to lead Mo downriver. Overcoming a swarm of crickets and Mo’s antics, they take a little rest next to an expecting Diplodocus.

The next day, they come to close the Big Water and Mo decides to investigate. Bad timing, as the non-magical Pliosaur has found his quarry. But the dolphin lizard returns and says his last goodbyes.

…

Got you, didn’t I? Nope, apparently, the carnivore smelt the saltwater and left for the ocean. The gang too reach the ocean and bid Mo a farewell after being told the way back to the Great Valley.

The verdict? Okay, yeah, there’s a reason why this retrospective is very short compared to the others. The story is generic and linear. The only important plot in there is how Littlefoot wants a brother and does get a Mud Brother out of Mo. Petrie gets some surreal moments with his imaginary friends, but it really doesn’t go anywhere. Mo may not be Jar Jar Binks, but it just feels that he’s rather pointless. The animation style is at a stage where perhaps many of us know nowadays, characters are often shaded in several scenes, and the characters are animated quite nicely. However, animation only dresses up a story, not makes it.

I feel like what I’ve done with The Secret of Saurus Rock, this might require yet another massive rewrite if I am gonna make this interesting. But great care must be taken to avoid this becoming a clone of “The Mysterious Island” (Considering they did sing “Big Water” again).

While the intro is kept the same, we actually begin the story on a sunny day with the children playing along as usual. It’s a bit muggy, but at least it’s better than the sudden harsh winter. Suddenly, the storm happens and Littlefoot has swept away in the flash flood in a bitter attempt to save one of his friends.

While unconscious, the flood water takes him over to the Mysterious Beyond into the Big Water. He would’ve drowned right there had Mo not found him and pushed him to shore. Now, in this version, Mo does not talk, but having communicated with his pod, he gestures for Littlefoot to follow him.

There would be a three-act structure involving three previous characters. Littlefoot first comes across Elsie from the fifth film washed ashore on the beach, but he needs to find help before he can help her. He then comes across Archie from the sixth film also washed on his back in a rocky cove (a fact that does happen to some modern sea turtles). Fortunately, there is a large stick nearby and so the little Longneck manages to get him into the water. Considering that sea turtles can dig, Archie would return the favor and allow enough water to get the Elasmosaurus unbeached.

All the while, a pack of Eustreptospondylus is following the little longneck. But there’s the rub: he’s right out in the open, ready to be eaten, but yet they do not approach him as long as his feet are in the water.

Why would that be?

When the sea beast appears for the first time, Elsie returns the favor and fights off the beast. But the fight causes Littlefoot to be separated from Mo, and now he’s lost without his companion. But what last person would he quid pro quo?

Pterano. When the first cold time in his sentence arrived, he did the logical thing and flew south. However, the storm that came soon after proved too much for the Pteranodon and now he has a broken wing. In return for some company, the exiled creature leads Littlefoot through the Mediterranean scrubland. It isn’t easy for both of them when the pack of Sharpteeth quickly catch up with them. A clever trap or two sends them off.

Eventually, they reach the section of brackish water where the Pliosaurus attacks them again. Here, what we got plays off on its own, though instead of Mo faking his own death, he leads the carnivore into the cave and traps it. The morning after, three recuperate and continue on. But when the reach further inland, certain complications (geography, the lack of salt water) causes Mo to bid farewell.

As they get closer to the valley, Pterano bids farewell too but asks Littlefoot to tell his nephew he said hi. The Longneck does just that when he reunites with his friends and grandparents in a search party.

In conclusion, this one’s rather… So to say…

Comments

[annonymus]

A Pliosaurus also was washed up into the Valley, but he doesn’t do much though when an earthquake traps it in a cave. However, the kids get separated from their families as well.

First, it's actually a Liopleurodon, not a Pliosaurus. Second, is it really me? Or is The Great Valley volcanic? Because it felt like a massive Earthquake created a massive fissure with geysers. Does that mean The Great Valley would turn into a Flood Basalt or a Supervolcano? It'll be like Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, but only with The Great Valley as Isla Nublar and Mount Sibo.