Customer Reviews

The Land Before Time

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

When I read here at Amazon that this was one of Horner's best soundtracks, even better than "Titanic" and up there with "Glory", I was a little skeptical. After all, this was a kiddie cartoon, and one I don't remember too fondly from my younger days. However, being open minded about it, and liking many of Horner's other works, I decided to go ahead and get it, unheard at all. Besides, at the price it is here, you're not losing much if it's bad. Upon hearing it though, I was amazed. It WAS really great! In fact, it's become an immediate favorite, which I listen to frequently. I would definitely rate it higher that "Titanic", and right up there with "Glory", and "The Rocketeer" as Horner's best. The main themes are very beautiful, and the rest of the music is also pleasant to listen to. Another thing: I don't often like the songs thrown onto these soundtracks to go along with the movie, and especially not in the middle of the CD! But in the case of "The Land Before Time", I really love the song, "We will hold on Together", and look forward to it's playing, even in the middle like it is. As Horner often does, he composes a song in which the music is the same as the basic theme of the entire CD, (Ex: Titanic, Mask of Zorro, Mighty Joe Young) and it fits beautifully. All in all, this is one of my favorite scores, and I have about 50 of them. I definitely say, whatever you thought of the movie, or think it must be like, GET THIS SOUNDTRACK! If you like beautiful music, or are a Horner fan, this is a must have. You won't be dissapointed.

I remember the first time I saw The Land Before Time. It was in preschool when I was about 3 or 4. Amazingly, the movie has remained a poignant favorite of mine ever since, and I never doubted for a minute that it was largely because of the music.

This soundtrack is very difficult to obtain without emptying your wallet, but for that feeling that washes over me every time I hear the oboe in Whispering Winds-- that lip-trembling feeling that sends me back to my childhood-- this soundtrack is worth every penny.

James Horner captures emotions through music that cannot be felt in any other way. When you feel the soaring strings of the climax, you can hear Littlefoot cry, "We made it... we made it together."

This is a movie I will watch with my children, and music that will stay with me until I grow into an old man. And every time I listen to it, I know I'll still feel like I did when I was a child.

Ignore the fact that this is a soundtrack to a children's movie, this CD contains some of the most beautiful movie music you'll ever here. I grew up watching the original 1988 Land Before Time classic (don't talk to me about the horrid, cheap sequels...I like to pretend they don't exist) and the music was one of the main things I loved about it.

Even just listening to the track "Whispering Winds" I cry like a baby, and I'm 21 now. Diana Ross, who I've never really been a fan of, sings a gorgeous ballard called "If We Hold On Together". It's a beautiful song, very sophisticated and pretty, with lovely lyrics that I think just about everyone can relate to - nothing like the awful songs that fill the sequel LBT films. "If We Hold On Together" is so good that it could've been a real chart topper and I'm shocked that it wasn't.

All the other tracks are very good, this CD is really worth getting if you like film scores and/or classical music. Forget the horribly over-rated score to Titanic, I firmly believe that THIS is James Horner's best work. I have this as a vinyal record, which thankfully still works because the CD is out of print and very pricy to buy second hand, but I might be forced to update soon.

Whenever I turn on the movie or soundtrack of "The Land Before Time," I can't help but wonder how such a perfect orchestral score found its way into a children's cartoon. Don't get me wrong--it is definitely one of the best movies I have seen, cartoon or not (and certainly better than many of Disney's best efforts)--but I have never seen such a beautiful collection of music in any other cartoon in my life. And though my life hasn't been that long, only fourteen years, I am as much of a music lover as they come, and know great music when i hear it.

The soundtrack to this movie is written with such power and emotion that words can't even describe it. It has to be heard in its full splendor to be fully appreciated, so don't listen to those realaudio clips and assume you've heard it all. There are no "sing-along" songs like in the five billion half-wit sequels made in recent years. In fact, the only track that does have words is "If We Hold On Together" by Diana Ross, which is a beautiful, serious song built upon the movie's main theme.

Do yourself a favor, and don't judge the original "The Land Before Time" by what you've seen and heard about the sequels. Both the film and soundtrack are masterpieces that have yet to be touched by any cartoon movies I have seen (and being a kid, I still have a clear memory of those in my mind). I wouldn't be caught dead watching any of the movie's successors, simply because their content and music are too "kiddy," and don't hold a candle to the brightness of the original. So, give the movie and/or soundtrack a try. Even though they don't have the many academy awards to back them up like "Titanic" does, they are every bit as worthy.

A timeless classic not to be missed by any music lover.

This music never fails to inspire me and give me hope. I listen to it everyday and take it with me everywhere. The music is beautiful beyond words. I sincerely believe that it is the best composed score of all times. The main theme, beautiful in itself, is carried out through out the score. It is even put into words in the song, "If we hold on together." No lover of instrumental music should be without this cd.

James Horner has a genius quality to all of his work, but the work he did on this soundtrack is just exceptional. And it was a kid's movie at that! I saw this movie for the first time on my ninth birthday right after it came out on video. I remember the music more than anything because it was the kind of music that breaks your heart into a million pieces and then follows up with putting those pieces back together again. He does the same for all of the movies he writes score music for. Titanic was good, as well, but I still hold The Land Before Time as my all time favorite movie, if only for the music alone. Now that I have a little girl of my own, it's fun to watch it with her, and she will ask me why I cry every time. It's for the music and the story that the music tells all by itself. This is a must buy soundtrack, if you can ever find a copy of it.

For all those adults out there who eschew cartoons as kid movies, take a look at and a listen to this one. This movie has such a heroic storyline, such a charismatic cast of characters, and such an incomparable soundtrack authored by possibly the greatest composer of all time, that this film and its accompanying music are a gem to be enjoyed by all ages for all time. Children will be heartwarmed, adults will be reduced to tears; Mr. Horner's music is the great equalizer between the young and the old, and this CD is the perfect way to cherish the joy of childhood.

Incredible. The only music I listen to is instrumental movie scores, and this one beats them all. It's so subtle, and other times so straight-forward. James Horner hasn't come close to touching this gem since it came out in 1988. And he's done some pretty good scores in between. I've listened to the entire soundtrack all the way though at least once a week, for the past 8 years. Not joking. If you like Instrumental scores, you NEED to get this soundtrack!

I have been a James Horner fan nearly all my life and never
really knew it until now. Land Before Time has been one of
my favorite movies since its release. The movie is so
poignant, not only because of the beautiful storytelling,
but because of the brillance of the music. It unearths all
these emotional responses because of the vulnerability of
each theme. The themes of loneliness, longing, anticipation, hope, and triumph satisfy my spirit. While searching for
the soundtrack I discovered James Horner's genius. He has written the music to several movies I call touching favorites. I only wish the soundtrack was more easily available.

I have loved the movie since I was three and always will. James Horner is a genious. One of the reasons I loved the movie was because of the songs. They touched me. I still cry when I watch it and probably still will years from now. I love all the songs in the movie and therefore love the soundtrack. I recomend the soundtrack and movie to every one.