The Gang of Five

The Land Before Time => General Land Before Time => Topic started by: credence007 on May 28, 2021, 10:44:24 PM

Title: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: credence007 on May 28, 2021, 10:44:24 PM
Most of the LBT fandom seems to hate Invasion of the Tinysauruses, but I absolutely adore it. I may have the unpopular opinion, but I thought it was incredibly cute and funny.

I also find The Secret of Saurus Rock underrated, and many fans seem to hate on that one as well. While there are some obvious errors in the movie (the rock sequence is kind of strangely rotated the wrong way when they first look out onto it from the cliff) I thought it was a great installment, and has some cute and funny moments in it.
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: RainbowFaceProtege on May 28, 2021, 11:33:28 PM
I agree that The Secret of Saurus Rock is actually pretty good. :) Sure, the western stuff can be pretty corny, but hey, this is a cartoon about talking dinosaurs! And I don't have a problem with Dana and Dinah (who seem to be another reason people don't like this particular sequel). I always thought Saurus Rock was one of the more memorable LBT sequels. As for Tinysauruses, I'll admit it wasn't my cup of tea, but to each their own.
The Great Day of the Flyers is my favorite underrated LBT movie, mostly because of --> :feelsgoodman <--
I've noticed some people include Flyers when complaining about later LBT sequels that were lower quality, but I always thought Guido alone made it worth watching. He's one of the more interesting guest characters to appear in LBT, and he adds a type of humor you don't see in the series very often. Also, go ahead and accuse me of falling for the cheap "cute baby" character, but what's really not to like about Tricia? Cera's relationship with her was so cute!
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: Nanotyrannus on May 29, 2021, 04:25:28 AM
I'd like to second the twelfth movie being underrated; I consider it to be one of the most charming of the sequels and perhaps the funniest movie in the whole tetradecalogy (largely thanks to Guido).

I'm not sure if the fandom's general opinion on The Time of the Great Giving is low enough for it to qualify as "underrated", but I'll mention it here as well because I think it's a sequel that modestly succeeds for different reasons from those of TGDOTF; it has a great premise, decently high stakes and a smidgen of intensity to boot.
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: Mouse-a-saur on May 29, 2021, 08:20:43 AM
Also gonna agree with Saurus Rock getting a bad rap. I don’t mind Dana & Dinah either; Dana’s my favorite of the two (largely in part to Nancy Cartwright being his VA) I think the final script involving them was the best choice.

Side note: Where are the D&D emojis, lmao?  :cerasus
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: Hammy on May 31, 2021, 12:47:55 AM
As I've discovered lately, I am a total sucker for morals that provide value to real life kids and adults, as well as cheesy, but meaningful emotional beats. Now, I'd have suggested Time of Great Giving as being underrated for reasons of Topps' small, but impactful arc there, but people on this forum, ie long-time fans, seem to actually quite like that one, so I'll set it aside.

Hard agree on Saurus Rock being underrated. Yes, there are western elements, but honestly, I find them not overbearing outside of the one song. In a dinosaur culture where you have no writing, I have to imagine that storytelling and oral tradition is a major factor, thus what we'd recognize as creation myths as well as western-style tales of heroic loner dinosaurs. It's not really focused on, but there being mythos of sorts it's a neat aspect that I enjoy seeing. Littlefoot's grandpa getting spotlight alongside Doc is really touching, particularly the ending. I quite like Doc too, but that's more of a matter of taste (even if I've wished he was a therizinosaur rather than a diplodocus for a long time now). It's also nice seeing Cera in an older sibling role long before Tricia came into the picture. We see her grappling with being annoyed by Dinah and Danah and genuinely loving and caring for him, though, it's not as interesting here as it's not given so much focus.

On that note, tentatively agreeing on Tinysauruses and Great Day of the Flyers. I really, really wish we'd seen more change within the characters' lives like we did with Cera through dealing with a step-parent and a new sibling. I certainly can't think of any bigger permanent change to the status quo of a particular character. We meet lots of new characters, but the majority are in one movie before disappearing forever and having no effect. Tria, however, becomes a pretty consistent presence, at least after her introduction and into the TV show. I know it's not possible to incorporate every new character consistently, but it would have been nice to see some of them more often before we stopped getting new content consistently.
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: StardustSoldier on June 01, 2021, 04:00:27 PM
I always had the impression Time of the Great Giving was one of the more maligned of the earlier sequels, so I was going to say that I think it's underrated. But reading the comments here, it seems there are a decent number of people who enjoy it too.

And I too will definitely throw in my hat for Secret of Saurus Rock being underrated. I actually liked the western elements. A prehistoric western is an interesting idea, imo, and gave the film a unique flavour. Dinah & Dana never bothered me either. In fact, I was always disappointed we never saw them again in any later films. Seeing them play with Tricia would've been cute. ^^

I even had an idea for a drawing once that would've been Dinah, Dana, & Tricia all cheerfully playing on Cera and jumping on her and annoying her. :p
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: credence007 on June 01, 2021, 11:36:56 PM
I always expected Journey To Big Water to be the one that not as many fans enjoyed, but it actually appears to be a fan favorite, just as The Great Longneck Migration is.

That also kind of gets me wondering, since The Wisdom of Friends seems to be almost completely universally hated by the entire fandom, I kind of wonder if there’s anyone in the fandom that actually LIKES it  :lol let alone even considers it their favorite...
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: Hammy on June 02, 2021, 01:34:56 AM
That also kind of gets me wondering, since The Wisdom of Friends seems to be almost completely universally hated by the entire fandom, I kind of wonder if there’s anyone in the fandom that actually LIKES it  :lol let alone even considers it their favorite...
Funny you should mention that. It's been a while since my last viewing of Wisdom of Friends, but I distinctly remember being way more entertained by it than I expected. I didn't think it was amazing, but it certainly held my attention more than Journey to Big Water (not a big fan that one, to relate to your previous point.) Gotta rewatch 11-13 properly, and then I'll see if I'm the weirdo who kinda likes Wisdom of Friends. :doofahCringe
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: RainbowFaceProtege on June 02, 2021, 12:20:00 PM
That also kind of gets me wondering, since The Wisdom of Friends seems to be almost completely universally hated by the entire fandom, I kind of wonder if there’s anyone in the fandom that actually LIKES it  :lol let alone even considers it their favorite...

I think this is your moment @LittleDas75 ;)Cera
(And I’ll admit to the rest of you guys that I, too, am guilty of enjoying Yellowbellies to some extent!) :FoobieOooooo
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: Gentle Sharptooth on June 02, 2021, 04:06:12 PM
I think the Secret of Saurus Rock is underrated. It gets slammed for Dina and Dana, Littlefoot sleeping in a Sharptooth Mouth, and The Lone Dinosaur song. But honestly its one of favorites, perhaps my favorite of all because its so memorable,
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: StardustSoldier on June 03, 2021, 01:28:56 PM
^The Lone Dinosaur song is one of the better LBT songs, imo. :yes

That also kind of gets me wondering, since The Wisdom of Friends seems to be almost completely universally hated by the entire fandom, I kind of wonder if there’s anyone in the fandom that actually LIKES it  :lol let alone even considers it their favorite...

I'm not the biggest fan of #13 myself, but nor do I hate it or anything. I probably like it better than a lot fans do, and imo it does have some redeeming qualities. The Yellowbellies are annoying, but at the same time there is a part of me that kinda likes them. I am somewhat of a Yellowbelly fan myself in an ironic way. :!
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: RainbowFaceProtege on June 03, 2021, 01:53:59 PM
I'm not the biggest fan of #13 myself, but nor do I hate it or anything. I probably like it better than a lot fans do, and imo it does have some redeeming qualities. The Yellowbellies are annoying, but at the same time there is a part of me that kinda likes them. I am somewhat of a Yellowbelly fan myself in an ironic way. :!

Same here. :p I mean, at least the movie owns the fact that the Yellowbellies are weird and annoying. The Gang's reactions to them are priceless!

(Um, what happened to Goldenwind, anyway? I thought for sure he would've gotten in on this Yellowbelly discussion by now.) ;)
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: StardustSoldier on June 03, 2021, 02:03:48 PM
I will make sure he sees this then.
 :Mo
@Goldenwind
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: LittleDas75 on June 04, 2021, 08:29:04 PM
That also kind of gets me wondering, since The Wisdom of Friends seems to be almost completely universally hated by the entire fandom, I kind of wonder if there’s anyone in the fandom that actually LIKES it  :lol let alone even considers it their favorite...

I think this is your moment @LittleDas75 ;)Cera
(And I’ll admit to the rest of you guys that I, too, am guilty of enjoying Yellowbellies to some extent!) :FoobieOooooo
Hello. It's your local Yellow Belly lover here. Now I don't consider XIII my absolute favorite, that obviously goes to the oringial, but it's one of my top favorite's next to The Great Longneck Migration.
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: sordessie on June 05, 2021, 12:55:39 PM
I agree about Secret of Saurus Rock. It may be a little bit of Nostalgia talking, since it was one of the VHS tapes I watched a lot as a kid, but it's top of the list in sequels for me. Can't count the times that Lone Dinosaur song creeps into my head when I least expect it. I always found the western gripe a little odd since the movies surrounding it also take a common movie theme (shipwreck for Mysterious Island, western for Secret of Saurus Rock, and SciFi for Stone of Cold Fire).

Also, I'm not sure if people usually lump The Big Freeze in with the lesser liked ones, but I always assumed so since I remembered disliking it as a kid. But I rewatched it for the first time not too long ago and it definitely bumped up on the list for me, I can't even remember why I didn't like it now! I also really like Great Day of the Flyers but I don't know the general consensus, I'm way out of the loop on fandom. And I'm biased because I just really like pterosaurs.  :petrieLOL
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: StardustSoldier on June 05, 2021, 07:32:16 PM
I always found the western gripe a little odd since the movies surrounding it also take a common movie theme (shipwreck for Mysterious Island, western for Secret of Saurus Rock, and SciFi for Stone of Cold Fire).

That's a good point, actually. Surely the western elements can't be any stranger than the Rainbow Faces?

As for Big Freeze, it always seemed like one of the more middle-of-the-road entries within the fandom; neither the most popular nor the least. It doesn't seem all that polarizing like #3 and #6 either; people are more generally 'eh' about #8. But it was always one of my personal favourites. The winter/snowtime atmosphere really sells the film.
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: LittleDas75 on June 06, 2021, 12:42:54 AM
I think the Secret of Saurus Rock is underrated. It gets slammed for Dina and Dana, Littlefoot sleeping in a Sharptooth Mouth, and The Lone Dinosaur song. But honestly its one of favorites, perhaps my favorite of all because its so memorable,
Why are people saying that Littlefoot slept in a Sharptooth mouth? That is not what happened. :thudLOL I mean yeah he did go into a Sharptooth mouth but he didn't sleep in it.
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: Goldenwind on June 07, 2021, 08:42:45 PM
I'm not the biggest fan of #13 myself, but nor do I hate it or anything. I probably like it better than a lot fans do, and imo it does have some redeeming qualities. The Yellowbellies are annoying, but at the same time there is a part of me that kinda likes them. I am somewhat of a Yellowbelly fan myself in an ironic way. :!

Same here. :p I mean, at least the movie owns the fact that the Yellowbellies are weird and annoying. The Gang's reactions to them are priceless!

(Um, what happened to Goldenwind, anyway? I thought for sure he would've gotten in on this Yellowbelly discussion by now.) ;)

(Sorry, I was focused on other things. ^^')

What I like about the yellowbellies is their silly behavior and positivity. They are like the Tinysaures in movie 11, but more interesting as they all have traits that make them stick out more, especially with other guest dinos in the franchise. Their dance, their "bush disguise", and how they all love berries.  :PLoofahThe Tinysaurses were just small longnecks and that was basically it I think. XD Sure there are times where they can be seen as annoying, but personally, only Doofah annoyed me. :doofahCringe While not the best in the series, I think it's so silly, it's good. :PLoofah
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: Gentle Sharptooth on June 08, 2021, 09:56:28 AM
I agree about Secret of Saurus Rock. It may be a little bit of Nostalgia talking, since it was one of the VHS tapes I watched a lot as a kid, but it's top of the list in sequels for me. Can't count the times that Lone Dinosaur song creeps into my head when I least expect it. I always found the western gripe a little odd since the movies surrounding it also take a common movie theme (shipwreck for Mysterious Island, western for Secret of Saurus Rock, and SciFi for Stone of Cold Fire).

Also, I'm not sure if people usually lump The Big Freeze in with the lesser liked ones, but I always assumed so since I remembered disliking it as a kid. But I rewatched it for the first time not too long ago and it definitely bumped up on the list for me, I can't even remember why I didn't like it now! I also really like Great Day of the Flyers but I don't know the general consensus, I'm way out of the loop on fandom. And I'm biased because I just really like pterosaurs.  :petrieLOL

I wholeheartedly agree. The Lone Dinosaur song is iconic. It is one of the most memorable songs,

Great point about how other genres like Sci-fi are used, so why is a Western theme such an issue? I mean with so many sequels, it is invitable a western was bound to happen.

I think part of the reason The Secret of Saurus Rock was criticized so severely is it came right after The Return of Chomper in The Mysterious Island. LBT V is universally loved, and so Saurus had a tough act to follow. I however, prefer The Secret of Saurus Rock to The Mysterious Island.   
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: Hammy on June 24, 2021, 06:57:28 PM
I rewatched Invasion of the Tinysauruses and can absolutely abide by the idea that it's underrated, and it's largely thanks to Cera's arc in the film. Maybe it's just me, but she really does act like a kid dealing with a new step-parent and suddenly not being the center of her dad's world. Her anger coming out at her friends, and her keeping the tinysauruses a secret initially out of spite before finding that she really likes them and especially Lizzie.

It just feels like a really good movie for feelings talk. Topps trying to have a heart to heart with Cera especially. He really feels like he's come a long way, and it seems to me like a direct follow-up to Time of Great Giving. I really felt the line "This is so much harder than yelling" and just the acting in that scene really gets me. Topps is trying so hard to explain to Cera that his relationship with Tria could be a really good thing for all of them in a way she'll understand, and God, I feel like the whole "Someone to help [your dad] worry about you" could be a really good thing to help kids going through the same thing process a step-parent. That it's okay to feel angry and sad and hurt, but that a new parent isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Also, another shout-out to the scene where Littlefoot asks his friends to explain why they're mad at him, and it's very clearly explained that they're all having trouble with it, but they still manage to be clear about why without being entirely unreasonable. It's clear that they're still friends, but they need to be mad for a while and can't really talk to him in that state. Then, once that's done, they're able to realize how much they miss him being around. All of this is normal and a fine thing to do, even if it hurts Littlefoot and his friends in the moment. It's just a really good thing, I think, for kids to see and hopefully understand those kinds of feelings better. Just a really good movie for feelings and emotional development. Not quite as adventurous as say, movies 4, 5, 7, or 9, but still surprisingly good.
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: Dr. Rex on June 27, 2021, 03:00:04 AM
Also, I'm not sure if people usually lump The Big Freeze in with the lesser liked ones, but I always assumed so since I remembered disliking it as a kid. But I rewatched it for the first time not too long ago and it definitely bumped up on the list for me, I can't even remember why I didn't like it now! I also really like Great Day of the Flyers but I don't know the general consensus, I'm way out of the loop on fandom. And I'm biased because I just really like pterosaurs.  :petrieLOL
I do feel like people don't talk enough about The Big Freeze. Its exploration of Ducky and Spike's sibling relationship, and Spike's place in a family of Swimmers, was just so heartwarming and relatable. It's definitely something that adopted kids would latch onto, and the film needs more credit than it's being given right now because of it.

I also like The Great Day of the Flyers because of the subplot with Cera and her new family, which really marked a turning point in the development of two characters (Cera and Topps) whose personalities seemed as if they would be relatively static throughout the franchise. Tria's presence and Tricia's birth really revealed a different side to Topps that I would've never expected pre-LBT 11, and it's refreshing to see Cera try and catch up with all the changes that are suddenly happening around her. Outside of that, I thought the animation and flying sequences were among the best animation stuff to come out of the sequels. I don't know about everyone else, but to me, it felt like the animators put their all into that movie.
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: LittleDas75 on June 27, 2021, 01:39:53 PM
Honestly without the Yellow Bellies The Wisdom of Friends probably would have been very boring. And I genuinely believe that.
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: StardustSoldier on June 28, 2021, 07:20:36 PM
I rewatched Invasion of the Tinysauruses and can absolutely abide by the idea that it's underrated, and it's largely thanks to Cera's arc in the film. Maybe it's just me, but she really does act like a kid dealing with a new step-parent and suddenly not being the center of her dad's world. Her anger coming out at her friends, and her keeping the tinysauruses a secret initially out of spite before finding that she really likes them and especially Lizzie.

It just feels like a really good movie for feelings talk. Topps trying to have a heart to heart with Cera especially. He really feels like he's come a long way, and it seems to me like a direct follow-up to Time of Great Giving. I really felt the line "This is so much harder than yelling" and just the acting in that scene really gets me. Topps is trying so hard to explain to Cera that his relationship with Tria could be a really good thing for all of them in a way she'll understand, and God, I feel like the whole "Someone to help [your dad] worry about you" could be a really good thing to help kids going through the same thing process a step-parent. That it's okay to feel angry and sad and hurt, but that a new parent isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Also, another shout-out to the scene where Littlefoot asks his friends to explain why they're mad at him, and it's very clearly explained that they're all having trouble with it, but they still manage to be clear about why without being entirely unreasonable. It's clear that they're still friends, but they need to be mad for a while and can't really talk to him in that state. Then, once that's done, they're able to realize how much they miss him being around. All of this is normal and a fine thing to do, even if it hurts Littlefoot and his friends in the moment. It's just a really good thing, I think, for kids to see and hopefully understand those kinds of feelings better. Just a really good movie for feelings and emotional development. Not quite as adventurous as say, movies 4, 5, 7, or 9, but still surprisingly good.

Excellent post. I couldn't have said it better myself. :yes

I also like The Great Day of the Flyers because of the subplot with Cera and her new family, which really marked a turning point in the development of two characters (Cera and Topps) whose personalities seemed as if they would be relatively static throughout the franchise. Tria's presence and Tricia's birth really revealed a different side to Topps that I would've never expected pre-LBT 11, and it's refreshing to see Cera try and catch up with all the changes that are suddenly happening around her. Outside of that, I thought the animation and flying sequences were among the best animation stuff to come out of the sequels. I don't know about everyone else, but to me, it felt like the animators put their all into that movie.

Another great point.
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: Dr. Rex on June 30, 2021, 11:05:52 PM
I also like The Great Day of the Flyers because of the subplot with Cera and her new family, which really marked a turning point in the development of two characters (Cera and Topps) whose personalities seemed as if they would be relatively static throughout the franchise. Tria's presence and Tricia's birth really revealed a different side to Topps that I would've never expected pre-LBT 11, and it's refreshing to see Cera try and catch up with all the changes that are suddenly happening around her. Outside of that, I thought the animation and flying sequences were among the best animation stuff to come out of the sequels. I don't know about everyone else, but to me, it felt like the animators put their all into that movie.

Another great point.
Thank you. I try, I try. :)
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: LittleDas75 on March 19, 2022, 12:49:34 AM
Edit: Message retracted.
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: chomper94 on March 19, 2022, 07:43:09 AM
To be honest, I feel like the 14th movie doesn’t get much attention.  I honestly loved it despite it’s weak points throughout the movie.
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: somerandomfangirl on March 19, 2022, 12:56:30 PM
I've noticed 14 seems to get forgotten about a fair bit as well. I think because it's such an odd one in that it came out 9 years after The Wisdom of Friends and nothing has come out since. It just sort of came and went again. There are some things in there that annoy me, but not nearly as much as some of the other later sequels.

It seems a lot of people think Secret of Saurus Rock is underrated and I'm inclined to agree, probably because I watched it so much when I was younger.  :p
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: NatsnCats on March 21, 2022, 06:16:58 PM
Confession time: when I feel down, I like to watch XIII just for a good laugh.  :PLoofah
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: LittleDas75 on March 21, 2022, 06:29:20 PM
Confession time: when I feel down, I like to watch XIII just for a good laugh.  :PLoofah
Welcome to the party. :PLoofah
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: chomper94 on March 21, 2022, 07:37:08 PM
Confession time: when I feel down, I like to watch XIII just for a good laugh.  :PLoofah

(https://newfastuff.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Pbr5W8H-150x150.png)
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: Dr. Rex on March 24, 2022, 12:16:00 AM
I've noticed 14 seems to get forgotten about a fair bit as well. I think because it's such an odd one in that it came out 9 years after The Wisdom of Friends and nothing has come out since. It just sort of came and went again. There are some things in there that annoy me, but not nearly as much as some of the other later sequels.

It seems a lot of people think Secret of Saurus Rock is underrated and I'm inclined to agree, probably because I watched it so much when I was younger.  :p
Yeah, I think 14 should be talked a little bit more. Some of the creative choices may not have been great, but the production team seemed to know their stuff and did the best they could.
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: Mouse-a-saur on March 24, 2022, 06:25:25 AM
I've noticed 14 seems to get forgotten about a fair bit as well. I think because it's such an odd one in that it came out 9 years after The Wisdom of Friends and nothing has come out since. It just sort of came and went again. There are some things in there that annoy me, but not nearly as much as some of the other later sequels.

It seems a lot of people think Secret of Saurus Rock is underrated and I'm inclined to agree, probably because I watched it so much when I was younger.  :p

Definitely agree on Saurus Rock. I think folks get hung up on Dana & Dinah too much (but we’ve got some good songs + Doc, lol :DocSerious)
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: Compsognathus on March 24, 2022, 04:27:18 PM
I consider VI and XII underrated. I always liked them very much, VI has interesting storyline, good new characters, and XII I liked Guido, Ceras issue of being no longer an only child, and it was interesting to watch struggle of Petrie to fit in with his siblings, even when he has problems to do collective things, which others do easily, but he struggles a lot, because he is probably somewhat autistic. Close to home by me.
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: GreyLizard226 on March 27, 2022, 02:57:46 AM
Journey To Big Water is a favorite of mine. I think it it was reworked a bit it would be pretty much perfect.
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: 00not_nathan00 on March 27, 2022, 03:41:45 AM
Mhm That's a hard one. I would have to say IX  :Mo or III :threehornmad for me.
both of them for me where pretty good sequels but it seams that on the internet a lot of people dont really like them which is a bit sad :duckysad
cause I mean both of them had pretty good one off characters in Moe and the builles. aswell as pretty good plots so yeah     
Title: Re: Most underrated sequels?
Post by: GreyLizard226 on March 27, 2022, 04:32:08 AM
Mhm That's a hard one. I would have to say IX  :Mo or III :threehornmad for me.
both of them for me where pretty good sequels but it seams that on the internet a lot of people dont really like them which is a bit sad :duckysad
cause I mean both of them had pretty good one off characters in Moe and the builles. aswell as pretty good plots so yeah   

It’s interesting you say that, since those are my two favorites, along with 5 and 14.