The Neverending Story
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Movie Reviews of The Neverending Story
Movie Review: "He is very close, listening to every word we say."
Summary: 5 Stars
In 1994, Wolfgang Petersen directed the film adaptation of the German novel "Die Unendliche Geschichte", which was written by Michael Ende (1929-1995). The film/novel is better known in the U.S. with its English title of "The Neverending Story". It was also the first film that Wolfgang Petersen filmed in English. The story begins with a troubled boy named Bastian (Barret Oliver), who is being raised by his father (Gerald McRaney). An avid reader with an active imagination, Bastian walks into a used bookstore owned by Mr. Koreander (Thomas Hill) and finds a mysterious book that captures his curiosity. Mr. Koreander seemingly doesn't want to sell the book to him, but Bastian manages to run from the store with book in hand. Bastian takes the book to school with him, where he is tormented by three bullies (Drum Garrett, Darryl Cooksey & Nicholas Gilbert). To avoid the bullies, Bastian finds refuge in a rarely-used attic within the school and begins to read from the book about a magical land called Fantasia. Fantasia is a wonderful place with many unusual characters and is ruled by the Childlike Princess (Tami Stronach), but something terrible is happening to Fantasia as parts of it are disappearing by an unknown force referred to only as "the nothing". The Childlike Princess calls upon the strongest warrior to find a human child to stop "the nothing". The warrior, a boy named Atreyu (Noah Hathaway) of a tribe similar to Native Americans, takes the protective signet that the Childlike Princess gives to him and sets off to find a human child, which can only be found beyond the bounds of Fantasia. To his astonishment, as Bastian reads the book and the many adventures, challenges and dangers and Atreyu faces, Bastian slowly begins to realize whom Atreyu and the Childlike Princess are actually seeking.
With imaginative characters, good cinematography & special effects and an endearing & well-written story, "The Neverending Story" is a wonderful and engaging film that not only captures Bastian's imagination in the story, but the audience's imagination as well. Other memorable characters in the film include Teeny Weeny (Deep Roy), Night Hob (Tilo Prückner), Cairon (Moses Gunn), Engywook (Sydney Bromley), Urgl (Patricia Hayes), Falkor (voice of Alan Oppenheimer), Rock Biter, the Racing Snail and the Bat. Overall, I rate "The Neverending Story" with 5 out of 5 stars and very highly recommend it to both young & old alike. It's a wonderful film that can be watched time and again without becoming tiresome. Sadly, the film's two sequels (produced in 1990 & 1994) were far less memorable. Other films directed by Wolfgang Petersen include "Das Boot" (1981), "Enemy Mine" (1985), "The Perfect Storm" (2000) and "Troy" (2004).
Movie Review: I Remember...
Summary: 5 Stars
Watching this film since I was very young. I still have the old VHS tape that I have to have half-worn out by now, but "The Never-Ending Story" is still as entrancing and as luminous as it was when I was four years old. The film focuses on the paralell journies of of Sebastian, a shy and reclusive child in a modern-day metropolis who steals a book from a library while being chased by local bullies. Once safe in a old dingy attic, he begins reading of a fantastic land called Fantasia, a world made from the hopes and dreams of every human. In this story (Called the "Never-Ending Story") as young human boy named Atreyu is called on by the dying Empress of Fantasia to find a way to stop the Nothing. The nothing is best described as a dense, pitch-black cloud but it represents far more. It destroys anything in Fantasia it comes in contact with the broken hopes, dreams and spirits of human beings. Atreyu is sent on this mission to stop it before all of Fantasia is destroyed.Sebastian follows his quest, as do we. And what we see are incredible visual effects, utilizing artful production design, make-up and convincing puppet-work that makes memorable and instantly connectable fairy-tale characters. For one there is the huge flying dog that Atreyu befriends, a giant being made from rock, the minature professor and his wife and especially that menacing black wolf who aids the nothing. Even though I have discovered other unnerving and disturbing movie villians over the years (Hannibal Lector, Michael Myers) that wolf, named Gemork, is still one of the most menacing and frightening characters I have ever seen put to the screen. Gemork may have only a few minutes total of time on the screen, but he is still makes an impact with a low, growly tone and an indifference to anything in Fantasia that gets destroyed.
And ample credit must be given to director Wolfgang Peterson, who until "The Never-Ending Story" was internationally known for his WWll submarine drama "Das Boot," and some people were very surprised to learn that his first english languange film was a childrens' fantasy. But Mr. Peterson knew what he was doing. That same keen sense of character, pace and story that he has brought to films like "Das boot," and "In the Line of Fire" is still very evident here. He uses the stunning visuals to full effect and fleshes out the theme-filled story well. No wonder I remember this film so well from my childhood...
Movie Review: A Fascinating, Unforgettable 80's Fantasy!
Summary: 5 Stars
Bastian is a young boy of higher than average intelligence and imagination struggling to deal with bullies and the recent death of his mother. The hardships that have befallen his life, along with the hard instruction of an out-of-touch father, have taken their toll on Bastian's ability to fantasize and dream, convincing him that he must grow up and keep his feet on the ground. Luckily for him, while taking refuge in an old bookshop one day on his way to school, Bastian is introduced to "The NeverEnding Story". This mysterious book takes his imagination on a daring quest with a young warrior named Atreyu to save a child-like empress and the entire land of Fantasia from the mysterious and terrible Nothing that is sweeping across the land and destroying everything it touches.
If any movies from the now much celebrated 1980's can truly be called classics, "The NeverEnding Story" is without a doubt one of the most worthy. It was a time when fantasy films for young people were insanely popular, all with dazzling pre-CGI effects and eerie, otherworldly music, and this film is the finest example. Based on a famous German book (it's said that the author was not pleased with the film version), "The NeverEnding Story" is an exciting and magical tale about the restoration of a boy's imagination against great odds. The land and creatures of Fantasia, while sometimes rather ugly, are brilliantly brought to life, the cast is excellent, and every young boy growing up in the '80's was totally in love with beautiful Tami Stronach as the empress (now a lovely and accomplished dancer). We all also wanted a luck dragon of our own!
The Warner Bros. DVD release could use an update, as all the extras are in the form of text information (little tidbits about the characters and effects), but at least the film is presented in widescreen (on the flip side) and a trailer is included as well. There were two sequels made to "The NeverEnding Story", plus a cartoon series and something called "Tales from the NeverEnding Story," which I believe was a live-action TV series. Unfortunately, I haven't seen any of that stuff, so I can't recommend or discourage seeking it out. However, you can't go wrong with the enchanting original!
Movie Review: Very Cool and Creepy
Summary: 5 Stars
I watched this movie again last night. I haven't seen it in 20 years, so I was wondering if it was still as good as I remembered. Well, it turned out to be pretty darn corny. That's okay though, because it IS a movie for kids after all. I just wish it had grown on me more. Mainly I was just wishing that I was watching something else, or that the movie would speed up a little. It is slow and ponderous. Or maybe I am just too darn old. It's still a good movie, worth 5 stars no doubt.
One interesting effect was on the version I was watching. I was watching it recorded off of TV, with captions. The captions were all in white words as usual, except for Gmork the evil wolf-thing. His words were displayed on the screen in a frighteningly-cool green-colored lettering that matched his eyes. That's not something you see too often. So that was pretty neat.
The movie did creep me out at one point though. The Empress is explaining to Atreyu that a little human boy is watching them and listening to their every move, and that other people were watching him in turn and have also shared in his pains. (Or something to that effect.) Wow, how creepy is that? That gave me the shivers! How could she have known right then that it would be me who was watching that movie 20 years later? I mean, how would she have known? So that was kind of amazing. I wonder if it still says that part if someone else is watching the movie. It is still hard to believe that the movie was really talking about ME. But there it was! Plain as day.
It is kind of like how the movie "Three Men and a Baby" can creep you out when you see the ghost of the little boy in the window who was killed in that building earlier. It is scary but I like to see movies with this sort of thing. Mainly because I like getting in touch with alternate energies, channeling my life force, focusing my spiritual center, and developing my psychic powers. These things are very important to me as a professional psychic.
Excellent movie. Recommended. 5 Stars.
Movie Review: a children's movie classic
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember when this film was first released in the theatres in 1984 and the incredible hype that followed it. The Never Ending Story, based on the book by German author Michael Ende, was the pinnacle of children's fantasy filmaking in the 80's and in many ways superior to its contemporaries The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. The special effects, however dated, were state of the art at the time and can still move audiences.
But what is most impressive is the imagination behind the world of The Never Ending Story. Fantasia is as wonderful a land to visit as Middle-Earth or Oz. With its assortment of fairyland creatures and engaging storyline, it's no wonder that this film has gone on to become a classic. So much thought and care went into designing this film that you won't even be able to forget the catchy theme song performed by 80's rock star Limahl.
In The Never Ending Story, a young boy named Bastian (Barret Oliver) discovers a mysterious book with a strange emblem on the cover in an antique book shop. The book is called The Never Ending Story. Bastian decides to cut class and hide in his school's attic so that he can read the book undisturbed. Here Bastian follows the adventures of a young warrior boy called Atreyu (Noah Hathaway). However, Bastian soon learns that this mysterious book is aware of his every action. Bastian does not know that he is a part of The Never Ending Story which is taking place in real time even as he reads it. Bastian will have to come to grips with the recent death of his mother as well as the fact that he is the only one who can save Fantasia and the Childlike Princess (Tami Stronach) from the terrible Nothing which is threatening to destroy it.
The Never Ending Story is directed by acclaimed filmmaker Wolfgang Petersen and composed by Klaus Doldinger. This film went on to spawn two sequels and two short-lived T.V. mini series. This is a wonderful film that all children ripe with bursting imaginations and fantasy lovers alike will enjoy.