The Neverending Story
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Movie Reviews of The Neverending Story
Movie Review: Time to escape!
Summary: 5 Stars
I got this in the mail today-earlier than expected. What a great surprise! The STORY...finally on DVD! And what a top notch DVD transition. From the time the title tune fades in and the strikingly colorful clouds appear on the screen I was hooked once again with this little bit of childish magic. This widescreen version is a first for me (I was too old, dismissing this when it originally came out and had to discover it on "fit your screen" cable). Let me say I have no complaints about how the STORY looks or sounds. Pay attention and you'll notice things you didn't before. I was amazed at the shimmering scales on the luckdragon, the enormous size of Morla, the detail of Gmork in the confrontation scene (I thought he was just a head but there's legs and a body), all the wonderful little details in Urgl and Engywook's little house. So much more too. And let me say again that the color is amazing! Very little artifacts or graininess. And the soundtrack will fill your room with music! The movie itself is incredible on DVD. This is the only way to watch it!So is there anything I didn't like? Well, I could complain about the lack of extras. There is a "making of" section; but it's just a few paragraphs of text. Informative, but sparse. Commentary is one reason to buy a DVD version. I'd like to know what ever happened to Noah Hathaway, Barret Oliver and the rest of the players. Words from the director can really put a new twist on your impressions of a movie and how they did certain scenes (just watch TIME BANDITS with Terry Gilliam! Great fun!). But we don't get that here. Then again the movie is not priced like a special edition so maybe that's in the future. The theatrical trailer was a welcome extra (WB sometimes leaves that off too).
Well, the STORY reminds me that I've been meaning to read LORD OF THE RINGS before the movie comes out...so...see you between the pages...
Movie Review: A Neverending Pleasure!
Summary: 5 Stars
It came as quite a shock to American critics when Wolfgang Petersen, best-known for his direction of the gritty submarine drama 'Das Boot', chose a children's fantasy for his first American film. But The Neverending Story is a fanciful, engaging, and thoroughly enchanting fairy tale, and has become a bit of a classic of the genre!The story appears to be simple; a young boy named Bastian, withdrawn since his mother's death, and the target of local bullies, finds refuge in a magical book about a mythical world called Fantasia, filled with sweet and bizarre creatures, an ethereally beautiful Empress (played by the luminous Tami Stronach), and a young hero (Battlestar Galactica's Noah Hathaway) that he immediately relates to.
What truly sets this film apart is its underlying message of 'What Is Real?' The characters of the story keep referring to Bastian, and how he must save their world. Bastian must learn to use his imagination, to let go of preconceptions of reality...and, ultimately, the viewer is given the same choice, as well, in one of the most novel twists I've seen in a film in a long time!
Being produced by an international team, the film has a decidedly European 'feel', even with the participation of Gerald McRaney ('Simon and Simon', 'Major Dad') and the other American actors. Major pluses include the beautiful theme music, some terrific low-key creatures (I LOVED the giant flying dog!), and an approach to fantasy that is closer in spirit to 'The Princess Bride' than 'The Lord of the Rings'.
While the DVD has a great 'look', it has virtually no special features; one hopes a 'Director's Cut' DVD might eventually be made! Also, be forewarned that various sequels to this film have been produced, that aren't NEARLY as good as the original. THIS IS THE ONE TO BUY!
Treat your kids and yourself to a terrific tale! The Neverending Story is wonderful!
Movie Review: One of the best Family Fantasy films of all time
Summary: 5 Stars
After watching the movie one can tell that it was a plot to convince america that we are turning into televised slobs and seem to be abandoning the rich and fluid world of the imagination and books. Most of the time these little gags fall flat on their faces. However with Neverending Story it is truely one of a kind in the relm that it has a strong message, and a touching story that one can't help but love.The Neveredning Story starts off with the young boy Bastian who is constantly tormented by a group of bullies. One day as he is running away from them he hides inside of a dusty old book store where he meets an ecentric old book keeper. The old man doesn't like bastian because Bastian is part of the TV era. However Bastian likes to read books. The old man turns his back for a moment and bastian borrows the book the old man was reading the Neverending story. At that point Bastian hides out in the school storage room where he starts to read the book. The story he reads (and of course we witness) is the story of an evil force known as the Nothingis slowly destroying the world of Fantasia. It is up to a young warrior known as Atreu who must journey through out Fantasia and find a way to destroy the Nothing. Along the way he meets up with Falcore the Luck Dragon, the Rock Biter, and an assortment of many other characters in the attemp to save Fantasia. In the End Atreu and BAstian have more in common than they think and it falls into Bastians hands to save Fantasia (the childs imagination).
This heart warming and truely awsome tale is one of the best in the field of Fantasy. It is truely a one of a kind and the sequels and remake only taint this wonderful classic. It also leaves a strong message that while TV is fun for a while, the human imagination (helped along by reading novels) is truely the greatest thing available.
Movie Review: One of the classic 80s fantasy films...
Summary: 5 Stars
"Die Unendliche Geschichte"Released in 1984, this movie is perhaps the best of the classic 80s fantasy resurgence. Along with The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and Ridley Scott's Legend, The Neverending Story lets us all escape from reality for a while.
This film, however, rises above others in its genre by offering a somewhat postmodern examination of the desires and needs for escape from everyday life. Drawing comparisons between Bastian's storybook readings and our own cinema-going, the film ultimately condones such escapist daydreaming - disapproved of by Bastian's father early in the movie - and offers us hope that if we follow those dreams with all our heart, we will achieve them.
Visually stunning with Ul de Rico's inimitable production design, and directed with a beautifully non-Hollywood flare by German director Wolfgang Petersen, The Neverending Story is a film to be not only enjoyed but cherished. On the surface it's an exhiliarating fantasy ride, below it's an examination of the childhood daydreams most of us have given up on or forgotten. Relive them.
All the leads are strong, with some brilliant supporting performances from actors and creatures alike. Followed by George 'Mad Max' Miller's sequel in 1990, which was watchable but suffered from the lead-cast changes (unavoidable as the original actors were hitting twenty), and an abysmal third installment in 1994, which should be avoided at all costs.
NOTE: This review was written just prior to the release of the DVD version. I hope Warners give the film the treatment it deserves - no film with $27m of production design in it goes without supplementary material. There are two versions of the film, the German version containing Klaus Doldinger's complete score and lacking Giorgio Moroder's memorable theme song. The musci video at least should be included.
Movie Review: A Beautiful Fantastic Movie!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I had loved this movie since I was a kid and I had to get it on DVD. This movie is spectacular! Above anything else it teaches children what a wonderful gift of reading can do for the imagination and how important reading is. The story takes us through an oridinary world of Bastian, who's having trouble in life with the recent death of his mother. And his father who wants him to put both feet on the ground and stop living in the clouds. However, when Bastian is being chased by bully's from school he finds a bookstore that has a rather thick but interesting cover. The bookstores owner warns him its not your typical book and that he couldn't have it. However, he steals it and then finds himself in the school's attick. He finds himself soon lost in an adventure of The Neverending Story. Which the book is about a land being destroyed by The Nothing. As Sabastian is being led on the adventure following another young boy in hopes to save Fantasia and it's people, named Atrial. When all along it's only Bastian who can save them.This movie has everything you could possibly want in a fantisy. It's full of adventure, special effects, and all through a little boy that is using his adventure through a not so ordinary book. This show's how important again it is for kids to read, and to use their imaginations, and what books can do to take you on a realistic adventure. It's amazing and I call it a classic as well as millions of other fan's across the world.
The DVD is pretty good, the sound seemed a bit faded but its a pretty good DVD. Only thing is it doesn't give you the opition to have it full screen like some of them do. However, it's got Notes and Trivia on the book and characters, interactive menus, theatrical trailer, and language selections.
All in all a great buy you won't be sorry. I give the movie an A+ and the DVD a B!