The NeverEnding Story [Region 2]
Imagination isn t all you need... - While I do appreciate this film for at least having some very grand and unique visuals, I can t say the same for the actual plot. Well, maybe not the plot itself, but the pacing. This movie goes by WAY too fast. I don t feel any real connection to Atreyu because the plot moves along to fast and doesn t pose any real threat to him until the very end. First, after the horse that I didn t care about and is INCAPABLE of emotion died after sinking into the swamp of SADNESS, Atreyu looks pretty depressed, but does he, a human CAPABLE of emotion not sink to his death, well eventually he starts to sink, but why doesn t it happen right away? Second, why did the film introduce us to the goblin, the rock-biter, and the...other guy, and spend so long establishing them if they have nothing to do with the movie at all. Lastly, and this is just a personal gripe, who in all hell has been so scared by a book where they have actually screamed out loud.And all of a sudden, the head of a giant turtle popped out...AAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!Holy s**t, that was absolutely terrifying.
Childhood classic - There are a few negative reviews of this movie, mostly omg the book was so much better and neverending? it s only an hour and a half long!... I haven t read the book, but I have always enjoyed this movie. I think it s a movie that everyone should see at some point in their lives. As far as the people who expected the movie itself to actually NOT END... that is the dumbest thing I ve ever heard. If you actually pay attention to the movie, the point is that as long as people have hopes and dreams, the HUMAN story never ends. The DVD itself isn t the best quality, but the movie was filmed in the early 80s.The movie is $5. Buy it and decide for yourself if you like it or not. If you don t, you can always trade it in at a used video store. I also recommend checking out the sequel.
A pleasant experience. - You could actually follow the story, once things kicked off because the action was gripping and you wanted the hero to win.It was funny to watch how the boy would read the story and that made things happen in the dream world.The chosen boy (Atreyu) to seek out the saving grace for Fantasia was very strong-minded and wouldn t give up for anything.What was most interesting was that I liked this a lot as a kid and could watch it now as a 23 year old adult.Probably worth another watch in a few months.3.8 stars.
We Are All Part of the NeverEnding Story - German director Wolfgang Petersen, the man responsible for the harrowing WWII epic Das Boot, may seem like an odd choice to direct a film adaptation of Michael Ende s children s book, The Neverending Story. However, his knowledge of technical filmmaking and his passion for adventure stories proved to be the perfect combination, as can be seen in this campy classic 1984 film.The story concerns young Bastian, an imaginative boy who prefers to retreat into books rather than face the harsh truths of reality, as he borrows a magical book from a bookstore and reads it in the creepy attic of his school. All his life Bastian has been bullied by other kids at school and misunderstood by his overly practical widower of a father. But as Bastian s mind absorbs the details of the book, The NeverEnding Story, he finds both escapism and empowerment while reading of a heroic young hunter named Atreyu. Atreyu is a member of the Plainspeople and he was chosen to save his world, Fantasia (in the book the fantasy world is known as Fantastica), from the devastation of The Nothing, a living void which spreads across Fantasia devouring all in its path and leaving nothingness in its wake. As Bastian follows Atreyu s daring exploits, he becomes astonished to discover that Fantasia really exists and that he may be the only one who can save it from oblivion, so long as he finds the courage in himself to do as he dreams.Since the film s release, it has become something of a family classic, but after almost twenty-five years it s hard to imagine this film having the longevity of the fantasy classics that preceded it. The film is charming and entertaining, but it lacks the heart of films like The Wizard of Oz and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and lacks the sophistication of a film like The Dark Crystal. The film does, however, have some ingenious special effects and some truly bizarre costumes and make-ups, which are at time reminiscent of the first Star Wars film.The plot itself deviates from that of the book, but does so in order to make the film accessible to the average viewer.With a wondrous array of characters and creatures including a Rock Biter, a racing snail, a fearsome wolf-like creature known as the Gmork, a Luck Dragon named Falkor, and the fragile and beautiful Childlike Empress, it s not hard to see why the film has such great appeal.Also recommended:LabyrinthThe Princess BrideWillowThe Pagemaster
childhood memories - The NeverendingStory is a children s classic film. At least in my mind it is. I remember growing up watching this movie, and how science fiction movies today that has that same premise in mind wants to make magic just like the Neverending Story like the Spiderwick Chronicles. No movie can compare to children s novels like the Chronicles of Narnia, but there is something still magical of the Neverending Story, and how it can touch each and every one of us at some time in our lives. I just have fond memories of this movie.