The NeverEnding Story

Rating:
Summary: Nothing's lost the second time around
Review: I first saw this when I was probably about five, and I loved it as a kid. Although I'm always scared that a childhood favorite won't measure up if I view it now, this movie is as wonderful now as it was then. I would recommend this to anyone, especially parents, since I think it's a great movie for children. If you loved it as a child, buy it now, it doesn't disappoint. On a sidenote, I could never figure out what Bastian names the Princess, either, so I used closed captioning -- turns out he says nothing. A bit of a disappointment there (I always thought he said Elizabeth).

Rating:
Summary: My Absolute Favorite Movie of All Time!
Review: Like many others, I first saw this movie when I was very young. My dad tells me about times when I curled up under his arms to watch it with him and I was totally silent, enthralled and completely absorbed into the fantastic world of Fantasia. I just saw it again last night, and again, I was scared of Gamork, the creature of darkness. I remember hiding my eyes as a little kid during those parts! The saddest part is when Atreyu's horse, Artax, dies in the swamps of despair. I cry every single time I see that. It's not just that I'm a horse lover; it's the saddest thing I've seen ever in a movie. The actors are brilliant, to say the least. Not one minute, even in my mature and wise (ha!) teenage years, did I not believe the characters and what they stood for. 13 years later, Atreyu is still as noble, courageous, true, and real as he was when I was young. The Childlike Empress is still as pure, beautiful, and wise as ever, and Bastian, I am safe to say, is what all people are like on the inside. Do see this movie. And if you get the chance, see "The Last Unicorn" too.

Rating:
Summary: Yay!
Review: I watched this first when I was about six. I remember thinking it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. I was petrified of the Gmork (y'know, the big thing that looks like a wolf with the freaky green eyes). At the same time, I absolutely adored Falkor--he looks like my dog! He's so cute! And then there's Atreyu. He is AWESOME! He rocks! And not just because of his looks, either--he is very brave and intelligent, something I think many people could learn from. A great role model for girls, too. The movie differs from the book A LOT, but that's not entirely a bad thing. The empress is soo pretty! I like her alot. She is also wise, and that is an extremely good thing--no more of these ditzy princesses! This movie is really, really good. Can I stress that enough? Even if you're 150, I swear, you will love this movie. If you don't, you've forgotten the child you once were. You will really like this video. Like I said, the Gmork can be a bit much for a lot of the littler kids, and that Nighthob is pretty freaky (you know, the extremely dirty guy who rides the bat,) but otherwise, WATCH THIS!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: I saw this movie for the first time when I was seven. I fell in love with it. I used to rent it EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND (and would cry if it wasn't in the video store) until my mother realized that it was much less expensive just to buy the video. It's a great movie for children, it really encourages the imagination, and I think the acting is terrific. Unfortunately, I gave away my video and have just purchased another, because I want the kids I baby sit for to see it. I would very much encourage anyone to buy this movie.

Also, I had such a crush on the actor Noah Hathaway when I was seven. When my brother told me the movie was made in 1984 and he would have been twenty something while I was seven, I seriously cried for hours. He's SUCH a cutie =-)

Rating:
Summary: Impressive but shallow interpretation of an expansive story
Review: This film is the illegitimate offspring of Michael Ende's exceptional book, and is something of a lukewarm affair. Despite being under the guidance of acclaimed director Wolfgang Petersen (who also had a hand in the script), it certainly cannot be compared to its inspirational source material. It is but half the original story, a fact which has enabled it to impressively leave out every single philosophical and moral comment that the book intended to make, and also prompting the novel's author to demand the removal of his name from the opening credits. The characters here are shallow, dialogue awkward, and much of the explanation that makes the book so understandable and compelling is simply omitted. The whole thing is neatly concluded with perhaps the worst cinematic ending imaginable - a narrator's "they all lived happily ever after"-style voice-over, itself a gross perversion of the original story.

That said, what the film lacks in depth and accuracy it partially makes up for in its visual and aural artwork, with some of the most sumptuous sights and sounds ever to emerge from a German film studio. Each location is perfectly chosen, the sets are all well-designed and aglow with fairy-tale luminescence, thanks mainly to conceptual artist Ul de Rico. The (German-release) soundtrack is sheer perfection, the pinnacle of Klaus Doldinger's scoring career, surpassing even his award-winning score for "Das Boot" in terms of passion and atmosphere. Non-Germans have to put up with a great deal of annoying synthesised dross and a diabolical theme song from Giorgio Moroder (said song performed by Limahl), though several key Doldinger cues (such as Atreyu's Flight) thankfully remain to create a hint of the proper atmosphere.

The cast is fairly well chosen, though again for their visual rather than acting qualities (especially in the case of the near-androgynous Noah Hathaway, who at times is quite painful to watch). Surprisingly, the crude animatronic characters (for whom lip-sync is but an impossible dream) are rather endearing and, in combination with the scenery, provide a pleasant if not totally accurate rendering of Ende's fantasy world.

This is a film that looks and sounds great (especially the German version), with a general feel of quality and high production values (and costs - the most expensive German-made film at the time). However, anyone looking for a proper fantasy story of depth and emotion should look for the same title under the "books" section instead.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I have watched to movie at least 20 times. I am 37 and still enjoy it very much. However, for the life of me, I can not figure out what Sabastian names the Princess to save Fantacia. If anyone can help me with this, please write me and let me know at [e-mail] Thank you!

Rating:
Summary: Watch this movie!
Review: For any parents who wants their children to read more, this is a great movie. Not only does this movie support reading and using imagination, but it's actually good. It has one of my favorite childhood movies since I saw it in the theater.

Rating:
Summary: .
Review: A kids movie that differs from most others primarily in that it displays 10x the imagination and daring. The only other films in its genre that come anywhere near matching it are The Dark Crystal and Return to Oz, but although I think I heralded Return to Oz as the "finest" children's film I'd seen when I reviewed it a while back, remembering some of the details of the Neverending Story has caused me to rethink it. The Neverending Story, although not overly long, has a very engrossing and epic quality to it, and past the "reading is good" moral, which is one of the few "morals" I can actually somewhat tolerate, there are some intriguing metaphysical themes. "Themes" might be too deliberate a word, but the way it indulges differing layers of reality, and stressing and heightening the importance of a layer or reality other than the one that we are used to, and that resides primarily in the imagination of the individual -- indeed, the fact that the dramatic heart of the movie, and its most powerful moments, cry for the importance of other layers of reality to be acknowledged -- is quite arresting, if you really think about it. But be assured it isn't necessary to intellectually dissect this film to enjoy it -- above all, it is a powerful, vivid, and astounding unique fantasy which no kid should be deprived of.

Rating:
Summary: A GREAT MOVIE!
Review: Wow, this movie is perfect for the imaginative child! I've been watching this movie since I was 3, and still love it! Great plot, wonderful fantasies, Kids will LOVE it!

Rating:
Summary: Favorite since childhood
Review: I have loved this movie ever since I was a little kid, and I never tire of watching it. Excellent story line, especially for those of us who are book worms!