In 1984, a film adaptation of the 1979 fantasy novel The Neverending Story by German writer Michael Ende was released. Directed by acclaimed German filmmaker Wolfgang Petersen, the film was the most expensive feature produced outside the US, and it went on to be a critical and commercial success across the world. Often regarded as one of the most celebrated children's fantasy films of the 1980s, this movie has endured a growing legacy due to its boldly ambitious content and craftsmanship that has lied rent free in people's heads for over four decades. So 40 years later, how much does it hold up now?
The film tells the story of a boy named Bastian Bux who finds a magical book that depicts a young warrior setting forth to save the wonderland world of Fantasia from a dark force known as the Nothing. As Bastian continues reading the book, his imagination ends up dictating how the book's inner world functions. As a metafictional take on the "use your imagination" trope common in children's media, The Neverending Story comes off as fascinating in how it brings the book's inner world to life through such a seemingly simple journey. The tale of warrior Atreyu setting out to find a cure for a dying land is fairly intriguing on its own, but the framing device of Bastian practically bringing the world to life through his own engagement adds much needed suspense and thrills to an already epic journey. Whether or not the film was truly faithful to Ende's original book is a discussion within itself, but as a stand alone adventure shown from the eyes of a gifted outcast, this feature shows how much worth there is in connecting to what seems to be mere fiction, especially to other children.
As for the characters around the inner world of Fantasia, Atreyu steals the show as being the most sympathetic if not most endearing side lead thanks in large to Noah Hathaway's passionate performance as the brave warrior who learns more about confidence through the journey than beforehand. While there are many notable characters throughout the land who stick out from their costumes and minor quirks alone, few get to be as uplifting as the faithfully guiding dragon Falkor or the gnomes that are as beneficial to Atreyu's personal development as they are humorous on their own accord. Other notable characters in the real world include the bullies who harass Bastian and the grumpy bookseller Carl Conrad Coreander, the latter of whom only has one scene yet makes the most out of it thanks to Thomas Hill's intimidating presence. Although Bastian may be the central viewer of all the imaginary miracles established in the book, the general cast are what truly bring the seemingly never ending story to life, allowing us as the audience to feel connected with at least one player.
Going into the revolutionary aspects of the feature, the phenomenal special effects work bring the creatures and lands of Fantasia to varying degrees of success. On one hand, the puppetry, costume work and set design for the land is endlessly creative both in concept and execution, and it's remarkable how much time and money went into perfecting all of the technical details in reimagining the world through and through. That said, as much as technical limitations are the reason for this, the abundance of blue screen compositing and still photography on more elaborate set pieces make the practical effects feel cheap by today's more advanced standards. Having seen this film on the big screen recently, the sound design and Klaus Doldinger's accompanying score do just enough heavy lifting to keep the viewers engulfed in the experience without lingering too much on the effects. Lastly, no matter what anyone tells you, Giorgio Moroder's techno-pop theme for the American release remains an ear worm for its catchy melody and uplifting performance from Limahl.
Although it might not offer everything substantial from the original novel, Wolfgang Petersen's The NeverEnding Story has aged well in its unapologetically imaginative themes, well casted characters, state of the art craftsmanship and intriguing nostalgic value. Whether you're an age-old fan of this film or you're a newcomer, definitely check it out at least once, and also consider reading Michael Ende's book while you're at it. Even if you don't consider yourself to be much of a bookworm, products like this are more than enough to engage anyone into the realm of fantasy, be you a child or adult.
The film tells the story of a boy named Bastian Bux who finds a magical book that depicts a young warrior setting forth to save the wonderland world of Fantasia from a dark force known as the Nothing. As Bastian continues reading the book, his imagination ends up dictating how the book's inner world functions. As a metafictional take on the "use your imagination" trope common in children's media, The Neverending Story comes off as fascinating in how it brings the book's inner world to life through such a seemingly simple journey. The tale of warrior Atreyu setting out to find a cure for a dying land is fairly intriguing on its own, but the framing device of Bastian practically bringing the world to life through his own engagement adds much needed suspense and thrills to an already epic journey. Whether or not the film was truly faithful to Ende's original book is a discussion within itself, but as a stand alone adventure shown from the eyes of a gifted outcast, this feature shows how much worth there is in connecting to what seems to be mere fiction, especially to other children.
As for the characters around the inner world of Fantasia, Atreyu steals the show as being the most sympathetic if not most endearing side lead thanks in large to Noah Hathaway's passionate performance as the brave warrior who learns more about confidence through the journey than beforehand. While there are many notable characters throughout the land who stick out from their costumes and minor quirks alone, few get to be as uplifting as the faithfully guiding dragon Falkor or the gnomes that are as beneficial to Atreyu's personal development as they are humorous on their own accord. Other notable characters in the real world include the bullies who harass Bastian and the grumpy bookseller Carl Conrad Coreander, the latter of whom only has one scene yet makes the most out of it thanks to Thomas Hill's intimidating presence. Although Bastian may be the central viewer of all the imaginary miracles established in the book, the general cast are what truly bring the seemingly never ending story to life, allowing us as the audience to feel connected with at least one player.
Going into the revolutionary aspects of the feature, the phenomenal special effects work bring the creatures and lands of Fantasia to varying degrees of success. On one hand, the puppetry, costume work and set design for the land is endlessly creative both in concept and execution, and it's remarkable how much time and money went into perfecting all of the technical details in reimagining the world through and through. That said, as much as technical limitations are the reason for this, the abundance of blue screen compositing and still photography on more elaborate set pieces make the practical effects feel cheap by today's more advanced standards. Having seen this film on the big screen recently, the sound design and Klaus Doldinger's accompanying score do just enough heavy lifting to keep the viewers engulfed in the experience without lingering too much on the effects. Lastly, no matter what anyone tells you, Giorgio Moroder's techno-pop theme for the American release remains an ear worm for its catchy melody and uplifting performance from Limahl.
Although it might not offer everything substantial from the original novel, Wolfgang Petersen's The NeverEnding Story has aged well in its unapologetically imaginative themes, well casted characters, state of the art craftsmanship and intriguing nostalgic value. Whether you're an age-old fan of this film or you're a newcomer, definitely check it out at least once, and also consider reading Michael Ende's book while you're at it. Even if you don't consider yourself to be much of a bookworm, products like this are more than enough to engage anyone into the realm of fantasy, be you a child or adult.