Special Review
This review is a special request from Patreon supporter BodaciousCNO. If you'd like to support me on Patreon, click the button below. Visit PatreonIn 1979, West German publisher Thienemann Verlag published Die unendliche Geschichte by author Michael Ende, which became an instant bestseller. The book was translated to English by Ralph Manheim and hit English and American book stores in 1983. Like in its home country, the book was also a hit, and it wasn’t long before movie studios came calling. German producer Bernd Eichinger became interested when his daughter suggested he adapt the book into a movie. Eichinger hired Wolfgang Petersen, who recently earned two Oscar nominations for 1981’s Das Boot, to helm the project. Michael Ende initially worked with Petersen as a script advisor but left when Petersen majorly rewrote the script. Ende felt the film deviated so much from the book that he tried suing the producers but ultimately lost. Regardless, Warner Bros. picked up the distribution rights and released The NeverEnding Story in the US in July 1984.
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Synopsis
Bastian (Barret Oliver) is a shy 10-year-old kid who’s shy, loves books, and lives with his widowed dad. On his way to school, Bastian runs from a couple of bullies, and he hides out in a local bookstore. There, Bastian meets the owner Mr. Coreander (Thomas Hill), who warns him about The NeverEnding Story, claiming it isn’t safe. With his curiosity piqued, Bastian grabs the book and runs off to school, where he hides in the attic. He starts reading the story about Fantasia, a fantasy land threatened by an evil force called “The Nothing.” A young warrior named Atreyu (Noah Hathaway) quests for a cure for the Childlike Empress (Tami Stronach). It turns out she’s the only one who can stop “The Nothing” before it devours all of Fantasia. Along the way, Atreyu meets several characters who will either help him or try to stop him.
Review
The NeverEnding Story is one of those movies where you could add darker elements and still get a PG rating. It’s from a bygone era of children’s movies where you could take risks and add dark subject matter. There’s the infamous scene where Atreyu’s horse lets himself sink into the Swamps of Sadness because of his depression. You also have characters who are apathetic over the situation, whether it’s the giant turtle Morla or the Rockbiter. It helps that there are characters like Falkor, the luck dragon, and a couple of gnomes to balance the dreariness. They help to show kids that, even when things seem dark, there’s always hope if you continue to persevere. Not every kid’s movie has to have darker moments, but it’s a shame that everyone plays it so safe nowadays. But that’s a discussion for another time.
For an 80s family film, the child acting is surprisingly good, particularly from Noah Hathaway as Atreyu. He embodies all the traits we aspire to have: courage, determination, a willingness never to give up, and fierce devotion. Also, the puppets and animatronics are astounding, especially the Rockbiter, Morla the turtle, and Falkor, the luck dragon. Each of them feels like a fully realized character with weight, something sorely lacking in today’s CGI-riddled entertainment. Admittedly, some compositing shots stick out severely, but that’s par for the course for movies around this time. It’s also refreshing to have a fantasy film where the villain isn’t a wizard or monster but a nonphysical being. The Nothing could almost be a metaphor for kids losing their imagination, which this movie should hopefully reinvigorate. Overall, The NeverEnding Story is a beautiful, albeit bleak fantasy film that kids and adults of all ages can enjoy.
Buy The NeverEnding Story from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3uV7U2S.
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