The NeverEnding Story

The NeverEnding Story
by Wolfgang Petersen

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DVD details

Actor: Barret Oliver, Darryl Cooksey, Drum Garrett, Gerald McRaney, Nicholas Gilbert
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Brand: HATHAWAY,NOAH
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; Spanish (Original Language); English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled)
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 92 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-09-04
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video

DVD Reviews of The NeverEnding Story

DVD Review: "We Are All Part of the NeverEnding Story"
Summary: 4 Stars

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:
Labyrinth
The Princess Bride
Willow
The Pagemaster

DVD Review: childhood memories
Summary: 3 Stars

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.

DVD Review: Charming
Summary: 5 Stars

This movie is charming. It has fantasy elements, real life childhood struggles and a real personable touch. If you are an avid reader you will relate to the lead character in this film. While I did not experience the bullying the lead character did as a child I definately related to his love of books and the escapism they represent. It's a thrill that this movie really puts you back in touch with, in only the way a child can experience. That is probably my favorite part of this film. Books were exciting worlds as a child, complete mysteries to be revealed; this movie captures that and brings it to life in a fantastic way. I thought it was clever and charming and very entertaining, fun for all. I still enjoy this film all these years later.

DVD Review: Simply at the top of fantasy cinema.
Summary: 5 Stars

This film effected me in a way that no other ever did as a child. When I saw it recently for the first time as an adult, I now appreciate the film now more than I did before. A fantasy that speaks to human nature and the thoughts of child and man alike. May I also add that the special effects here were at times beautiful and blow a lot of the modern fake looking computer graphics out of the water. Film makers should think about looking back into expensive animatronics and stop motion. It is better in my opinion.

DVD Review: Pleasurable fantasy movie
Summary: 4 Stars

Only a died in the wool grump could possibly dislike this engaging fantasy movie ,based on Michael Ende's novel of the same name .It is imaginative and thoughtful.It revolves around a young boy named Baslian -played by Barret Oliver-who lives with his Dad (Gerald Mcraney)who gets on his case for Basilan's constant daydreaming .He is bullied at school and desperately misses his mother who has recently died .One day he cuts school and wanders into a mysterious bookshop where he picks up a book entitled The Neverending Story and as he begins to read the book the events in the story come to life.
The key figure in the tale is a child like Princess (Tami Stronach).She is ill and fears that if she dies her land ,the land known as Fantasia , will be taken over and its essence destroyed .She sends a young warrior Atreyu (Noah Hathaway) to find a cure for her lingering illness.What menaces Hantasia is a plague of "nothing".The people of the land are losing hope and forgetting their apirations and Fantasia is dying as a result.Atreyu's journeyings bring him into contact with all manner of weird and wonderful creatures ,and gradually Basilian becomes sucked into and becomes part of the story himself.
The tale with its state of the art for its era)animation ,puppetry and prostetics owes a great deal to Alice in Wonderland and ,in some sequences to the science fiction classic The Day the Earth Stood Still. with traces of The Wizard of Oz and The Dark Crystal .The special effects team of Brian Johnson (Alien )and Bruce Nicholson (The Empire Strikes Back)create menacing swamps and spooky wooods on a Bavarian sound stage which arte easily the equal of Industrial Light and Magic and are a vital part of a movie which is excellent for children but which also has a vital message for adults .Yes -this is a message movie folks .The warning is clear among the fantasy and charm-it warns of a generation that has turned its back on imagination in favour of media in which everything is laid out on a plate for the audience .It si apen of praise to then power and importance of the imagination .Our imaginations are under threat -amd if that does not worry you ,it sure as Gehenna should!

The message here is a tad simplistic but overall it is a bold ,and daring movie with something to say

It remains ,still,among the best movies of its era

Description of The NeverEnding Story

A young boy named Bastian borrows a mysterious ornately-bound book that takes him into the fantastic world of Fantasia.
Genre: Feature Film Family
Rating: PG
Release Date: 3-FEB-2004
Media Type: DVD

Wolfgang Petersen (In the Line of Fire) made his first English-language film with this 1984 fantasy about a boy (Barret Oliver) visualizing the stories of a book he's reading. The imagined tale involves another boy, a warrior (Noah Hathaway), and his efforts to save the empire of Fantasia from a nemesis called the Nothing. Whether or not the scenario sticks in the memory, what does linger are the unique effects, which are not quite like anything else. Plenty of good fairy-tale characters and memorable scenes, and the film even encourages kids to read. --Tom Keogh

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