X
- 1984
- PG
- Warner Bros.
- 1 h 42 m
- 1984
- PG
- Warner Bros.
- 1 h 42 m
Summary A dreamy young boy discovers an extraordinary storybook-and the fantastical world within its pages. (Warner Bros.)
Directed By: Wolfgang Petersen
Written By: Herman Weigel, Michael Ende, Robert Easton, Wolfgang Petersen
- 1984
- PG
- Warner Bros.
- 1 h 42 m
- 1984
- PG
- Warner Bros.
- 1 h 42 m
The NeverEnding Story
46
7.7
Where to Watch
Summary A dreamy young boy discovers an extraordinary storybook-and the fantastical world within its pages. (Warner Bros.)
Directed By: Wolfgang Petersen
Written By: Herman Weigel, Michael Ende, Robert Easton, Wolfgang Petersen
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 10 Critic Reviews
46
60% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
10% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
30% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 10 Critic Reviews
46
60% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
10% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
30% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
Wolfgang Petersen's The NeverEnding Story is a marvelously realized flight of pure fantasy.
Director Wolfgang Petersen combines the elements into a charming film that is excellent for children and won't put any adults to sleep, either.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 97 User Ratings
7.7
72% Positive
70 Ratings
70 Ratings
24% Mixed
23 Ratings
23 Ratings
4% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 97 User Ratings
7.7
72% Positive
70 Ratings
70 Ratings
24% Mixed
23 Ratings
23 Ratings
4% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
One of my earliest fantasy movies. 80s movies just have that "magic" that will live in you forever. Great movie.
Report
The NeverEnding Story is one of my all time favourite movies, it is just so magical. The music is brilliant, and the story is a magical, simple and effective one. The scenery, sets and costumes were visually a feast to the eyes, just gorgeous to look at, and if it didn't get any awards for best art direction, then that is a massive shame, because it was so beautiful to watch. Falcor was a fantastic character, a very warm and loving character, that you just have to love. I have to admit though, Gmork is very scary. The acting is fantastic, Barret Oliver very spirited as Bastian, and Noah Hathaway born to play Atreyu. And Tami Stromach as the Childlike Empress has a small but wholly relevant role in the film. This film is practically perfect in every way and has a wonderful message, don't miss it! The second film's okay, but the third one is god awful and should be in the bottom 100. 10/10 for this though. Bethany Cox
Report
Petersen seems to be holding back, telling us about the liberating power of the imagination but never really showing us. Of course, to show us would be to spoon feed the audience, thereby blunting the message and defeating the point. [20 Jul 1984, p.E9]
This fairy tale is a weirdly enchanting mixture of old-fashioned whimsy and up-to-the-minute special effects. It brings back the early excitement of reading as a child, when the act of turning pages took on a magical quality. [19 Jul 1984, pg.1]
This was sweet and charming at the time but now it just lacks either the comedy or sophistication of kids' fantasy film that we've all become accustomed to.
A lot of it's real pretty, the colors and creatures and all, but these days, you know, every movie is pretty pretty. I guess the only thing that kept me glued to my seat was the gum somebody'd stuck on the upholstery. [16 July 1984, p.71]
The Neverending Story is a graceless, humorless fantasy for children, combining live actors and animated creatures in mostly imaginary settings.
A modern fantasy fairy tale based on the book of the same name by German author Michael Ende. It is a pretty faithful and loyal adaption of the first half of the book. Don't worry it is not open ended and you will even not notice that there is more to it. Side-note: The sequel is not the other half of the story. It is the story of Bastian Balthasar Bux who is bullied at school and escapes to a book store where he finds “The Neverending Story” book. He starts reading it. This is the story of Atreyu, who is on the quest to save Fantasia which slowly destroyed by the “The Nothing” that devours everything. As the story progresses you learn that there is more to the story than you had imagined. It has a clever story full of fantastic ideas and themes. This is also valid for the characters. I must admit the fail a bit in comparison to the book but this was expected. I wont spoil the twists as it would be a crime. It is one of the best journeys in fantasy. The practical effects were pretty got for its time. The visuals, sets and costumes were pretty good. Remember this is a German production from 1984 and not Hollywood. There is also the excellent soundtrack. Limahls Never Ending Story became a classic that is still played in radio. The rest is a pretty good soundtrack. I must warn you as there is a scene that has traumatized many peoples childhood involving Atreyus horse Artax. Overall a solid adaptation and great movie. Bonus knowledge: The book is even better by a magnitude and I will recommend it. The unfilmed second half has a great story about corruption of power starting with best intentions, true friendship and probably the greatest final battle in fantasy. Think all battles of Lord of the Rings combined and all sides have fantasy creatures like Dragons, Rock-eaters, Centaurs and more on their side. Also both sides think that they are the good guys fighting an evil menace so that neither side can give up and let evil win. The conclusion was so heartwarming that I had tears in my eyes. Michael Ende was a genius author who created also Jim Knopf and Momo. He fought hard to stop this movie but lost. I thing he wanted to stop the sellout of ideas and that people read his books as some things can be well transferred. I think I should thank him here for his awesome works. There are other adaptations for his stories but that is another story;-).
Report
The neverending story is a fantastic movie! The characters are so amazing, the plot is well developed, Fantasia is a great world to be in, and the way the story is made is just wonderful. I rate this 10/10. Also, are the other critics controlling the Metascore high on something? Because they have given mixed reviews about this.
Report
I'm not really sure what to think of this movie. Sure, the effects were 80's era, but whatever. The real reason this confused me was that it felt even more like a Jim Henson acid trip than Labyrinth. I couldn't tell if this was fantasy, adventure, drama, or what. The whole sub-plot with the kid having to "rename" the princess? Not needed.
All in all, this movie was a bit confusing, but a fun 80's classic.
My last item: That werewolf-dog thing. Oh Jesus. That was the freakin' scariest thing when I first saw this. Dear God.
Report
I am genuinely underwhelmed by this film, and to tell the truth many adventurous family fantasy films from past decades nearly live up to their fame, the most notorious one is THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987), and now TNS is another competent contender (the first three STAR WARS are the scarce exceptions). The film is Petersenâ
Report
Wolfgang Petersen, le réalisateur du fabuleux Bateau a comme qui dirait pété un câble : il s'est mis à torcher en 1984 une niaiserie à chiards ! certes, il faut saluer de jolis effets spéciaux (et non pas numériques...) à une époque où les ordinateurs n'étaient que de grosses calculettes, ce qui devait réprésenter un sacré boulot à l'instar des plus gros films de SF de ce temps-là, on s'en doute...
Malheureusement, ça ne sert ici que le propos niaiseux d'un vague conte de fées pour chiards qui chient dans leur bac ou leur benne et cela semble en effet "sans fin" tellement on s'ennuie vite ici... Une grosse bizarrerie donc dans la filmographie d'un réalisateur réputé pour d'autres choses qu'une espèce de fable poussive, ballote et sans génie aucun, loin de là même...
Report
Production Company
Constantin Film,
Bavaria Studios,
Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR),
Producers Sales Organization (PSO),
Bavaria Film,
Dieter Geissler Filmproduktion
Release Date Jul 20, 1984
Duration 1 h 42 m
Rating PG
Tagline A boy who needs a friend finds a world that needs a hero in a land beyond imagination!
Awards
Young Artist Awards
• 4 Nominations
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 1 Win & 3 Nominations
Jupiter Award
• 2 Nominations
