The NeverEnding Story

Starring: Barret Oliver, Gerald McRaney, Noah Hathaway, Alan Oppenheimer (voice)
Directed by: Wolfgang Peterson
Rating: PG
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
1984

Times Seen:
Tim: 3

Summary: A young boy (Barret Oliver) takes a book up in the attic of his school to escape his troubles. He reads a fantastic story about a land called Fantasia, and becomes part of the story.

Review:

Tim: I loved this movie as a kid, and so it was with some trepidation that I watched it again after 15 years or so since I'd last seen it. I admit I was a bit nervous about how I would like it. I remembered it so fondly- would that memory prove to be accurate, or did time and life strip away the amazement I once found in this film? I am happy to say that the movie holds up even today as an amazing fantasy adventure. It is incredibly entertaining, original, and fun. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie from start to finish.

The 80s were big on fantasy movies, and this one has to rank right near the top. The movie creates this amazing fantasy world that comes to life on screen- we're got rock eaters, giant turtles, a deadly wolf monster, a flying luck dragon, and the nothingness that is eating away at it all. It's not hard to find yourself getting caught up in the film as you're transported to a different world.

I love the story of a young boy reading a book and being transported to that world. Isn't that what all good books do? You forget yourself for a while- your troubles, your worries, your concerns. For just that short amount of time, you're sharing someone else's life. That is amazing. It is especially powerful as child- whole new worlds and concepts are opened up to you. This movie accurately captures that feeling, which is unforgettable. I love that this movie entertains while also conveying the message that books are wonderful tools for the imagination. I wish more young people would take the message of this film and read more. Our hero has read all the classics- Treasure Island, The Lord of the Rings, and many more. A well read protagonist? I love it.

Speaking of Barret Oliver- he did a fantastic job in this film. I'm sad that he no longer acts. Think about it- 90% of his screen time involves reading a book. He has to make reading a book interesting for us to watch. That is a monumental task, and yet, he pulls it off flawlessly. His book reading scenes are equally as thrilling as anything we see in Fantasia. That is amazing to me. I looked forward to his scenes to see how he would react. His wide-eyed wonder was contagious, and really made the movie great.

Noah Hathaway had much more fun acting, because he got to ride horses, fight monsters, ride the luck dragon, and so much more. Hathaway gives a very good performance as the strong, brave Atreyu. He was in many ways the opposite of Oliver, and that worked perfectly well for the movie. I thoroughly enjoyed his performance, and he made it easy to root for him.

Wolfgang Peterson did a great job of making Fantasia come to life. This movie would have been awful had this fantasy world not seemed believable. With all the creatures, the special effects, and the strange inhabitants, it is easy to get caught up in this fantasy world.

I also love how the film broke down the fourth wall. It was mind blowing to think about the characters trying to interact with the reader, while also mentioning the audience watching the reader, who was reading about the characters! That was certainly unique, and one of my favorite parts of the entire film. It also makes me wonder if that chain continues, and someone is watching me!

The NeverEnding Story was one of the most important movies of my childhood. Years later, I still love this movie. It is a beautiful, powerful, unforgettable movie. I love the message, the adventure, and the cast. This is a great fantasy movie- one of the best.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter, The NeverEnding Story III