AdventureFantasyFamilyDrama

The NeverEnding Story

- A boy who needs a friend finds a world that needs a hero in a land beyond imagination!

While hiding from bullies in his school's attic, a young boy discovers the extraordinary land of Fantasia, through a magical book called The Neverending Story. The book tells the tale of Atreyu, a young warrior who, with the help of a luck dragon named Falkor, must save Fantasia from the destruction of The Nothing.

Release Date : 1984-04-06

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Constantin FilmBavaria Film

Production Country : Germany

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Atreyu

Original Name : Noah Hathaway

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bastian

Original Name : Barret Oliver

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Childlike Empress

Original Name : Tami Stronach

Gender : Female

Character Name : Rockbiter / Falkor / G'mork / Narrator (voice)

Original Name : Alan Oppenheimer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Engywook

Original Name : Sydney Bromley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Urgl

Original Name : Patricia Hayes

Gender : Female

Character Name : Cairon - Empress' Servant

Original Name : Moses Gunn

Gender : Male

Character Name : Teeny Weeny / Night Hob (voice)

Original Name : Frank Lenart

Gender : Male

Character Name : Morla the Ancient One (voice)

Original Name : Robert Jadah

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bastian's Father

Original Name : Gerald McRaney

Gender : Male

Character Name : Night Hob

Original Name : Tilo Prückner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Teeny Weeny

Original Name : Deep Roy

Gender : Male

Character Name : 1st Bully

Original Name : Chris Eastman

Gender : Male

Character Name : 2nd Bully

Original Name : Darryl Cooksey

Gender : Male

Character Name : 3rd Bully

Original Name : Nicholas Gilbert

Gender : Male

Character Name : Carl Conrad Koreander - The Librarian

Original Name : Thomas Hill

Gender : Male

Character Name : The 2nd Balladeer (voice) (uncredited)

Original Name : Beth Anderson

Gender : Male

Character Name : School's Caretaker (uncredited)

Original Name : Donald Arthur

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man next to Man who drops Milk (uncredited)

Original Name : Bernd Eichinger

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man who drops Milk (uncredited)

Original Name : Wolfgang Petersen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Giant Mushroom Creature (uncredited)

Original Name : Brian Wheeler

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2023-06-08

I remember seeing this film when I was young - spurred on by the Limahl theme song that was in the charts at the time, and rather enjoying it. Based on just the first half of Michael Ende's original novel, it's a gentle fantasy tale of a young boy - "Bastian" (Barret Oliver) - who is being bullied by three classmates. When one day he seeks refuge in a bookshop, the owner shows him a mysterious book that he "borrows" and reads - introducing him to the magical, and dangerous, kingdom of "Fantastica" where he learns that it's benign, kindly young "Childlike Empress" is dying and that only he can help "Atreyu" (Noah Hathaway) save her and everyone from disaster at the hands of "The Nothing". The youngsters are strong with their performances, and Wolfgang Petersen's adaption of his own screenplay remains reasonably faithful to the delicate story with clever, engaging animation - a combination of intricate puppetry and blue-screen effects that is both charming and fun: the luck dragon ("Falkor") and the "Gmork" greatly add to the story of wishes and secrets as "Bastian" races against time to accomplish his task. Time has been quite kind to this film (apart from, maybe, the haircuts!) and it still holds up well.

r96sk

@r96sk

2024-08-02

A fantasy flick of real quality! I got to watch this at the cinema thanks to its release as part of its 40th anniversary, the second movie I've seen re-released on the big screen after 'Trainspotting' back in May. That Danny Boyle flick from 1996 is great, as is this Wolfgang Petersen feature from 1984. I wasn't sure what to expect, I only knew of its genre and that famous theme song. One of the first things to note about 'The NeverEnding Story' is how well it has aged, it looks awesome. The practical effects still look top quality and are super effective, I watched 'Big Trouble in Little China' yesterday and that has aged rather poorly in the effects department - and was released two years after this! I really loved seeing the world come to life. The effects are a big reason for that, though this shows the importance of getting strong voice actors. Alan Oppenheimer is fantastic in the roles of Falkor, Gmork and Rockbiter, credit to Robert Easton as Morla too. As for the 'normal' actors, Sydney Bromley, Moses Gunn and Tilo Prückner are excellent in their respective roles. Younger actors Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway and Tami Stronach all do good work. I could've done without, and this my only thing close to a criticism (which it even isn't), the constant leaps back to the reader (Oliver's Bastian), it's not bad but sometimes doesn't feel necessary; less is more, sorta thing. A brilliant film, one with an edge to it as well... 🕊️🐎