The Neverending Story [Blu-ray]

I first saw this movie as a young child. It continued to be one of my favorites all my life. Since first seeing this movie, I have been exposed to countless thousands of movies, everything from Kurosawa to Orson Welles and John Ford. But Fantasy and Sci-Fi have always been my favorite kind of movies. Amazingly, rather than degrade with time, this movie just gets better and better. Why? Well first of all, the plot is the often used but always great story of a boy on a quest to save the world. It worked in Star Wars, it worked in Dune, it worked in every Final Fantasy game, and it works here. Secondly, the visuals are some of the best seem in any movie ever. Don't see this movie of VHS. It MUST be experienced on DVD in all its wide-screen glory. The special effects are perfect (taken right from the 80s golden age of matte paintings and blue screen before CGI destroyed the artistry of visuals). The soundtrack is one of the best in any movie ever. In short, this is in my opinion, the best movie Wolfgang Peterson ever made, and one of the greatest fantasy flicks of all time. Movies come and go, but this story remains...neverending. It is my favorite movie of all time.In my opinion, The Neverending Story is the greatest fantasy movie ever made. When it was made it was the most expensive movie ever made outside of the United States. It was also a box office flop. But like The Wizard of Oz, It's a Wonderful Life, and several modern films I could name, real genius is just a bit much for some people to take ahead of its time and all at once. There has been a lot of discussion about the book vs. the movie, and while I'm not usually a fan of modifying books heavily for the big-screen adaptation, in this case I absolutely have to make an exception. You see the thing is, while I love the movie, I don't really like the book. Michael Ende may have been right about one thing when he tried to sue the film-makers for deviating from his book: this movie is not the book in film form, it's something else entirely. There are concepts that work in books, but just don't translate to an audio/visual medium very well. I LIKE the Nothing as storm rather than as a silent consuming force. I LIKE the gate to the Southern Oracle being lethal rather than paralyzing. The simplification and streamlining/reworking of the story to what the movie became was the RIGHT decision to make, much as it may irk purists and fans of the book. The only other movie I can think of where I approve so much of slaughtering a book's vision is The Secret of NIMH (it was actually Don Bluth's comments about what works and doesn't work in a film vs. a book in the commentary of that film that made me realize I feel The Neverending Story is SUPERIOR to the book because of the changes made). For better or worse, whether you like the deviations of the story from the book or not, the film was made the way it was. Personally I absolutely love it."Not Atreyu the child, Atreyu the Warrior!"The emotional core of the film, the protagonist inside of the book, Atreyu, is the stuff of legend. Here we have a British actor playing a Native American archetype, a child actor playing a child warrior. When you're a kid watching this movie for the first time you never question or think about such things even for a second, and as an adult, you might like me feel amazed by the alternating extreme vulnerability and confident strength brought to the character. You have to empathize with the character, even see yourself in him as a child, while at the same time seeing that good old-fashioned hero pluck that makes you love Luke Skywalker. I really do think it's one of the great child-actor performances of all time, simply because he's not some muscle-bound action hero. He's a kid. And he's got to save the world. And you never question it for a moment. You believe it. Awesome. In an old interview I found on the net the child-actor said of the character he played "I AM Atreyu." I agree."Bastian, please! Save us!"The child who plays Bastian, and the child who plays the Empress both similarly surpass themselves in playing very serious demanding roles with incredibly sincerity and believability. While Bastian plays his character the most like a normal, shy, introverted child (you can really feel his childishness and immaturity at the end of the movie when he has to choose between trying to act and live the way everyone else insists that he should (like an adult!), and doing what he really wants to in order to save an entire world). The Empress impresses despite her very short screen time by managing quite quickly to convince you despite a very young age, that she at once gravely ill, very old, and (as my dear sister Codemaster Talon put it) actually Empress of something! That super-calm serenity, deep sadness, and knowing smile (I absolutely love the look she gives Atreyu when he says he's failed [but she knows better], and the smile she starts to show when Atreyu asks why Bastian doesn't do something if he knows how to save them). Codemaster Talon also said that "Never before was so much heavy lifting required by so many child actors." And I'll add that never before was it been lifted so far and so well."I never knew it was THAT beautiful."It's fascinates me how the use of wide-screen, wide-angle camera-work results not in a kiddie-feeling movie, but in in adult, epic, emotionally powerful film. And more than that, the artwork results in mesmerizing landscapes that just have to be seen wide-screen to be believed (there is nothing like the feeling the first time you see the Ivory Tower). When Atreyu sets off on his quest and you see him ride past massive crystals and past screen-filling rainbows, over dunes and through grassy plains, you feel the distance and get swept up in the grandeur of the world that has been created.Visually this film is stunning. The painted backgrounds and wide angle shots are some of the best in any film ever made, and they combine with the music to make this one of the most beautiful films in history. The special effects are obviously reference quality, on the level of Star Wars. They aren't CGI cartoons and digitally re-touched pictures. The effects in this movie come from great craftsmanship in the old-school tradition. Miniatures, puppetry, painted backgrounds, and brilliant set design combine with amazing voice-acting, and spectacular cinematography to create a wold that is more than just fantastic, it's believable, and makes you feel that it is all REAL.The music of this movie has been debated for some time now. It seems to be very popular these days to equate "original cut" with "superior film", even if it is not necessarily the case. I don't speak German. I haven't seen the original theatrical version of this film, nor have I heard the complete original score. But I do know this: some of the most memorable music in the film came from the International version we've all seen. The theme for the Ivory Tower is one of the coolest pieces of music in film history, and it was NOT composed for the film by it's original composer. Say what you will, that's a cool piece of music that I for one am GLAD is in the movie. Regardless of re-edits and cuts and new music, the score to this film is one of the best and most memorable in movie history, and it's a sad thing indeed that the COMPLETE music for this film has never been, and possibly never will be made available. What music is playing on my computer speakers and on my MP3 players all the time. Not just good. Fantastic.I really think that this is Wolfgang Peterson's best film. I've seen a few in my time, and while some of them were pretty good, none of the ones I saw ever came close to the magic of this film. I think it was made at the zenith of his talent and ability, as was Miyazaki's Nausicaa and George Lucas' Star Wars. You can feel the idealism and courage in this film, it permeates everything."Never give up, and good luck will find you."Throughout my life I've seen this film as a metaphor for my own life experiences, and that's because it perfectly captures the hero's quest mythology that I love so much. I can't imagine a more frightening test than the Sphinx Gate to the Southern Oracle (whose burning eyes can see straight into your heart and fry you to a crisp in an instant from a hundred feet in the air). I can't imagine a more perfect metaphor for losing your faith in life and having it restored than drowning in the swamps of sadness only to have your life saved by a light in the sky that heralds your rescue by a Luck Dragon. And just when you think it's all over and you've completely failed, you may be surprised to know that making the journey was a victory in itself, and you always had the ability to save what's most important to you, you just had to believe it with all your heart and do something about it.With the world so full of cynicism and practicality rubbish, it feels so good to put this movie in and be reminded just for a little while that stories and dreams are, after all, far more important than silly things like reality and a world filled with hatred and despair.If you think this movie is over-rated, you may need to see it properly. It's a three star movie on a tiny TV, a four star movie wide-screen, and a five star movie on a projector with the volume cranked way up (especially since the volume on the disc is a little low). There are a few movies that I really wish I could see in a movie theater just once. I would pay $50.00 to see this film in a theater. No joke. I hope and pray that this film will one day get the remastered in high-definition, DTS, full-making of documentary, and feature length commentary with all the actors and director on a super-special edition DVD (I doubt the German version will ever be available but it sure would be nice to include it). Until then the U.S. release of this film on DVD has good sound and picture and allows everyone to enjoy a wide-screen clear transfer of this, the best fantasy film I've ever seen, and my personal favorite movie ever.

What a perfect show of what they could do back then

I introduced my daughter to the movie. I warned her about Artax (Arrrrtaaaax!!), and even though she was drowning in the swamps of despair herself for a while, she stuck it out and ended up loving the movie.So, rather than reviewing the movie itself (which is fabulous, and you know that), I'll just say that it holds up for the kiddos who don't even know what a DVD is.

It looks like a homemade copy but plays beautifully!! So long as I can watch it I’m happy!

Liked it when it first came out in the 80s, and still like it now. Even my kids enjoyed it.

I first seen this movie in first grade and I loved it. I'm so glad they brought this out on blu-ray

Classic movie with some uniqueness

The old 2010 blu-ray of this classic Timeless film was insulting had no special features at alland the blu-ray transfer was s***for some fans that don't know this film was 60% German made, German filmedand about 40% American/British madethe film is based on German author Michael ende book of the same name of the filmthere's 2 blu-ray versions, the WB 30th Aniversary edition & the 2012 German blu-ray versionfirst the 30th Anniversary editionthis time Warner bros have given fans brand new special features1st Featurette RE-IMAGINING THE NEVERENDING STORYwhich is 25min new recollections from the German Production team from the filmWolfgang peterson, Producer Dieter Geissler, Screenplay writer Herman WeigalCinematographer Jost Vacano & Music Composer Klaus Doldingerplus interviews with American executives Mark Damon & John Hyde.the German crew speak English for this new featurette, no subtitlesonly 2 Actors from the film have been newly interviewed Tami stronach & Gerald McRaney who played Bastian's fatherBarret oliver & Noah hathaway who played Atreyu are not interviewed for some reasonmaybe they were asked but Declinedthis new featurette should've gone for maybe 40mins i think, but still very interesting to watch2nd new featurette is RESTORATIONwhich is 10min interview with the person who did the blu-ray restoration for the filmthe interview is German with English subtitles obviously, no surprise therei couldn't see the point watching it, but it's here on the blu-rayplus a new Audio commentary by Wolfgang peterson, very interesting commentary tohe gives more recollections on the filmthere's also 2 Documentaries on this blu-ray1st Doco is a 20mins featuretteMAKING OF THE NEVERENDING STORYfilmed in 2004 for the 2 Disc dvd German release onlyin German language with English subtitles againthe 2nd Doco A WORLD OF FANTASIESwhich has previously been watched on youtube.com as bootleg footage is now officially released on this blu-ray55mins Behind the scenes on set footage in Germany 1983-1984 of the making of the filmvery interesting behind the scenes footage if you can tolerate the English subtitlesthere's also the 2012 German blu-ray release by Constantine filmwhich is the Extended version of The Neverending story run time 101minswhich i bought from amazon.de just to watch for curiosity reasonsthis German version has roughly 4-5mins of extra scenes & Dialogue in the filmthe extra scenes are not new scenes but are extra Dialogue & footage from the original scenesin the U.S. version that's allmost noticeably is the end scene with Child empress crying out to Sebastianthis has been extended for an extra minute with footage of the Ivory tower crumblingso both German & U.S. versions are very similar to each otheryou can easily select English language 5.1 surround sound option in setupso there are no English subtitlesbut some of the Characters have been Dubbed in American English thoufor eg Indian Actor Deep roy who played Teeny weeny with his Racing snail has been Dubbedby a very thick Texan Actor which does sound bizarreActor Tilo pruckner who plays Nighthob has been Dubbed aswellAlan Oppenheimer who did the voice over work for the Gmork in the U.S. versionhas a completely different voice, someone else did the Gmork voice in the German versionapart from that Falkor and the other Actors Patricia Hayes & sydney bromley voices are exact the sameChildlike empress & Atreyu voice's have not been Dubbed it's the same voice as the U.S. version.the blu-ray transfer for the German release is exactly the same as the U.S. blu-raynice sharp & clear picture quality in 2:35:1 widescreenthe extras on the German blu-ray are 2004 retrospective German TV broadcast in German languagewith English subtitlesthe new special features is 30 years in the making & finally on blu-raythis film has finally been given the respect it Deservespersonally i like both versions so i'm Happy i bought the German blu-ray aswelli gave this 30th Anniversary & the German blu-ray 5 stars for sure, worth the cash for sureyou can easily buy the German blu-ray of amazon.de and get it shipped to the U.S.

I decided to upgrade my dvd copy of TNS as it's one of my childhood faves. For me the picture quality is a big improvement from the dvd and it has been a pleasure to re-watch this classic in HD. I like the fact that this simple but somehow complex and alternative fantasy tale is nicely compressed into one film, rather than dragged across 3 'epics' as it would be today. Strong characters help this one stand alongside the likes of Time Bandits, Labyrinth and Willow. Sadly, the extras are pretty much non-existent.

Even though the package and disc menus are in German it still plays in English….and it looks glorious in 4K. The picture is excellent, the colours pop. A worthwhile buy.

Ich war noch sehr klein, als ich mit dem Buch von Michael Ende in Berührung kam. Es war schön. Dann kam der Film in die Kinos und ich saß als kleiner Junge wie gefesselt. Natürlich gab's dann die Version auf VHS für Zuhause.Nach heutigen Maßstäben eine unterirdische Bild- und Tonqualität :)))Nunmehr auf Bluray...Natürlich musste ich die auch haben!!Das Bild kommt überraschend scharf rüber...schwarz ist schwarz und ein "kriseln" ist nicht zu sehen. Der Ton ist ausgewogen, auch über eine 7.1 Anlage.Ich bin nur Leihe was die technische Umsetzung angeht, aber von VHS über DVD auf nunmehr diese Bluray ist die Qualität Welten besser.Der Film ist der gleiche und das ist gut so!Eine klare Kaufempfehlung für alle, die diesen Film nochmal und nochmal sehen wollen und für alle Kinder die eine unendliche Geschichte zum ersten Mal sehen möchten.Denn manchmal geht's nicht um perfekte CGI-Effekte und hervorragende Green-Screen Hintergründe. Ja, manchmal geht's einfach nur um die Geschichte mit liebevoll erstellten Puppen und bunten Kostümen. Wenngleich das Buch viel mehr enthält, so regt der Film doch jede Phantasie an und schwupps steht man bei der Mayerschen und sucht verdammt nochmal dieses Buch, um sich damit bei Unwetter auf dem Dachboden mit einem Nutellabrot zu verstecken. Großartig!Hand auf's Herz! Wer von Euch Mitvierziger wollte damals nicht mit Fuchur rumliegen??? 😄😄

Die unendliche Geschichte von Michael Ende (ich weiß bis heute nicht, ob er sich mit dem Titel bewusst selbst auf die Schippe genommen hat) habe ich als Kind begeistert gelesen. Die 1984 erschienene Verfilmung von Wolfgang Petersen hingegen habe ich erst etliche Jahre später gesehen, obwohl der Film da schon sehr lange draußen war. Ich konnte mich daran nicht mehr so wirklich erinnern - kein wirklich gutes Zeichen -, also habe ich mir kürzlich noch mal 'ne gebrauchte DVD zugelegt, um meine Erinnerungen aufzufrischen (für die olle Kamelle muss es keine Blu-ray sein, dachte mich mir).Die Handlung dürfte allgemein bekannt sein: Der Schüler Bastian Bux (Barret Oliver) kommt in einem mysteriösen Laden an ein Buch mit dem Titel Die unendliche Geschichte. Auf dem Dachboden seiner Schule vertieft sich Bastian immer mehr in das Buch, das von dem Königreich Phantásien handelt. Phantásien ist vom sogenannten Nichts bedroht, das das Land Stück für Stück verschluckt. Der junge Atréju (Noah Hathaway) wird von der kindlichen Kaiserin (Tami Stronach) entsandt, um das Königreich zu retten. Beim Lesen merkt Bastian mit fortschreitender Zeit immer mehr, dass er regelrecht in die Geschichte hineingezogen wird. Das nur als kurze Zusammenfassung.An sich ist Petersens Verfilmung gar nicht schlecht - so lange man das Buch nicht gelesen hat. Die Optik ist toll, auch wenn die Puppen und Kulissen aus heutiger Sicht recht angestaubt wirken und sehr nach Filmstudio aussehen. Aber das war eben vor der Zeit der CGI-Effekte, das muss man immer bedenken. Und richtige Handarbeit beim Film ist eh meist charmanter als irgendwelche Computereffekte. Das größte Problem des Films ist allerdings sein Umfang: Mit nur etwas mehr als anderthalb Stunden ist er viel zu kurz, und das, obwohl er nur den ersten Teil der Buchvorlage behandelt. Trotzdem wurde die Handlung hier arg zusammengekürzt, es wirkt fast so, als würde man das Buch nur überfliegen und dabei auch noch einige Kapitel überspringen. Petersen hetzt regelrecht durch die Story, wodurch diese gar keine Chance hat, sich richtig zu entfalten.Für Kenner des Romans könnte die Verfilmung von Die unendliche Geschichte also eine kleine bis größere Enttäuschung sein, alle anderen bekommen einen immer noch ordentlichen Fantasy-Film vorgesetzt. Übrigens gibt es zwei Film-Nachfolger, allerdings nicht von Wolfgang Petersen - und die wurden von Teil zu Teil schlechter. Die kann man sich also komplett sparen - idealerweise liest man ja eh das Buch.

Winner for the family much loved by by partner and i and now our kids really enjoy it too nostalgia