Escapism is one of those things that everybody is after in some form. We go through our daily lives, experiencing the same stuff on a usually-constant basis. But when we have time to relax, we want to forget about it for a while as we enter another world. Whether it’s through a TV show, a comic, game, movie, or a book, there’s something out there that can satisfy our cravings for anything the mediums have to offer.
And when you’re a little kid, this type of thing is practically what makes you thrive. For many kids from the 80s, all sorts of fun stuff was taking off. Cartoons and toy tie-ins were huge, video games were soaring in popularity, and big-budget features were coming out in greater numbers as special effects started to grow.
But despite the popularity of those mediums, and perhaps because of it, it seemed as if kids weren’t appreciating other storytelling forms in the same way, particularly books. Fortunately, a little movie about an unusual book came out and enchanted audiences around the world. It satisfied that desire for adventure, magic, and much more.
Released in 1984, The Neverending Story was based on the book of the same name. It combined ideas behind reading, escapism, and imagination into a clever blend that remains unique to this day. And what’s great is that while it does encourage one to read more, it does it in a way that utilizes fantastical aspects and furthers the story as opposed to simply hammering the notion into your head.
The main character is a boy named Bastian, who’s a voracious reader and is always daydreaming. He’s chased by bullies one day and hides in a bookshop where he comes across The Neverending Story. The shop owner warns him not to read it, but in the realm of movies where kids always ignore advice and end up going on an unexpected journey, Bastian ignores the old prune’s advice and decides to take the book.
From here, he hides in the school attic, starts reading the book, and the adventure kicks off. The world of Fantasia comes to life as the scenery unfolds, showing us creatures and the once-thriving land. An evil force known as “The Nothing” is erasing Fantasia, and only the young hero Atreyu is brave enough to embark on the quest. With nothing but his wits, his horse Artax, and help from other characters he comes across, he must find a cure for the Childlike Empress and learn how to stop The Nothing.
There are many great scenes throughout the film, with imagery that’ll never leave you, even after the movie finishes. One scene in particular still packs a punch after all these years. It’s the kind of thing that, when you watch it as a kid for the first time, immediately strikes a nerve. It’s always finding a spot on those lists of sad/traumatizing movie moments, and it’ll never leave us.
On that note, the movie doesn’t shy away from having dark moments (and there are plenty of ’em). And while there’s a good amount of that, there are enough uplifting parts that really convey the majestic qualities that the movie has to offer. The score really sells the otherwordly feel and provides an enchanting sense. It’s composed by Klaus Doldinger, while the movie’s theme song is written by Giorgio Moroder and performed by Limahl. The music as a whole really makes the entire experience different among other fantasy films.
After rewatching this recently, I do find that while much of it is still very effective, some things don’t quite hold up. For instance, the lip-syncing on the Falcor animatronic is awkward at times. It can be a bit distracting, but it doesn’t take away from the character’s charm. Falcor is a fun addition and a lot of the film’s best moments do involve him. Trust me when I say that it will make you wish you had a luck dragon.
One thing that’s interesting is that the author of the book, Michael Ende, hated what the filmmakers were doing with the film, as he felt it had deviated from his book a little too much. Frustrated with the changes, he asked that they either stop production of the film, or change its title. They chose to press on, making no changes, and it resulted in him attempting to sue the producers. In the end, he lost the case.
Would the film have been better if it stayed closer to the book? Possibly, but I do wonder if the changes made by the filmmakers improved any existing ideas. The film does have a big following and I’m sure that there are some fans who enjoy the book as well as the movie. It’s very reminiscent of the goings-on behind the film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Roald Dahl, the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, despised the movie’s production choices and chose to boycott the film. In the end, the movie was very successful and went on to become a classic, just like this one.
With that said, The Neverending Story is a very satisfying film with a solid balance of the adventurous and dark elements. It even has a fun ending. Its a nice reminder that sometimes the best thing we can do is let our imagination roam free as we get lost in another story. It’s easily up there with Jim Henson’s The Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. If you love fantasy films from the 80s, don’t hesitate to watch it.
That’ll do for now, so until next time, always remember that when there’s something strange in the neighborhood, that you should high-tail it and get the **** outta’ there. Later everyone! o/
Kasey Lewis - Actor, Writer, Creator 