ScoobyWell Great visuals, story delivers no surprises

Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

one-nine-eighty This is one of those unique films I've watched as a child under the age of 10 in the 80's and as a grown man in my late 30's. I grew up abroad so further to the unique factors I can add that I've seen the film in English and in German - so I have seen both the major versions (although there aren't many differences truth be told). If you'd have asked me as a child what I thought of this I'd have been full of positives and compliments. It had good guys, bad guys, warriors, monsters and even a furry flying dragon/dog thing. It showed how a bullied bookworm dealt with his problems and became a hero in his own world. I'd have probably given this about 8 out of 10 (beaten of course by Transformers and He-Man movies). As a 35+ year old I can see all the flaws that I never saw as a child. For example, the bullied child steals a book from an old man, he cuts class to avoid a maths test, and then he breaks into a forbidden part of the school before emerging himself in a fantasy world - he's a psychologist's dream case!! OK, aside from the bad lifestyle choices this is still an enjoyable film; it got a surprising pace to it for a film of its era, almost constantly on the move. The film follows a young child reading a book but living the adventure that he's reading until he becomes part of the adventure. He learns a lot about himself on the fantastical journey that he is witness to, either vicariously through the book or in the world that is created as a result of the story. I remember the CGI at the time was unparalleled; looking back it's terrible and dated. My girlfriend has read the book and as a purist when it comes to entertainment media, when we re-watched this film as adults she remarked how the film was different from the book a few times. Reading trivia about the film I can see why and where too but let's face it, not everybody is going to know what or where. If I stop being an adult for a minute I can actually still appreciate that this film is ok, even begrudgingly by today's standards. I'd probably give the film 7 out of 10 nowadays so all in all when you roll that up with the 8 out of 10 I'd have given it as a child, this film scores alright still. Suspend your disbelief or put your child in front of this film and there's still enjoyment to be had. As I can't award half stars I'm going to make a stand and award this 7 out of 10.

lanckenj I remember watching this as a much younger lass than I am now. At that time it was magical and now in my late 50's it still is. It would have to be the movie that started the incredible journey of fantasy animatrics that everyone expects today. I applaud and admire the folks in every area who were involved in making this film. Thank you! Its one of my again and again watch films. :)

itaymer My daughter was very disappointed from the movie. After reading the the book by Michael Ende. The movie is lacking key factors of the book and many important messages are distorted or just not there. I feel the same as she. She and I were eager to meet many characters from the book that are just not there. The movie tries to represent only half the book in a very unsuccessful manner. I totally understand Michael Ende for suing the movie production and asking his name to be withdraw. If you separate the movie from the book, the story itself is dull. The characters that do show are very colorful but without real character and are seen for glimpse moments without a chance for the viewer to 'get to know' them. If you didn't read the book it may be a nice movie for little kids but not the age it is originally intended to be for. It may fill a boring afternoon with a hot chocolate milk in a winter day but that's all.

Marthian80 I remember watching this as a kid and was curious how it holds up to these days.In the movie we follow a little boy, Bastian, who likes to read fantasy books and dreams about being part of them. When he gets chased by bullies he hides in a bookshop were he encounters the book titled 'The NeverEnding Story'. The store owner warns Bastian for the book because it contains a story were the reader cannot escape from. Off course Bastian doesn't listen to the warning so he borrows the book, takes it to the attic of the school and delves into it's pages. We are then taken into the world of Fantasia, were the book's story takes place. Fantasia is in danger of being destroyed by 'The Nothing' and only the child hero, Atreyu, can save it. We then get to follow two protagonists, Atreyu on his quest to save Fantasia and Bastian reading this tale.NeverEnding Story is an entertaining film that still looks great in this age. Off course it doesn't look as smooth as today's movies because it's all animatronics, model set pieces and a few stop motion effects but they still manage to bring the world of fantasia alive. They really went out of their way with designing weird characters and that's the film main strength in my opinion. What I don't like about this film is that many of these characters only appear very briefly on screen. The main child actors spend a lot of time alone, a bit to long for me. The lack of (inter)action during these scenes makes the film feel a bit dull at times. Also the ending is a bit confusing and the movie struggles to bring the message to the audience. (I had to look it up in the FaQ) But it is still a entertaining movie to watch if your curious what this movie was about or perhaps watch it with your kids to let them see one of your childhood movies.