Review of The NeverEnding Story (1984) by Harry W — 16 Dec 2014

Considered a fantasy classic featuring Wolfgang Peterson as director, The NeverEnding Story sounded like an interesting trip back in time.

Although I never read the German novel that The NeverEnding Story was adapted from, I have a natural fondness for 1980's fantasy films and one with such critical acclaim sounded worth a viewing.

The one main flaw I found in The NeverEnding Story is that by the end of the film it only felt like part of the story had been told. The film actually only adapts the first half of the novel, and while it may not be abundantly clear based on the narrative, there is certainly a sense that part of the story is left untold. Considering the fact that the sequel to The NeverEnding Story was said to be roughly based on the second half of the novel but was also critically panned, it's safe to say that I would never want to see the film. But I do feel like there is more of the story to be told and the fact that it only tackles half of the material is a little disappointing. It did intrigue me enough to want to read the entire novel which means that as a film it succeeds in inspiring fans for its source material, but there is a certain sense of incompleteness that comes with The NeverEnding Story, partially because it ends abruptly despite what the title may suggest. It doesn't even establish why the original novel called it The NeverEnding Story which is an adaptation issue. But beneath all that lies a complex and visually striking movie.

Wolfgang Peterson is one film director who has never let me down, and The NeverEnding Story is of course no exception. Arguably one of Germany's most critically acclaimed film directors, Wolfgang Peterson serves as the perfect fit to be adapting the 1979 German fantasy novel to the big screen. While he may not stay fully true to its roots by making it an English-language film and using American cast members, there is so much wonderful ambition in his effort that is something not difficult to look past. He tells a hell of a story and does it with absolute visual amazement which makes the film the amazing fantasy spectacle that it really wanted to be.

Every visual aspect of The NeverEnding Story is amazing. Beginning with the scenery, the film just gets better from there. The sets and scenery that are used as the backdrop for the tale are beautifully convincing. They are grim yet full of life and energy, establishing a sense of magic really easily. The magic in the atmosphere leaks in from the scenery and overtakes the characters thanks to the production design and the touch of a beautifully spirited musical score, making the film a treat on the eyes and the ears. The visual effects of the film are also great considering the time of the film and the fact that they really help to bring a new sense of magic to the feature which is unobtainable in any storybook.

Visually, The NeverEnding Story is just remarkable and incredible to actually be 30 years old with the minor dated technical elements being too easy to ignore so that the viewer simply appreciates the film for what it is. The prosthetic makeup of the characters in The NeverEnding Story is brilliant. The fantasy characters are designed in a manner a step up from Jim Henson's work on films like Labyrinth or The Dark Crystal in terms of scale because they depict huge characters with fantastical creativity. The designs of Falkor, Rock Biter and Gmork are all unforgettable due to their creativity and striking fantasy nature. There is so much creative versatility and a sense of darkness which is clear yet doesn't overthrow the film which ensures that it is lighthearted and fun yet also dark enough to be a true fairy tale. The way that The NeverEnding Story creates the illusion of giant characters is thoroughly impressive because it feels seriously genuine. While in many films it is easy to see how the manipulation is done to establish this kind of sense, in The NeverEnding Story there are times where I simply could not spot how Wolfgang Peterson was able to do it. The creatures genuinely felt giant in the film, and I was both able to and willing to suspend disbelief for the film which shows that it really sucked me in. His sleight of hand as a director is thoroughly ahead of his time, and so he ties everything together well enough to tell the story and do it with visual grace without overlooking the talents of the cast.

The thing which really surprised me about The NeverEnding Story was the emotional strength of the feature. Usually with fantasy tales like these I just enjoy the film mostly based on their creativity and visual features, but The NeverEnding Story actually made me feel something. There were some seriously emotionally strong scenes which were able to establish a connection between the viewer and protagonist Ateryu. It was easyjavascript:void(0); to feel something for him and want to ensure that he succeeded in his journey, and this was because of a combination between Wolfgang Peterson establishing the atmosphere and the quality of Noah Hathaway's performance.

Noah Hathaway's performance is just brilliant. Rarely is the leading performance of an actor this young in a fantasy film as powerful as Noah Hathaway's. The main thing which is truly impressive in his role as Atreyu is the fact that he interacts with the mythical creatures and puppetry on an exceptional level which is able to bring them to life. For such a young actor, Noah Hathaway commands the screen in The NeverEnding Story very nicely with a lot of energy and determined adventurous spirit. There is one scene in the film where he journeys through the Swamp of Sadness and he loses his beloved horse Artax. The way that Noah Hathaway cries out with refusal to let his beloved friend die is emotionally striking, and reminiscent of Ed Harris crying out in The Abyss when he almost lost his love. Noah Hathaway is incredible in this one moment and it renders his performance unforgettable, and for the rest of the film he continues with adventurous spirit and charismatic passion. Noah Hathaway is the hero that The NeverEnding Story needs, and his chemistry with the puppets around him is incredible.

Barret Oliver makes a charming cast member in The NeverEnding Story with a strong line delivery, and the small appearance of Tami Stronach is a powerful one.

So while The NeverEnding Story only tells part of its story and fails to clarify the meaning behind its title, it is a visually remarkable film with a strong sense of fantastical wonder and incredibly directorial work from Wolfgang Peterson.