The NeverEnding Story Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

The NeverEnding Story Blu-ray Movie Review

New extras, same old AV presentation...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown October 9, 2014

Grim and unsettling, intense and unnerving, Wolfgang Petersen's The NeverEnding Story isn't the lighthearted fantasy or spirited adventure its whimsical coverart might suggest. Just ask any former '80s tot to rattle off the most disturbing movie scenes they remember from their childhood. Chances are, The NeverEnding Story will come up more than once. A young warrior's faithful steed drowns in a murky swamp mere minutes after he begins his quest; a pair of towering statues kill a man for simply walking between them; an endearing rock giant mourns the loss of his family and friends; a fanged creature prepares to devour a young boy before their world is consumed by nothingness; a desperate girl pleads with a hesitant savior as her palace collapses around her; an unlikely hero must come to terms with the death of his beloved mother, struggling to believe that the simple act of screaming into the wind could save an entire kingdom. Far from the rosy children's fare modern filmfans and sheltered kids of all ages have become accustomed to, it's a weighty, worthwhile, terribly satisfying classic that deserves to be rediscovered, recommended, and treasured.

"But that's impossible..."

Based on the first half of German author Michael Ende's 1979 fantasy novel of the same name, The NeverEnding Story tells the tale of Bastian (Barret Oliver), a troubled boy who "borrows" a mysterious book from a rare-books dealer (Thomas Hill). After skipping class and hiding himself away in his school's cluttered attic, Bastian begins reading the story of Fantasia, a mystical realm whose lands are being torn apart by a merciless entity called the Nothing. When its panicked peoples gather at the Ivory Tower, Fantasia's dying Empress (Tami Stronach) summons a young warrior named Atreyu (Noah Hathaway) and tasks him with preventing its destruction. Setting off across the Plains, Atreyu makes his way to the Swamps of Sadness, searches for an ancient sage named Morla, faces a series of deadly gateways, and seeks the guidance of the great Southern Oracle, all in a valiant attempt to cure the Empress and stop the Nothing. Along the way, he elicits the help of a flying luck dragon named Falkor (voiced by Alan Oppenheimer), two cantankerous gnomes (Sydney Bromley and Patricia Hayes), and a mammoth Rock Biter (also Oppenheimer), and races to stay one step ahead of the Nothing's wolven servant, the Gmork (Oppenheimer, yet again). But as Bastian continues to read about Atreyu's harrowing quest, he starts to suspect he has a direct role to play in the narrative; that he has the ability to intervene in Atreyu's future; that he may be the Earth-child destined to save Fantasia.

Famously disowned by Ende, Peterson and co-writer Herman Weigel's arresting adaptation is nevertheless an engrossing, sharply penned slice of stark fantasy that captures Bastian's mounting heartache and confusion, and Atreyu's growing turmoil and hopelessness. Their individual quests are compelling and deceptively complex -- pitting the two heroes against staggering odds, both physical and emotional, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles, both symbolic and literal -- and the dangers they encounter are the stuff of thrilling dreams and inescapable nightmares. As conflict is piled upon conflict, tragedy upon tragedy, Bastian is forced to claim the mantle Atreyu begins to realize isn't his. The two are irrevocably linked, and their symbiosis proves itself to be as inevitable as it is exhilarating. Sadly, theirs is an adventure rife with pain and torment. Sure, it's dotted with whimsy and humor, but it's also frequently overwhelmed by darkness and despair. And while Peterson and Weigel have jettisoned entire characters and plotlines from Ende's novel, even altering its tone (sometimes rather significantly), they retain the author's most memorable creatures and storylines, and capture his sense of wonder. More importantly, the filmmakers don't pull any punches, weaving an unexpectedly mature tale for kids and a refreshingly nuanced film for adults.

That being said, the most surprising thing about The NeverEnding Story is that, even some twenty-five years after its release, it still holds up so well. Oliver initially pushes a bit too hard, but soon settles down with an affecting, altogether captivating performance; one matched at every turn by Hathaway, Stronach, Oppenheimer, and every other character actor whose efforts grace the screen. I still tear up every time Hathaway begs Atreyu's horse to push on, still feel shivers go up my spine when Stronach looks directly into the camera, still sniffle whenever Oppenheimer delivers the Rock Biter's "these hands" lament, still experience a rush of emotion when Oliver flings open the attic window and screams into a raging storm. It helps that the creatures and otherworldly beings that inhabit Fantasia are so convincing. I know, I know: without the aid of CG, how can anything, especially a cast of practical puppets and animatronic beasties, possibly be so believable? Simply because the film's effects wizards and voice actors invest their all into every monster. The Gmork's stocky head movements may date the wily wolf, but his terrifying eyes, bloody chops, and menacing growls speak volumes. The Rock Biter's stony skin is too malleable, but I could swear that's a soul I see behind those massive eyes. Falkor's movements may be limited to his cumbersome head, but I'd call upon his steely services long before those of the heartless CG dragons that have emerged in recent years.

Though nostalgia often plays a crucial role in a longtime fan's ongoing love of a childhood favorite, The NeverEnding Story continues to stand the test of time. Its effects may show their age, its synth-infused music may date the production, but the true test of a film lies in the resonance of its characters, the impact of its story, the vision of its director, and the power of its performances; four areas in which Peterson's gripping fantasy excels. I can't guarantee everyone will be enamored with it as I am -- I've watched it so many times over the years that I could probably quote every line -- but few children's films have swept me away as readily and reliably as The NeverEnding Story. Forget the fact that it was first released in 1984. Ignore the limitations of its special effects. Sink into Bastian and Atreyu's story, follow them to the film's fateful end, and let your imagination take hold.

The NeverEnding Story Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Though billed as "newly remastered," the 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray release of The NeverEnding Story features the same divisive 1080p/VC-1 video presentation as its 2010 Blu-ray predecessor. (You can read my original review, which has been updated several times over the past four years, here.) After receiving a deluge of complaints this week from disappointed fans, Warner Bros. issued the following statement:

"Due to an unforeseen error, The NeverEnding Story was incorrectly described as a newly remastered version, whereas the only remastered version is The NeverEnding Story II. We have now corrected the description in our advertising materials and apologize for any confusion this may have caused."

Warner has not yet clarified what that unforeseen error was, or if a new remaster actually exists. If this release was meant to feature the 2012 German restoration of the film's extended cut, good riddance. That presentation is slathered in DNR. If another remastered version is out there somewhere, though, fans can only hope the studio eventually decides to let it out of its cage.

Until then, the choice is a tricky one. The 2010 and 2014 US editions: decidedly decent, impressive in many ways even, but not perfect. (Contrast is boosted and color timing is warmer, resulting in a presentation that's so dark it reduces shadow detail.) The 2008 Dutch edition: decidedly decent, impressive in many ways even, but... you guessed it, not perfect. (It's too bright, and there are other minor problems.) The 2013 extended German edition: flawed all around. (Purists and videophiles will want to avoid it at all costs.) So pick your poison. Many prefer the Dutch release; others the US releases. A blend of the two, combining the strengths of both while eliminating the respective weaknesses, would be ideal. But ideal doesn't look to be in the cards anytime soon.

The NeverEnding Story Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray also features the same DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track as the 2010 Blu-ray release. You can read my impressions of the mix here.

The NeverEnding Story Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

What the 30th Anniversary Edition does offer in the "new and tempting" category is a selection of special features, giving it a decisive edge over the barebones Blu-ray released in 2010. A laughably out-of-place restoration featurette only adds further confusion to the AV furor, granted, but extras are extras, and a newly produced retrospective sweetens the pot. If you're in the market for a US copy of The NeverEnding Story, this is the one to choose.

• Audio Commentary: Director Wolfgang Petersen (who says he recently viewed the film for the first time in years) delivers a spirited, engaging and informative commentary. Host Christina Hagopian helps keep things on track when the filmmaker grows silent, and poses thoughtful questions that lead him down several interesting roads. The two talk about shooting locations, adapting Michael Ende's book, mid-production battles with the author, character arcs and motivations, Bastian's relationship with adults, the allure of the book to a wounded boy, Fantasia's creatures, the pre-CG era of fantasy filmmaking, special effects techniques and limitations, the sets, costumes and makeup, the performances, and an abundance of other topics. Still, a few too many pauses and a few too many summations of what's happening on screen make this a more sparse track than I would have preferred. Petersen is a delight throughout (you can continually hear his love of the film in his voice) and Hagopian rarely does anything more than ask questions, but perhaps pairing the director with a cast member, the film's screenwriter or one of the other participants from the 30th Anniversary retrospective would have led to deeper musings.
• Reimaging The NeverEnding Story (HD, 25 minutes): This excellent retrospective features Petersen, screenwriter Herman Weigel, executive producers John W. Hyde and Mark Damon, director of photography Jost Vacano, producer Dieter Geissler, and NES actors Tami Stronach (the Empress) and Gerald McRaney (Bastian's father). The group discusses the differences between the book and the film (as well as the outcry surrounding some of the filmmakers' decisions), the importance of the movie to German audiences, author Michael Ende's dissatisfaction with the final adaptation that made its way to the screen (he tried to stop production with a legal injunction, among other tactics), the film's budgetary constraints and other challenges, Stronach's role as the Empress, Petersen's approach to working with children, the costumes, creatures and production design, and much, much more. Vintage behind the scenes footage, special effects tests, original concept art and other surprises enrich the retrospective, and the only void felt is the actors that are missing (Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway and Alan Oppenheimer most of all).
• The Making of The NeverEnding Story (HD, 17 minutes): A more promotional-toned piece in German with English subtitles, serving up additional interviews with Petersen and several producers, more behind the scenes footage, and clips from the flawed 2012 German restoration (a Blu-ray that's unfortunately undone by an overzealous, texture-smoothing application of noise reduction).
• Restoration (HD, 9 minutes): Another German-language featurette, this one focusing on the 2012 restoration and BD transfer of the film's extended cut; a presentation and cut that are not a part of the 30th Anniversary Edition US release. (Not a bad thing, mind you. Again, DNR is out in force in that particular presentation.) The real problem? The featurette's inclusion here demonstrates, once more, just how poorly conceived and mismanaged the 30th Anniversary BD release has been from the beginning.
• A World of Fantasies (SD, 57 minutes): A vintage SWR documentary from 1984.
• Trailer (SD, 1 minute): The film's original widescreen trailer.

The NeverEnding Story Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray release of The NeverEnding Story offers new bonus features, but the promised remaster? It turns out the 2014 video presentation is identical to its 2010 predecessor. Warner has issued an apology of sorts, just one without an explanation as to what comes next. Does a new US remaster exist? Time will tell I suppose. Until then, those hungry for extras -- and those who've never purchased the film on Blu-ray -- won't be nearly as disappointed with the 30th Anniversary release as those who were primed and prepped to see the movie anew via a fresh remaster. If you already own the 2010 edition and don't care about special features, steer clear. We still have yet to receive the definitive release of The NeverEnding Story we've been waiting for.