The NeverEnding Story Movie Reaction and Review! 

I love that you noticed the fractal nature of Bastion sharing Atreyu's experience, you sharing Bastion's experience, us sharing your experience... And it can go on and on. 🤔

You: “Is someone watching *me*?” Us: 👁👄👁

1:47 - Eating (Or drinking) raw eggs use to be thought to be more beneficial than eating cooked eggs. It has since then been proven that there is virtually no difference in intake of nutrients either way but it was a bit of a fad in the late 70s and early 80s; hence you will see it pop-up in movies of that era, especially by athletes in sports movies 20:49 - Well, D'UH! 🤣🤣🤣 21:24 - He said: MAAAAARTHAAAAAAA! And Batman wants to know why! The Neverending Story actually was a book before the movie came out and the movie actually is remarkably true to the book as it depicts all of the same scene, including Bastian's stealing of the book, Atreyu's adventure and how the two characters discover that they are linked; even the speech from the Empress about how Bastian shared in Atreyu's adventure and how others (The readers of the book) shared in Bastian adventure is mentioned as is in the book. However, there were some changes including the fact that , in the book, Bastian is a very self-conscious FAT boy (But Hollywood could never tolerate fat people as movie heroes), a few other characters were different in appearance too, but the biggest change was that the movie only depicts HALF of the book: The first half to be precise, as it is written in 26 chapters, each chapter starting with the corresponding letter of the alphabet (So the text for chapter one starts with an "A., chapter two starts with a "B", chapter three with a "C" and so forth; at least it did in the French translation that I read and I believe in the original German version, but some English readers have told me that it was not so in the English translation of the book) and the part where, in the movie, the Empress and Atreyu discuss Bastian is in chapter Eleven. There is a movie sequel that tried to pick-up ideas from the second half of the book and present them as a separate story, but because the first movie had to change the ending it pretty much doomed the sequel (Plus the production value, especially the costuming and practical effects of the second movie were so pitiful that I highly recommend that NO ONE EVER WATCH IT! Just trust me: It is worse than you can imagine!)

Yup, "Moonchild" was her mom's name (I had to look it up because I couldn't hear it either). I saw this when I was in my early teens I think, and I LOVED this movie and understood the metaphors and symbolism. It's alot deeper than a typical kids' movie, and I think if you're really young the fantastical elements will entertain you, whereas older viewers will appreciate the meaning behind it. There are sequels but avoid those like COVID.

The empress is called the child-like empress. That's a pretty significant difference. She's not an actual child, only like a child. And Atreyu is an actual child. So that's why people react so different to him. The book goes much deeper into what happens after the end, Bastian goes to Fantasia and stays there for a long while, he becomes friends with Atreyu, has a lot of adventures and every wish he makes starts a new story, which grows Fantasia, but along the way he loses himself too, every wish erases a little more of who he is. And Atreyu ends up trying to stop him from making a huge mistake which destroys their friendship. In the end he's only allowed to leave Fantasia if he finishes every story he started (which is impossible, since every little aside in the book that says goodbye to a character or location tells us that their story is nowhere near finished "But that's another story") so he is pretty sad about it, but then Atreyu (who has been following him or something) promises he will finish all the stories so Bastian is allowed to leave. And then he finds out he was gone for a day or two I think, instead of the years it felt like to him, his father was looking for him the whole time and they reconnect.

Just popping in here to recommend the book! It's absolutely incredible and honestly a lot more tragic than this movie. Unfortunately they had to cut out a lot bc of the movie production back then and it takes away from the story a lot. Without caring about the visuals or that stuff it's just a lot more captivating and very much adaptable for all ages. When I was a child I just loved the fantasy and now it makes me think about life. If you care I would really read it! But I'm just gonna list some things they changed for this movie. 1. Bastian is actually a fat boy who gets bullied a lot 2. The guy from the shop was never framed like he wanted him to take the book. I can't really explain it but he kind of never took the book? Kind of. 3. On that day it's raining and Bastian actually hides in the school because he's scared of the consequences of stealing. It's a Friday afternoon and he genuinely has that child solution of just disappearing, not because of a math test. 4. That guy who gives Atreju the necklace traveled for weeks without pause to find him and d1ed right after sending him on the quest. 5. Atreju actually comes from a nation of people with green skin. Everything about his looks is actually quite important. 6. His horse can speak which makes the scene of it sinking genuinely heartbreaking. 7. Atreju never sunk a bit because of Aurin and considered giving it to the horse but it refused which made him even more sad. 8. Bastian scream was heard in an entirely different scene. 9. When Atreju and the Dragon met he actually saved his life and both of them had to get healed by the tiny ppl because otherwise they would have d1ed. 10. The sphinx actually ALWAYS have their eyes open and only look at each other. Their eyes don't perceive information but give it out. If they don't close their eyes for you then you'll stand there until you solved all the questions of Fantasia (which means you d1e. 11. There's three doors and the third has an incredible scene. 12. The oracle is actually just a voice. 13. The oracle tells him that humans lie beyond the borders of Fantasia and when him and the dragon try to look for those they get separated. Atreju looses Aurin and almost d1es but the dragon could save him last second. 14. When they reach the "queen" Bastian gets insecure (which is very tied to his looks) and doesn't help them so she goes and finds the guy who writes the never-ending story aka creates it (however you wanna look at it) and forces him to tell the story from the start. There's actually really cool stuff in the book that makes this scene even more special except for sending them in a beautifully done loop. 15. The second half of the book starts after that wishes scene. (+ They never get meta about others reading a story, it's just a thought Bastian has) The rest basically got debunked by the ending scene.

"MOONCHILD!!!!" His mama was a flower child. The best film of my childhood -- Bastion is **literally** my inner child.

I did not recall the deeper messages of this film as a child. When I saw it again as an adult I surprised by all the nuggets of wisdom. Wow… all the times I’ve watched this movie & I never made the connection between the nothing & Bastian grieving the loss of his Mom.

Introducing Falkor who is a giant dragon dog. That animatronic was the largest ever built and is kept in a museum in Austria

"What kind of horsey snuff film is this???" 😅

You are right, his mother's name was Moon Child. I don't know if she was supposed to be Native American or this was the English translation of her name, or if there was another reason for her name. But I think the name fits the empress well. 💖 Btw, my name means Dear One... And your name means Forever Ruler or Always Ruler. 😉

20:48 That's so meta that I'm dizzy. 4 levels. 😅

I read the original book in German as I back then tried to improve my German. The film encompasses the half of the book and was pretty faithful to the book despite some scenes were altered. The film ending was the definitive detour from original book. The book is far deeper than I anticipated.

Yeah, as a kid i didn't understand how deep this movie was. Still waiting for my luck dragon....

Michael Ende has really written a fantastic novel here. It's a shame that the film ends halfway through the book. The second movie from 1990 tries to resume the second part of the book.

This movie has such effective pathos. "They look like big, strong hands, don't they?"

It is less important >what< Bastian shouted to the storm than >that< he shouted to the storm. It is in the act of naming that we gain power over a thing, both to take and to make.

8:24 Perfect place to drop a Friends reference ☕️

Based on the novel written by Michael Ende and featuring Bastian who comes across a mysterious book about a mysterious child-like Empress who is deathly ill and needs someone to get it for her. Introducing Atreyu played by Nathaniel Hathaway who goes on a quest

I used to watch this movie with my grandma when I was a kid. Thank you for reminding me of those beautiful memories. I didn't realize the meaning at that time and your view on the whole story really got me thinking. Thank you Erick ❤️

"what kind of a sick horsey snuff film is this??" xD right?!

5:25 Ah… this version. Yeah, I prefer the original score of the movie. The theme for the Ivory Tower just doesn’t carry the same power in the re-score.

As a kid I have ridden on Fuchur! He was (maybe still is I guess) in the Bavaria Filmstudios in Munich. That was awesome! Michael Ende wrote the books that shaped a part of my childhood. "Momo" was my favourite! Jim Knopf was also a very fun children fantasy story. Every German kid reads those.

This is one of my favorites from when I was a child in the 80's(plus Labyrinth). I was just young enough to miss it in theaters, but the magic of VHS gave it to me. However, I think I can blame the end of this movie for starting my persistent fear at the idea that people are/might be watching me("sharing my story"). Well, this and crime procedurals. I know it's irrational, but those childhood influences really stick with you. Still love the movie and it still makes me cry: Artex's death, the Rock-biter mourning his friends, and the Childlike Empress' scene to her plea.

In the book, his mom's name is actually "Mondenkind" which means "Moon Child" in German. This was a bit difficult to get across in other languages though without a literal translation... hence...

I'm sure glad they decided to change the voice for the Snail Rider. That was weird.

Yes someone is watching you….🤗

In the 80's me and my sister repeatedly got this from the video store. One of the most nostalgic ones for me, and I also think it's genuinely a good film. As a kid I didn't know it's German, and by the director of Das Boot.

"Is someone watching me??" ... Yes. Yes I am. I mean, at least until the end of the video, I'm not a stalker. ;^)

Maybe the dad's strange drink is a way to show that he's himself not over the dead of his wife. That he didn't really noticed what he was doing whit that egg.

I watched this all the time as a child, and trust me absolutely none of it stuck. The only thing I remembered from it was the trauma of the horse drowning haha

Aw man watching you react to this makes me want to re-read the book. Haven't picked it up since I was, like 14. It's about time.

And this is a well written 80s children fantasy movie. I think at this point I watched this a million times cause it means so much to me. But I’m glad you enjoyed it.

5:35 you'll have to look it up, but if you look closely you can make out a few familiar shapes: ewoks, c3po, Micky mouse, Gumby, E.T., Yoda, and Chewbacca.

I guess it's because you watched the German version, but some of the voices are drastically different from the version I grew up with.

The voice of Rock Biter was the voice of Crypt Keeper

Very good that you understand the Ending of the movie , 👍👍

I think this was the first time I cried at a movie

Lots of people are watching you watch Bastian watch Atreyu... as I'm writing I see 871 of us. ;p Don't know who's watching us, of course...

You should read the book. It’s amazing!

And we saw You reacting, just like You saw Bastian reading. Now You should watch the neverending story two: the next chapter

I actually LOVED this movie when I was a child it meant the world to me and I did understand the message well....which frankly I think my parents should have been more concerned about lmao I was a little TOO MUCH into the concept of nothingness 😬

I have read this book in it's original German

Definitely one of my favorite childhood movies, that wolf used to be my scarest nightmare. Also be aware that the second movie is... underwhelming. All kids' roles are miscast, and mc kid can't live without overacting

I saw this soon after it came out and watched it dozens of times over the years. Yes, we got it as kids. Sure, our understanding deepened as we got older, but... FYI, how do you break a whole roomful of Gen Xers? Remind them of Artax sinking. Guaranteed.

Horsey snuff... 😂😂😂

Bastian is definitely a "human child". First wish: Flight Second wish: REVENGE!! also, If Atreyu had done as he was told and gone alone, Artax wouldn't have died. Just sayin'...

Uh, welcome back? As mentioned in first attempt, I think you watched an English dubbed German print of the movie. German title on the book, and (I think) eerie music instead of the song in intro.

Bastion definitely rode the dragon at the end of the movie. A lot of the story is metaphor but part of the point is that part way through the metaphor transcends into reality. Also in the sequels it's a lot more cut and dry, I wouldn't watch those by the way they're very disappointing especially the third one. Although a young Jack Black is the main villain is at least an interesting idea

I'M WATCHING YOU WATCHING BASTIAN WATCHING ATREYU

No one said it (I checked!), so I will: there are two sequels to the movie. The second one is OK (the budget was way down, but it's still watchable. Skip the third, it's AWFUL!

I always viewed this movie as The deletion of Imagination because of technology. It was and is still one of my fav movies of all time.

The horse died in real life, trapped :(

When Artex sinks...Ouch!! I used to cry every time, and even now still get choked up!

The actress who was the Child-like Empress eventually grew up to become the choreographer for the show Cats