Search - The NeverEnding Story / The NeverEnding Story II on DVD

Callie K. (ballofglitter) from GRAND ISLAND, NE
Reviewed on 8/13/2014...

Great classic!! Took me back to my childhood and I still love it.

2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Elisabeth T. from MANCHESTER, IA
Reviewed on 9/23/2010...

My 5 year old son enjoys these movies but it may be because my husband really likes them (or did as a kid.)

2 of 4 member(s) found this review helpful.

Lori A.
Reviewed on 9/3/2009...

5 stars for The Neverending Story.
1 star for The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter.

4 of 4 member(s) found this review helpful.

The First and the Second

Thomas Grant | Wasco, California | 04/30/2005

(1 out of 5 stars)

"The original NeverEnding Story movie was a masterpiece. A complete work of art. I remember watching that movie when I was a kid, it amazed me. I watch today, and it amazes me how it still draws me into that story so easily. In my opinion, it is a pure fantasy world with no flaws, in acting, in plot, in direction, in visuals; the characters are all wonderfully original and well played.

*sigh* Now...to the sequel.

Besides the fact that every single character was recast (aside from the bookkeeper?), and besides the fact that every character has a brand new personality which contradicts how they were in the first movie. Besides the fact that Bastian had brown hair in the first movie, and now all of a sudden he has blonde hair. Apart from the fact that Bastian's dad has quite the receding hairline in the first movie, and now, in the sequel, where'd that full head of hair come from? Aside from the fact that Falcor turned stupid for something reason. Apart from the fact that Atreyu, the brave warrior in the first movie, turns into a confused sidekick that can only speak broken english now...

*sigh* aside from all of that...

The thing that gets me the most, throughout the sequel they call the Empress, "The Child-like Empress"... *sigh*

...She is not child-like; she is, in fact, just a child! "Child-Empress"!!!

The magic that was the first movie disappeared in the second. I think the thing that sets the movies apart the most, a thing that hurts the sequel quite a bit, is the fact that we have to views of the story, in the original, Bastian's point of view as he reads the book, and then Atreyu's and the others view from inside the story.

With the NeverEnding Story II, there is no outside view. It's very linear, inside the story only, except of course, near the end, when the father starts reading the book, but the adult point of view doesn't fit in very well with the story.

I just popped in The NeverEnding Story into my VCR. The visuals are stunning, the Fantasia world in the original movie is so well thought-out, and obviously so. But there's something lacking with the sequel, it seems like you're in a different, low-budget version of Fantasia.

*sigh*

So, I think I'm done with my rant.

But if you've lasted with me this long, here's my advice:

The original movie is, no doubt, a must have in anyone's movie collection. If you must see the second one, just to see how bad it is (if you haven't seen it already), borrow it from someone or rent it, but don't buy it. It's not worth the money.
"

A More Complete Picture

tvtv3 | Sorento, IL United States | 08/14/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This DVD has THE NEVERENDING STORY on one side and the other side of the disc has THE NEVERENDING STORY II.

In THE NEVERENDING STORY, Bastian Bux (Barret Oliver) is an average student who finds himself repeatedly being abused by bullies who like to steal his money and throw him into dumpsters. Bastian's mother is dead and both he and his father are still trying to cope with the loss. However, Bastian's father is a realist and thinks that Bastian spends too much time drawing pictures, reading books, and daydreaming. He wants his son to buckle down and get serious about school and life. He means well, but his advice doesn't do much to improve Bastian's condition. Eventually Bastian ends up meeting a strange bookstore owner that leaves a book, "The Neverending Story", where Bastian is able to borrow it. Bastian sneaks away to the attic of his school, locks himself in, and begins reading. The story is a fascinating tale about a place called Fantasia, a seeming endless world filled with countless creatures of every shape and size. Fantasia is under attack by an unknown force known as the Nothing that destroys everything in its path. The Childlike Empress (Tami Stronach) selects the mighty warrior from the plains people, Atreyu (Noah Hathaway) to go on a journey and find the one person who can save Fantasia from total annihilation. Atreyu sets forth on a long, difficult journey, traveling all over Fantasia, but no one seems capable of helping him. As Atreyu journeys, Bastian secretly accompanies him and shares in all of his adventures. The book reads like none other that Bastian has ever read and it seems that he is a part of the story. As the Nothing grows stronger, Bastian has to decide if he will give into reality of what he sees around him or allow his imagination take control.

In THE NEVERENDING STORY II Bastian (Jonathan Brandis) is once again transported to Fantasia. Bastian is no longer threatened by bullies, but is instead taunted by his classmates when he joins the dive team. His father (John Wesley Shipp) misguidedly prods Bastian into overcoming his fears. Frustrated, Bastian returns to Mr. Koreander's bookstore and though he is warned that the story in "The Neverending Story" doesn't remain the same, Bastian borrows the book and ends up returning to Fantasia. Upon entering Fantasia, Bastian finds that he has the symbol of the childlike Empress, Auryn, around his neck. He is informed by the giant bird Nimbly (Martin Umbach) that anytime he makes a wish, the power in Auryn will make the wish come true. However, there is a dark secret to Auryn. To save Fantasia, Bastian must find out Auryn's secret, defeat the evil witch Xayide, and stop the Emptiness from consuming Fantasia.

Of the two movies, THE NEVERENDING STORY is a far superior film that its sequel.

The DVD doesn't offer many extras. On THE NEVERENDING STORY side of the disc, there are some notes about the book and characters and a trailer for the film. THE NEVERENDING STORY II side has a trailer, cast & crew list, and a word scramble game called "Bastian's Challenge." Also, both movies are shown in full screen and not widescreen."

Oh my god, it was awful!

sarah voss | Seattle, WA USA | 05/21/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"now that's a movie i never want to see again in my life.

What's there to say? bad acting, and just about the stupidest plot i ever heard. bastion has to master his fear of hights to get on the swim team because he can't jump off the diving board, poor baby. then he goes into fantasia because the words in the neverending story are disappearing, and gets into the most unlikely adventure that ever played on my tv screen. he meets a really annoying bird named nimbly, whom i wanted to strangle after about five minutes. for some reason, bastion decides nimbly is his best friend. but really, nimbly is working for an evil witch named xayide, who insists on raising her eyebrows seductively every five seconds. the evil witch wants to take over fantasia, so she's imprisoned the childlike empress in the ivory tower (beats me how that's supposed to help). then, in order to stop bastion, she rigs up an evil machine that takes one of his memories every time he wishes on the Auron. the idea is that he'll forget what his mission is.

which is totally ridiculous, because you know how many individual memories we have? just about a few trillion. and bastion is making new memories every second he's awake, and if he forgets why he's in fantasia, atreyu (who has joined him on his quest) can surely remind him. And, bastion never shows any signs of losing his memory, even when the jar that's supposed to hold his memories is almost full. oh, and then bastion's father starts going crazy looking for him, finds the book, and starts reading about his adventure, interjecting stupid little comments like, "my son's riding a horse?" every two seconds, which really disrupts the story, and is also really annoying because he's such a bad actor. god, i can't beleive i wasted an hour and a half of my life on this movie."