The NeverEnding Story (1984)

Staring the death of imagination straight in its ugly, inky eyes, The NeverEnding Story is a tale of creativity and hope amidst world-ending cataclysm.

The film's primary antagonistic power, the Nothing, is an all-engulfing force eating away at reality; it stems from the loss of imagination. This is an unusually philosophically dense antagonistic presence for a children's movie, provoking questions of existentialism and morality.

The protagonist, Bastian, is the perfect vessel for escapism; he lives in a personally defined fantasy world that only he understands. His father is not only dismissive of Bastian's "head in the clouds" nature; he also minimizes the grief Bastian is experiencing after the death of his mother.

In reading The NeverEnding Story, Bastian is transported to Fantasia, a land so fantastic and surreal that the reviewer wonders what substances led to its inspiration. We are introduced to Atreyu, Bastian's Fantasia equivalent, who is a brave and young warrior standing up against impossible odds.

But not all the residents of Fantasia are so hopeful and determined. Morla, a large, aged, and jaded tortoise, is one particularly dim philosophical anchor point within the film. He is annoyed and dismissive towards Atreyu's quest to save the world. He even expresses mild excitement at the prospect of dying, as it would at least break up the monotony of things. Worldviews like Morla's create the Nothing.

The NeverEnding Story is strangely tailored and personal to the reader. In the Nothing, Bastian sees the massive force of his grief, threatening to destroy everything. The monstrous and stalking Gmork is a manifestation of those seeking to enforce conformity upon Bastian. Like Atreyu, Bastian persists in defying these forces.

The only thing that can save Fantasia is a pure act of imagination. Bastian is tasked with naming the empress of the land. He does so, though his choice in name ("Moon Child") is ironically deeply unimaginative.

With Fantasia saved and imagination restored, we briefly revisit many of our characters as we fly off into the distance. The practical effects, makeup, and puppetry utilized to bring the cast to life throughout the film are varied, effective, and worthy of one last look before ending the film.

Despite all the above creating significant immersion, it is occasionally broken. Artax's demise is devastatingly effective, so much so that it almost seems out of place in a children's movie. Falcor seems unintentionally creepy, going so far as to request physical favors from Atreyu. The film is not catastrophically disrupted; if anything these idiosyncrasies are right at home in the hallucinogenic experience the film provides.

Boasting youthful defiance in the face of darkness that's ever-driving forward, this film shows that there is only one remedy to near-total destruction: reimagination. With visuals from a drug-induced haze, a heavy villainous entity, and a whole lot of heart, The NeverEnding Story shows no sign of stopping any time soon.