Definitely one of the best 80s fantasy adventure films for kids. Maybe even second best right behind Goonies.

I said to my ol'lady, what movie you playin? She said, Never ending story... Out of the 10k movies we have access to..thats what you pick?? ... She replied fuck yeah! 'Merica!! ...so I fired up some of pac nw's finest and wtf??? ...this movie is good as hell still ... where's the pb cups?!

Quintessentially 80s fantasy in every sense, from the bold use of blue screens, child actors and puppetry to the histrionic, synth-soaked pop soundtrack that's bound to be ricocheting around the back of my skull for the rest of the month. It tries really hard, despite the somewhat rudimentary special effects available at the time, and nostalgia still carries it an awfully long way. There's an air of wholesome, youthful naivete at the core of many films from this genre/era, a fleeting moment in which the power of imagination could still gloss over a theme park-grade animatronic dragon or two. Honestly, with most of the live cast saddled by bad overdubs of their own, those out-of-sync moments could be dismissed as an awkward eccentricity. On a conceptual level, The Neverending Story is quite strong, drawn from literary roots (though it was disowned by the author for taking liberties) and stuffing the world with all manner of unique landscapes, creatures, gods and wonders. We even get a surprisingly successful meta-reveal during the climax, which is no small accomplishment. Hammy acting, awkward edits and dated monster effects aside, this one's still got some legs.

The Neverending Story is a magical film with an enchanting and imaginative story. The film follows a young boy named Bastian who begins to read a mysterious book but soon finds himself becoming an interactive part of the story. The characters are especially captivating, and feel real and unique to the world of Fantasia. And, the story has an inspirational message about the power of imagination and the part that fantasy plays in our lives. The Neverending Story holds up as a beloved classic, and endures as a fun and enjoyable family film.

The effects and creatures do seem a bit, hum... kitsch? But the story is so good. I really need to read the book.