Die unendliche Geschichte

If there is a better fantasy movie for me than The Lord of the Rings, it’s this film from my childhood. (07.05.2002)

This is the most beautiful fantasy film I’ve even seen. And the Rockbiter is my idol! If my teeth were like his, I wouldn’t have to go to the dentist. (04.07.2002)

When you know that every scene and every shot is of such importance to you as the last one and it’s accompanied by the resonant melodies played by the king of synthesizers Giorgio Moroder, you are unable to rate it any other way than with 5 stars. The quality of this movie is so good that it is beyond the line of reality. As is the story itself. (25.12.2019)

Der berühmteste Film aus Michael Endes Märchenschatz. Bernd Eichingers berühmte Inszenierung und die Grundlage eines Franchise, das aus dem ursprünglichen Konzept das Beste machte (einschließlich des Themenparks in Babelsberg). Der Blick auf den Film selbst ändert sich mit dem Wissen, dass hier von Ende nicht einmal die Hälfte verwendet wird. In der zweiten Hälfte des Buches wird Ende philosophischer und arbeitet mit dem Motiv Phantasiens in ähnlicher Weise wie C. S. Lewis in "Die Chroniken von Narnia". (12.12.2021)

An amazingly filmed fantasy masterpiece with a story so action-packed that it takes your breath away. From the moment the disobedient student starts reading the magical book, a thrilling adventure begins, with one mesmerizing location after another, rich in powerful and poignant words, all beautifully accompanied by stunning music. If there’s anything Wolfgang Petersen put his heart on, it was definitely The NeverEnding Story. The conclusion is brilliant, and during the scene when Atreyu passes through the first gate, it is impossible not to have a heart-stopping moment. (17.09.2007)

The notoriously unsuccessful lawyer Lionel Hutz was right to sue The NeverEnding Story for fraudulent advertising, but the surprising finiteness of the film is also it’s only weakness. I don’t know any other family fantasy movie that manages to be entertaining, moving and truly thrilling with the same boldness, and everything with unforgettable settings and under a confident direction that masterfully builds every scene. Doldinger’s music is also good, the make-up effects are brilliant and to this day, this must be the best blend of two fictional worlds that complement each other. After the excellent Das Boot, Petersen did a another great job in the 80s, only to show his back to Hollywood for a second time. (02.01.2021)

Ich verstehe, dass in den achtziger Jahren die Unendliche Geschichte absolut eingeschlagen haben muss, eine Offenbarung und ein Kult, doch heute wirkt der Film in meinem Alter leicht lächerlich und vor allem unglaublich langweilig. Einige Masken sind auch heute noch niedlich, die Hauptpointe ist zeitlos, aber insgesamt hat mir der Film so gar nicht gefallen. Ich glaube, wenn ich ihn in meiner Kindheit gesehen hätte, wäre meine Begeisterung deutlich größer gewesen. (12.02.2017)

For me personally, one of the most beautiful foreign fairy tales and at the same time a great fantasy film, where there is really a lot of imagination. The Czech dubbing is amazing and I'm glad that the old one is still being used. A wonderful celebration of how the real world can connect with the one that exists in books. This is a film that I simply cannot get enough of even after years. (26.08.2014)