The most imaginative and unique movie of all time, “The Neverending Story,” is an incredible 1984 movie to grasp onto. Originally, this movie was based on a German novel created by Michael Ende and published in 1979, eventually to be created into a phenomenal movie five years later. Such a movie touches on the journey that feels as if all hope is lost when all along, hope was by your side since the beginning. Although I wasn’t entirely sure what the storyline was about as a child, I was still entertained by every scene. After re-watching this movie, I can say it was very nostalgic, and I have a better comprehension of the story. When I was a kid, around the early 2010s, I watched this movie with my older brother and we were both hooked! This was also a time in my childhood where we both explored all kinds of movies to watch together, so it was memorable.

When I re-watched this movie, I remember particular scenes from the movie that I somehow found captivating as a kid. For example, in one of the scenes in the movie, the main character, Bastian ( the little boy who reads the book ), ran to go into his school attic. Before he opens the door to the attic, he grabs the attic key from a box to unlock the door. The key was long and thin, and for some reason as a kid, it intrigued me. Another example that caught my eye from the movie was a tragic scene. Atreyu, the chosen one to stop “the nothing” from destroying the world of Fantasia, had to go through “The Swamp of Sadness” with his horse Artax. Going through the swamp was dangerous because if the sadness were to consume anyone who went through it, they would sink away into the swamp. Sadly, Artax had let the swamp take him away, leaving the chosen one broken that he had lost his best friend. I have to say, this movie had several saddening scenes for a kid’s movie.

During the year 1984, there have been great events that have affected us. Some good examples are the song and movie, “Footloose,” which became one of the greatest hits. Other movies such as “Ghostbusters,” “Karate Kid,” and “The Legend of Tarzan: Lord of The Apes” were all fantastic movies of the year 1984 as well! And not only movies but books as well. A few popular ones are “Love and War” by John Jakes, “The Butter Battle Book” by Dr. Suess, and “The Talisman” by Stephan King. 

I found this movie to be original and nothing I’ve ever seen before in my experience, and I feel lucky enough to stumble upon such a movie as a kid. Watching this movie now, I understand the meaning behind what was made. To be frank, I never cared about the little boy Bastian and was only eager to watch the side of the story where it was only Atreyu and his journey. Atreyu who, at first, was underestimated for being a little boy, but was the only one who brought hope for his universe as he was the chosen one who was eager to stop “the nothing.” However, I now have so much care and feel for the importance towards both these characters, especially Bastian. Even though he started off as a little boy who got bullied every day and lost his mother, his curiosity and love for books led him to become the key to save the world of Fantasia and was to restore all that was once lost from “the nothing.” The ending of the movie was heartwarming, as Bastian was able to bring back the beautiful world of Fantasia, and bring back the creatures and animals, including Artex! His help saving the world was the beginning of something beautiful for everyone, even giving himself a place he feels accepted in. Bastian even got back at his bullies! As the video explains above, “It’s a victory against hopelessness.”

https://www.historycentral.com/20th/1984.html