DVD : The Neverending Story [1984]

Rating: - The Nothing is closer than you think ...!
On this occasion I found myself liking the movie more than the book. What stood out for me as a child was the wolf figure who stated at the end of the film this startling notion that people who forgot their dreams and lost their hopes were easy to control and who ever has the control has the power ... I wondered how that could come about. Now I see that behind the film was possibly a critique on our modern standard of living and the world of Fantasia, a world of the spirit, imagination and dreams does not want to allow it's self to be usurped by mans casual disregard for those qualities. The film asserts that real freedom is the freedom of the mind and to have self belief in the face of astonishing obstacles is the only way to move forward. This is a modern day fairy tale which I believe has made it so enduring. At some level it communicates what we may all feel ... that we are being usurped by another type of spirit more insidious than anything before, the progressive and thus uncontrollable engine of the industrialised world.

This edition presents the film in it's original format and cover art work is very pleasing, perhaps Disney could take note and drop that hideous cover art for it's fantasy film The Return to Oz, as The Never-ending Story, Return to Oz, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and The Adventures of Baron Munchhausen are all from an inspiring period in film history, since there was little to parallel these films before hand and the technocrats who pioneered them really were breaking new ground when it came to fantasy storytelling. Inspiring work visually as well as in storytelling.

You can buy the score soundtrack from amazon in germany.

As with the comment above, it is the same U S version ... it could have been better but maybe next year will see a more definitive edition.

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Rating: - Superb film, shame about the DVD
You should know that this release is a straight copy of the American region 1 disc.

The sound mix is Dolby 2.0 only, it is the American cut of the film (shorter than the German original) and there are very little in the way of extras. There is a German version that has both cuts of the film available (although it is now out of print so getting hold of one might prove difficult) unfortunately it has no English audio for the original cut and the sound mix is 2.0 only. There is also a Holland release of the American version but with a DTS soundtrack.

Considering next year will be the 25th anniversay of the film I find it incredible that Warner decided to release this travesty of a DVD now.

Five stars for the film, One star for the DVD. Shame on you Warner!