This might be one of the very few... if only, 'Children's movies for adults' and it is very underrated. Sure, this movie is a story that is compelling to children (I know it was to me). It is still one of the best fantasy movies out there. But it is an even more significant movie for adults, if you want to see what is underneath.
There is a very serious undertone to this movie. Bastian is a boy who recently lost his mother, and his father is coping... in his own way. "Stay the course, be stong, don't get distracted by daydreaming" he implies. Very harmful words to say to a boy, who uses his imagination to dream of better days. In fact, this is all he has.
Thankfully, there was the man in the bookstore. Yes. Thankfully. I thought he was just a grumpy old man too when I was young. But he isn't, quite the opposite. He warns Bastian about the book being 'not for children'. An understatement, but the book does not harm children... When he gazes out the window to see Bastian running off with the book, he smurks. He wasn't thinking 'You're gonna pay'... He was smiling because he knew, that after reading the book, Bastian will never take his imagination for granted again. And he will forever flourish as a creative and happy man.
There are a lot of metaphores in this story... some are obvious and clear, some are mysterious and cloudy. Maybe it doesn't even matter :) But from the dark and scary attic where Bastian reads the book, to the 'racing snail', to the giant Tortoise Morla... these are important representations of other phenomena. To me, it is no coincidence that the 'indifferent' Moira lives in the 'Swamp of Sadness'. Moira is the result of it.
The big question that followed me in the back of my mind, all the way to adulthood was: what is 'The Nothing'? Even Phantasians struggle with it, and it's beyond both Bastian's and Atreyu's grasp. It is oderless, invisible, inaudible, untouchable and colourless. Yet.. it is none of these things... because this means that 'The Nothing' would at least be 'something'. Even the movie itself is struggling with the concept visually. All we know is that 'The Nothing' is all-consuming. And it is killing Phantasia, and its nameless Child-Empress. In the end, Sebastian realises that he is not only part of the story, he IS the story. A neverending one, if you could only imagine. Sebastian riding on Falkor's back to chase his bullies, is a tribute to the power of imagination. Every child has it, but not every adult does. Sometimes adults lose their imagination.
I would advise all adults to watch this film again. This time, watch it as an adult movie with an child's state of mind. YOU are part of a Neverending story of imagination... are you still in touch with it? If you've totally forgotten about this ability... to imagine, dream and create, then you have 'Nothing' (i.e. lack of imagination) left.
There is a very serious undertone to this movie. Bastian is a boy who recently lost his mother, and his father is coping... in his own way. "Stay the course, be stong, don't get distracted by daydreaming" he implies. Very harmful words to say to a boy, who uses his imagination to dream of better days. In fact, this is all he has.
Thankfully, there was the man in the bookstore. Yes. Thankfully. I thought he was just a grumpy old man too when I was young. But he isn't, quite the opposite. He warns Bastian about the book being 'not for children'. An understatement, but the book does not harm children... When he gazes out the window to see Bastian running off with the book, he smurks. He wasn't thinking 'You're gonna pay'... He was smiling because he knew, that after reading the book, Bastian will never take his imagination for granted again. And he will forever flourish as a creative and happy man.
There are a lot of metaphores in this story... some are obvious and clear, some are mysterious and cloudy. Maybe it doesn't even matter :) But from the dark and scary attic where Bastian reads the book, to the 'racing snail', to the giant Tortoise Morla... these are important representations of other phenomena. To me, it is no coincidence that the 'indifferent' Moira lives in the 'Swamp of Sadness'. Moira is the result of it.
The big question that followed me in the back of my mind, all the way to adulthood was: what is 'The Nothing'? Even Phantasians struggle with it, and it's beyond both Bastian's and Atreyu's grasp. It is oderless, invisible, inaudible, untouchable and colourless. Yet.. it is none of these things... because this means that 'The Nothing' would at least be 'something'. Even the movie itself is struggling with the concept visually. All we know is that 'The Nothing' is all-consuming. And it is killing Phantasia, and its nameless Child-Empress. In the end, Sebastian realises that he is not only part of the story, he IS the story. A neverending one, if you could only imagine. Sebastian riding on Falkor's back to chase his bullies, is a tribute to the power of imagination. Every child has it, but not every adult does. Sometimes adults lose their imagination.
I would advise all adults to watch this film again. This time, watch it as an adult movie with an child's state of mind. YOU are part of a Neverending story of imagination... are you still in touch with it? If you've totally forgotten about this ability... to imagine, dream and create, then you have 'Nothing' (i.e. lack of imagination) left.