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''The NeverEnding Story'' (German: ''Die unendliche Geschichte'') is a 1984 West German (English language) epic fantasy film based on the novel of the same name by Michael Ende, about a boy who reads an unceasing magical book that tells a story of a young warrior whose task is to stop a dark storm called the Nothing from engulfing a fantasy world. The film was produced by Bernd Eichinger and Dieter Giessler and directed and co-written by Wolfgang Petersen (his first English-language film) and starred Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway, Tami Stronach, Moses Gunn, Thomas Hill; and Alan Oppenheimer as the voices of both Falkor and Gmork. At the time of its release, it was the most expensive film produced outside the USA or the USSR. The film was later followed by two sequels. Ende felt that this adaptation's content deviated so far from his book that he requested that production either be halted or the film's title be changed; when the producers did neither, he sued them and subsequently lost the case. The film only adapts the first half of the book, and consequently does not convey the message of the title as it was portrayed in the novel. The second half of the book would subsequently be used as the rough basis for the second film, ''The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter''. The third film, ''The NeverEnding Story III: Escape From Fantasia'', features a completely original plot. ==Summary== The film opens with Bastian Balthazar Bux (Barret Oliver), a shy and friendless bibliophile child who has the habit of day dreaming and is mourning the recent death of his mother. On his way to school one day, Bastian is pursued by a group of adolescent bullies who chase him down an alley and throw him into a dumpster. When Bastian thinks the coast is clear, he attempts to sneak out of the dumpster only to be seen and chased again. This time he escapes the bullies by hiding in a local bookstore, interrupting the grumpy bookseller, Mr. Coreander (Thomas Hill). Bastian becomes intrigued by a rare book he sees titled "''The Neverending Story''" with an elaborate AURYN symbol on the cover. And asks for permission to read it. To his dismay, Mr. Coreander strongly advises against it; despite this, Bastian cannot resist and seizes the book. He silently flees the store, leaving behind a note promising to return it. Bastian makes his way to school, only to discover he is late for an important math test. He then hides in the school's attic to read the book instead. The story takes place in the enchanted universe of Fantasia, an endless dimension where every fantasy dream ever thought up by mankind exist and magical things are possible. However, Fantasia has become threatened by a dark force called "The Nothing" that is erasing the vast realm and consuming its inhabitants very existence. Because of this the mysterious and ethereal Childlike Empress (Tami Stronach) who benevolently rules Fantasia and dwells in its capital called the Ivory Tower, has fallen ill and will eventually die if something is not done. As a last resort the Empress and her imperial physician, Cairon (Moses Gunn), have summoned the young warrior named Atreyu (Noah Hathaway) to search for a cure. Atreyu is therefore given the AURYN necklace that will help guide him on his mission. As Atreyu sets out, The Nothing unleashes its evil minion called Gmork (voiced by Alan Oppenheimer) that has taken the form of a werewolf to kill Atreyu before he can succeed. Atreyu's quest directs him to a wise being known as "Morla the Ancient One" who will advise him. While traveling, Atreyu happens upon the muddy Swamps of Sadness, (a gloomy enclave that causes feelings of despair and hopelessness). Halfway into the swamp his beloved and loyal horse named Artax gives into the sadness and is lost within the swamp which consumes its victim like quick sand. Devastated, Atreyu continues alone and soon finds Morla. Atreyu yells loudly when Morla reveals itself as a giant, underground female tortoise who is allergic to youth. Bastian, reading, is also shocked and lets out a scream. According to the book, Atreyu and Morla appear to hear him. Morla does not have the answers Atreyu seeks, but directs him to the Southern Oracle, which is a long ten thousand miles away. In the walk through the swamps, Atreyu seemingly gives up and falls unconscious to also be consumed by the mud. Luckily, he is rescued by a flying Luck-Dragon with soft white fur named Falkor (also voiced by Oppenheimer). Falkor brings Atreyu to two elderly gnomes (Patricia Hayes and Sydney Bromley) who help Atreyu recuperate. They explain to him that the Oracle, including the trials that one must face before reaching it. Atreyu completes one trial and is perplexed when the second trial, a mirror that shows the viewer's true self, reveals a boy matching Bastian's description; whereupon Bastian throws the book aside in disbelief, but cautiously continues. After Atreyu passes the trials, he boldly stands before the Oracle. It informs him the only way to save the Empress and Fantasia in general, is to find a human child beyond the boundaries of the realm to give the Empress a new name. Weakening due to Fantasia's approaching demise, the Oracle then begins to slowly crumble and fall apart. Shortly after, Atreyu and Falkor encounter The Nothing, and Atreyu is knocked from Falkor's back into the Sea of Possibilities, and accidentally loses the AURYN on the way down. He wakes on the shore near the ruins of where a kingdom once stood and finds a series of wall-paintings depicting his quest. Here Gmork confronts Atreyu and explains that Fantasia represents humanity's imagination, and that The Nothing represents the growing apathy and cynicism against it, thus causing all things magical to disappear. When Gmork attacks Atreyu he kills Gmork with a stone knife. Atreyu and the AURYN are then recovered by Falkor. Fearing his quest has failed, Atreyu and Falkor reach the Empress's Ivory Tower, which is the only thing left standing in the empty abyss of what was once Fantasia. Upon entering the Empress's chamber, Atreyu apologizes for his failure. As The Nothing returns and starts to demolish the Ivory Tower's foundation, Atreyu is knocked unconscious in the process. The Empress tearfully pleas directly to Bastian himself and desperately reaches out, begging him to give her a new name before it is too late; whereupon Bastian shouts the unique name of his dead mother— "Moon Child". He suddenly finds himself before the Empress, who reveals that his pure and fathomless imagination can re-create Fantasia and bring its inhabitants back to life by simply following his dreams and wishes. With this done, Bastian rides on Falkor's back over the fully restored Fantasia, and sees Atreyu happily reunited with Artax. Crossing back over into the real world, the bullies that chased down Bastian in the beginning, are chased by the flying Falkor as revenge. The film closes with a narrator saying that Bastian had many more adventures, but that is another story. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The NeverEnding Story (film)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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