list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around The Neverending Story on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/The_Neverending_Story/24360/default.aspx Title: The Neverending Story
Year: 1984
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Plot: Wolfgang Petersen adapted Michael Ende's children's story for this charming fantasy film that spawned several sequels. Bastian (Barret Oliver) is dealing with his mother's recent death. His father (Gerald McRaney) is an imperious sort who continually lambastes Bastian for daydreaming and falling behind in school. On top of his father's badgering, he has to contend with a bunch of school bullies waiting for him in the schoolyard. One day he decides to play hooky and walks into a strange bookstore, where in the attic, he discovers a book called "The Neverending Story". As Bastian reads the book, he's enveloped in the unfolding tale. A sickly child-like empress (Tami Stronach) from a land called Fantasia is concerned about who will take over the land if she dies. She decides it is best for Fantasia if she remains alive, so she dispatches a young warrior named Atreju (Noah Hathaway) to find a cure for the empress's malady. It turns out the land is consumed with a plague called The Nothing, generated by blighted dreams and hopeless fantasies. As Atreju continues onward to search for a cure for The Nothing, he encounters an assortment of strange creatures. Bastian is so consumed with the tale that he finds himself catapulted into the land of Fantasia himself. Atreju realizes that the only way to save the land from its blight is with the help of this strange earth boy, Bastian. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 70
Number of Lists: 73
Number of blog posts: 9
Number of discussion threads: 8
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Tue, 12 May 2009 14:18:27 GMTThe Neverending Story1984Wolfgang Petersen<a href="/players/P___106242/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Wolfgang Petersen</a> adapted Michael Ende's children's story for this charming fantasy film that spawned several sequels. Bastian (<a href="/players/P____53974/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Barret Oliver</a>) is dealing with his mother's recent death. His father (<a href="/players/P____48057/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Gerald McRaney</a>) is an imperious sort who continually lambastes Bastian for daydreaming and falling behind in school. On top of his father's badgering, he has to contend with a bunch of school bullies waiting for him in the schoolyard. One day he decides to play hooky and walks into a strange bookstore, where in the attic, he discovers a book called "The Neverending Story". As Bastian reads the book, he's enveloped in the unfolding tale. A sickly child-like empress (Tami Stronach) from a land called Fantasia is concerned about who will take over the land if she dies. She decides it is best for Fantasia if she remains alive, so she dispatches a young warrior named Atreju (<a href="/players/P____30985/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Noah Hathaway</a>) to find a cure for the empress's malady. It turns out the land is consumed with a plague called The Nothing, generated by blighted dreams and hopeless fantasies. As Atreju continues onward to search for a cure for The Nothing, he encounters an assortment of strange creatures. Bastian is so consumed with the tale that he finds himself catapulted into the land of Fantasia himself. Atreju realizes that the only way to save the land from its blight is with the help of this strange earth boy, Bastian. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide70Tag Target (>10)73983http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t11596w6anr.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/The_Neverending_Story/24360/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2009/2/27/40716.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 2/27/2009 6:02:07 PM
Body: The American Medical Association Alliance is unhappy with the appearance of a specific cigarette brand (American Spirit Lights) in He’s Just Not That Into You and is filing an official complaint to Warner Bros. and Time Warner over the issue. Brooks Barnes reports in today’s New York Times that the advocacy group doesn’t care that smoking is shown in a bad light in the romantic comedy (a character gets dumped for lying about quitting smoking, an offense seen as even worse than cheating); they think any acknowledgment of the act of smoking cigarettes — even if nobody is actually seen smoking onscreen, a la HJNTIY — could influence young people to start smoking. The smoking in movies issue has brought about much debate regarding censorship in the last few years, but I say bring on the smoking ban. And then Hollywood can get creative with hints at smoking the way it used to use innuendo and other fun tricks to imply sex. The irony would be that in the past, cigarettes were used as such implicit hints (see Love is a Many-Splendored Thing; Chinatown and just about any Hays Code-era film). I also say that this AMA organization should be happy that Hollywood is at least promoting a healthier brand of cigs, such as the all-natural American Spirits. Last year’s underrated male fantasy rom-com Definitely, Maybe went so far as to devote an entire flirting scene to why people should smoke the longer-lasting American Spirits than other brands. Funny, I don’t recall any complaints from the AMA regarding that movie (though here’s an interesting complaint from the New Mexico Media Literacy Project, at least). Although this complaint wasn’t the biggest film blog topic of the day (that might be whining about Leo DiCaprio’s Neverending Story remake), here are the few other responses I found around the net: In addition to sharing a video of the best cigarette commercial ever (it stars The Flintstones), Scott Von Doviak at The Screengrab notes that the AMA should concentrate on other health risks to young moviegoers, such as obesity: That’s right, all the kids need to see is that bright yellow box and it’s all over. Hey, you know what else comes in a bright yellow box? The eight dollar 12-pack of Butterfinger Bites at the concession counter, along with all the other sugary crap your kids are clogging their arteries with while they watch He’s Just Not That Into You. Richard at Gawker, after joking about lonely HJNTIY fans being better off starting smoking, offers support for the complaint: Really, though, the AMA is right. There’s no reason to put brand-name cigarettes in the movie. It adds some verité perhaps. But we are, again, talking about a movie whose thesis is that the unendingly complex communications between people can be boiled down to something like “men are mean, and women are shrill and lonely.” So. Matthew Perpetua also uses the opportunity to make fun of how silly the movie is, but unlike Richard, he’s against the complaint: “With all due to respect to the AMA and its mission, this is almost as ridiculous as a movie about people who still use MySpace, in which a character played by Ginnifer Goodwin can’t find a date.” Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Fri, 27 Feb 2009 23:02:07 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com2/27/2009 6:02:07 PMThe American Medical Association Alliance is unhappy with the appearance of a specific cigarette brand (American Spirit Lights) in He’s Just Not That Into You and is filing an official complaint to Warner Bros. and Time Warner over the issue. Brooks Barnes reports in today’s New York Times that the advocacy group doesn’t care that smoking is shown in a bad light in the romantic comedy (a character gets dumped for lying about quitting smoking, an offense seen as even worse than cheating); they think any acknowledgment of the act of smoking cigarettes — even if nobody is actually seen smoking onscreen, a la HJNTIY — could influence young people to start smoking. The smoking in movies issue has brought about much debate regarding censorship in the last few years, but I say bring on the smoking ban. And then Hollywood can get creative with hints at smoking the way it used to use innuendo and other fun tricks to imply sex. The irony would be that in the past, cigarettes were used as such implicit hints (see Love is a Many-Splendored Thing; Chinatown and just about any Hays Code-era film). I also say that this AMA organization should be happy that Hollywood is at least promoting a healthier brand of cigs, such as the all-natural American Spirits. Last year’s underrated male fantasy rom-com Definitely, Maybe went so far as to devote an entire flirting scene to why people should smoke the longer-lasting American Spirits than other brands. Funny, I don’t recall any complaints from the AMA regarding that movie (though here’s an interesting complaint from the New Mexico Media Literacy Project, at least). Although this complaint wasn’t the biggest film blog topic of the day (that might be whining about Leo DiCaprio’s Neverending Story remake), here are the few other responses I found around the net: In addition to sharing a video of the best cigarette commercial ever (it stars The Flintstones), Scott Von Doviak at The Screengrab notes that the AMA should concentrate on other health risks to young moviegoers, such as obesity: That’s right, all the kids need to see is that bright yellow box and it’s all over. Hey, you know what else comes in a bright yellow box? The eight dollar 12-pack of Butterfinger Bites at the concession counter, along with all the other sugary crap your kids are clogging their arteries with while they watch He’s Just Not That Into You. Richard at Gawker, after joking about lonely HJNTIY fans being better off starting smoking, offers support for the complaint: Really, though, the AMA is right. There’s no reason to put brand-name cigarettes in the movie. It adds some verité perhaps. But we are, again, talking about a movie whose thesis is that the unendingly complex communications between people can be boiled down to something like “men are mean, and women are shrill and lonely.” So. Matthew Perpetua also uses the opportunity to make fun of how silly the movie is, but unlike Richard, he’s against the complaint: “With all due to respect to the AMA and its mission, this is almost as ridiculous as a movie about people who still use MySpace, in which a character played by Ginnifer Goodwin can’t find a date.” Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/groups/I_Love_Childrens_Movies/Re_Scarred_for_life/372/39113/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: I Love Childrens Movies
Post Date: 1/5/2009 4:10:07 PM
Body: Well, I've said this before, but that black wolf in Benji the Hunted really freaked me out. I was kind of fascinated by my fear though. But I always had to walk out of the room during the scene when he runs off the cliff to his death. Why this movie was apparently playing at my house so often as a child I have no idea why! Likewise, the black wolf creature in The Neverending Story, peeking out from inside his dark cave with those piercing eyes. I just didn't like those critters!
]]>Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:10:07 GMTRisseladaI Love Childrens Movies1/5/2009 4:10:07 PMWell, I've said this before, but that black wolf in Benji the Hunted really freaked me out. I was kind of fascinated by my fear though. But I always had to walk out of the room during the scene when he runs off the cliff to his death. Why this movie was apparently playing at my house so often as a child I have no idea why! Likewise, the black wolf creature in The Neverending Story, peeking out from inside his dark cave with those piercing eyes. I just didn't like those critters! http://www.spout.com/groups/Top_5/Re_Top_5_films_from_your_childhood/190/38813/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: leeroy711
Post To: Top 5
Post Date: 12/24/2008 12:28:59 PM
Body: Tmoney mention The Peanut Butter Solution.... Good call, that's my #1 2. The Never-Ending Story 3. Something Wicked This Way Comes 4. Ernest Goes To Camp 5. Beetlejuice
]]>Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:28:59 GMTleeroy711Top 512/24/2008 12:28:59 PMTmoney mention The Peanut Butter Solution.... Good call, that's my #1 2. The Never-Ending Story 3. Something Wicked This Way Comes 4. Ernest Goes To Camp 5. Beetlejuice http://www.spout.com/groups/Top_5/Re_Top_5_films_from_your_childhood/190/36328/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Ravie13
Post To: Top 5
Post Date: 10/14/2008 8:43:28 PM
Body: 1) Nine to Five - I watched it over and over again. I didn't understand what "maui wowie" was but Lily Tomlin became Snow White! And this forever cultivated in me a love for Dolly Parton. 2) Robin Hood - the animated Disney movie - again, I watched it on repeat over and over again. 3) Grease - I think it was every little girl's favorite. And it's a classic. Each time I watch it there's a joke I didn't get before because I was too young the last time I saw it. 4) The NeverEnding Story - OMG! I lived for it to air on HBO. 5) The Worst Witch - a little known made for cable BAAAAD movie starring Faruiza Balk and Tim Curry. To this day I must watch it every Halloween season to get me in the mood.
]]>Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:43:28 GMTRavie13Top 510/14/2008 8:43:28 PM1) Nine to Five - I watched it over and over again. I didn't understand what "maui wowie" was but Lily Tomlin became Snow White! And this forever cultivated in me a love for Dolly Parton. 2) Robin Hood - the animated Disney movie - again, I watched it on repeat over and over again. 3) Grease - I think it was every little girl's favorite. And it's a classic. Each time I watch it there's a joke I didn't get before because I was too young the last time I saw it. 4) The NeverEnding Story - OMG! I lived for it to air on HBO. 5) The Worst Witch - a little known made for cable BAAAAD movie starring Faruiza Balk and Tim Curry. To this day I must watch it every Halloween season to get me in the mood. http://www.spout.com/groups/Grew_up_in_the_80_s/Re_Top_5_Favorites_of_the_80_s/38/35587/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: filmgal81
Post To: Grew up in the 80's
Post Date: 9/26/2008 12:41:12 PM
Body: Oh, this is a good one! I must say The Princess Bride is probably at the top of my 80s list. It has everything ( and something for everyone): comedy, drama, suspense, true love, miracles ( to paraphrase a line from the Grandfather). I can watch it time and again, and I love it for different reasons every time. Another good one would have to be Nausicaa ( The Valley of the Wind). A complicated apocalyptic future (although we are getting and closer to that every year- all that's missing is the giant bugs) beautifully drawn in anime. Plus, the princess was completely bad ass- which was ( and still is ) fairly unusual. St. Elmo's Fire takes the #3 spot. A great look at post college life , in true 80s style, where you still don't have a clue but you no longer have the excuse of " I'm still a student" to calm your fears about life after school. For Keeps holds at #4- unraveling a yarn about the consequences of unprotected teen sex as only the 80s and Molly Ringwald can ( woo hoo!) Annie brings up the rear at #5- the singing the dancing, the orphans- what's not to love?? So, there you have it: the 80s summed in 5 movies about childhood, teendom, adulthood, fantasy and the future.
]]>Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:41:12 GMTfilmgal81Grew up in the 80's9/26/2008 12:41:12 PMOh, this is a good one! I must say The Princess Bride is probably at the top of my 80s list. It has everything ( and something for everyone): comedy, drama, suspense, true love, miracles ( to paraphrase a line from the Grandfather). I can watch it time and again, and I love it for different reasons every time. Another good one would have to be Nausicaa ( The Valley of the Wind). A complicated apocalyptic future (although we are getting and closer to that every year- all that's missing is the giant bugs) beautifully drawn in anime. Plus, the princess was completely bad ass- which was ( and still is ) fairly unusual. St. Elmo's Fire takes the #3 spot. A great look at post college life , in true 80s style, where you still don't have a clue but you no longer have the excuse of " I'm still a student" to calm your fears about life after school. For Keeps holds at #4- unraveling a yarn about the consequences of unprotected teen sex as only the 80s and Molly Ringwald can ( woo hoo!) Annie brings up the rear at #5- the singing the dancing, the orphans- what's not to love?? So, there you have it: the 80s summed in 5 movies about childhood, teendom, adulthood, fantasy and the future. http://www.spout.com/groups/Grew_up_in_the_80_s/Top_5_Favorites_of_the_80_s/38/35486/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: seely
Post To: Grew up in the 80's
Post Date: 9/24/2008 10:55:58 AM
Body: Alright, so I'm borrowing a concept from the 'Top 5' group (which borrowed it from High Fidelity), and suggesting that we each pick our top 5 favorites from the Blessed Era of Bangs and Bad Hair. Write a sentence or two if you feel the need to. Oh, and I am not talking cinematic briliance here, necessarily--I'm talking films you watched in the 80's that you remember falling in love with, no matter how cheesey. In fact, cheesier the better. Flight of the Navigator- This is another one I vaguely remember seeing in the theatre (I must have seen a lot of films in 1985/6). I think I've seen it once since then and still found it be a pretty intense film for a young child. It sort of had some ET-ish plot as I recally, with a kid finding a living spaceship of sorts. The Neverending Story- Saw this one a few years after it came out (I was two when it came out, so cut me some slack) but instantly fell in love with it. I was the nerdy kid who sat around reading Asimov hoping that somehow I would get sucked into the book. When I saw this, it gave me hope. Transformers: The Movie- One of the first films I remember seeing in the theatre. I haven't seen it in twenty years, but I remember it being epic and intense with some solid animation. Just noticed that it was up for two awards in '86... I'll have to track this one down. Stand By Me- Quintessential 80's coming-of-age film that sparked my love for the genre. I liked it when I saw it as a young kid, but came to love it after my love affair with television shows like The Wonder Years and authors like Garrison Keillor and Ellen Gilchrist started. The Princess Bride- Again, an entry into the canon of 80's films. It's low budget and a bit tacky, but so is the book. Great cast, some great cameos, clever dialogue, pretty faithful to the book... another one of those boy-gets-sucked-into-the-book-type stories. Seemed to be a run of those in the 1980's. What are your top 5?
]]>Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:55:58 GMTseelyGrew up in the 80's9/24/2008 10:55:58 AMAlright, so I'm borrowing a concept from the 'Top 5' group (which borrowed it from High Fidelity), and suggesting that we each pick our top 5 favorites from the Blessed Era of Bangs and Bad Hair. Write a sentence or two if you feel the need to. Oh, and I am not talking cinematic briliance here, necessarily--I'm talking films you watched in the 80's that you remember falling in love with, no matter how cheesey. In fact, cheesier the better. Flight of the Navigator- This is another one I vaguely remember seeing in the theatre (I must have seen a lot of films in 1985/6). I think I've seen it once since then and still found it be a pretty intense film for a young child. It sort of had some ET-ish plot as I recally, with a kid finding a living spaceship of sorts. The Neverending Story- Saw this one a few years after it came out (I was two when it came out, so cut me some slack) but instantly fell in love with it. I was the nerdy kid who sat around reading Asimov hoping that somehow I would get sucked into the book. When I saw this, it gave me hope. Transformers: The Movie- One of the first films I remember seeing in the theatre. I haven't seen it in twenty years, but I remember it being epic and intense with some solid animation. Just noticed that it was up for two awards in '86... I'll have to track this one down. Stand By Me- Quintessential 80's coming-of-age film that sparked my love for the genre. I liked it when I saw it as a young kid, but came to love it after my love affair with television shows like The Wonder Years and authors like Garrison Keillor and Ellen Gilchrist started. The Princess Bride- Again, an entry into the canon of 80's films. It's low budget and a bit tacky, but so is the book. Great cast, some great cameos, clever dialogue, pretty faithful to the book... another one of those boy-gets-sucked-into-the-book-type stories. Seemed to be a run of those in the 1980's. What are your top 5? http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/7/8/32292.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 7/8/2008 3:01:14 PM
Body: (photo: La Jetée, Hellboy II: The Golden Army) Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy II: The Golden Army hits theaters this Friday. Del Toro is a rare filmmaker who, despite his unique vision, often works on projects based on material from an outside source (Pan’s Labyrinth being a notable exception). Assuming all the legal issues get ironed out,  he’ll next direct a two part film adaptation of Tolkien’s The Hobbit, the most prestigious property to date to get the del Toro treatment. Here are seven either failed or unjustly obscure movies ripe for being remade by Hellboy’s father. 1. Spawn - Todd McFarlane’s comic about a Hell-trotting anti-hero indebted to the Devil opened my young eyes to genuinely dark storytelling. While the 90s were a simpler time in terms of comic to movie adaptations, I was already dreaming about a big screen adaptation after reading the first issue. Unfortunately, my dream came true in 1997, when Mark A.Z. Dippé’s god-awful Spawn slumped into theaters. 2. The Never Ending Story - If you were to describe Pan’s Labyrinth as a story about a little girl with a cruel stepfather who escapes into a fantasy world with fairies and magical pan, it could sound like many tame children’s movies of the ’80s. The Never Ending Story del Toro style: the gnome is evil (or a least a little sadistic), the giant flying dog thing eats at least one sentient being, and the kid dies in the end. 3. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari - This 1920 German Expressionist classic is one of the first horror films, and maybe the first ever movie with a twist ending. A black and white sound version was made by David Lee Fisher in 2006, where green screen was used to incorporate the original backgrounds. I picture del Toro’s version in color, with a few added plot flourishes. Who knows, maybe it could be the genesis of a new genre: Mexican Neo-Expressionism. 4. Jim Henson’s The Storyteller (watch the video, sorry it won’t embed)- While compiling this list, Adam Forrest started telling me about an episode of Jim Henson’s The Storyteller called The Heartless Giant. It felt like he was describing nightmares I had when I was seven (turns out the nightmare was actually a memory I had of watching this very episode). While still slightly goofy at times, it’s Henson at his creepiest, and I’d love to see del Toro pick up where the puppet master left off. Other freaky Henson classics like The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth (keeping David Bowie in the cast, of course) would also be great, but I picked The Storyteller because del Toro could really kill in this semi-episodic TV format. 5. La Jetée (entire 27 minute film is embedded above)- This 1962 French short film consists only of a series of black and white photos accompanied by narration. It’s a stunning post-apocalyptic downer and an absolute must-see. Terry Gilliam already remade it as Twelve Monkeys, where he added a lot of story content in addition to quadrupling the original run time. I’d like to see del Toro build something different, but equally good, using La Jetée’s bare-bones structure. 6. Dungeons & Dragons - In 2000, the undisputed king of tabletop role playing games became the undisputed king of shitty movie adaptations. There are inherent problems in adapting a game like D&D to the screen, for one thing, the game is really just a rules system, the players provide the story. That being said, there have been countless supplemental “campaign settings” published which describe immensely imaginative worlds. I would particularly like to see what del Toro would do with Keith Baker’s fantasy-noir Eberron. 7. The Wizard of Oz - It would be pretty ballsy of del Toro to take this one on. In 1985 Walter Murch, known mostly for his stellar editing work, directed the wonderfully dark Return to Oz. While not a perfect film, it exploited the more disturbing dimensions of the Oz story, namely a lost girl in a strange world targeted by a supernatural evil. If all goes well with del Torro’s take on The Hobbit, I think the world will be ready to go back to an Oz where munchkins hanging themselves would no longer be confined to shadowy backgrounds. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:01:14 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com7/8/2008 3:01:14 PM (photo: La Jetée, Hellboy II: The Golden Army) Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy II: The Golden Army hits theaters this Friday. Del Toro is a rare filmmaker who, despite his unique vision, often works on projects based on material from an outside source (Pan’s Labyrinth being a notable exception). Assuming all the legal issues get ironed out,  he’ll next direct a two part film adaptation of Tolkien’s The Hobbit, the most prestigious property to date to get the del Toro treatment. Here are seven either failed or unjustly obscure movies ripe for being remade by Hellboy’s father. 1. Spawn - Todd McFarlane’s comic about a Hell-trotting anti-hero indebted to the Devil opened my young eyes to genuinely dark storytelling. While the 90s were a simpler time in terms of comic to movie adaptations, I was already dreaming about a big screen adaptation after reading the first issue. Unfortunately, my dream came true in 1997, when Mark A.Z. Dippé’s god-awful Spawn slumped into theaters. 2. The Never Ending Story - If you were to describe Pan’s Labyrinth as a story about a little girl with a cruel stepfather who escapes into a fantasy world with fairies and magical pan, it could sound like many tame children’s movies of the ’80s. The Never Ending Story del Toro style: the gnome is evil (or a least a little sadistic), the giant flying dog thing eats at least one sentient being, and the kid dies in the end. 3. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari - This 1920 German Expressionist classic is one of the first horror films, and maybe the first ever movie with a twist ending. A black and white sound version was made by David Lee Fisher in 2006, where green screen was used to incorporate the original backgrounds. I picture del Toro’s version in color, with a few added plot flourishes. Who knows, maybe it could be the genesis of a new genre: Mexican Neo-Expressionism. 4. Jim Henson’s The Storyteller (watch the video, sorry it won’t embed)- While compiling this list, Adam Forrest started telling me about an episode of Jim Henson’s The Storyteller called The Heartless Giant. It felt like he was describing nightmares I had when I was seven (turns out the nightmare was actually a memory I had of watching this very episode). While still slightly goofy at times, it’s Henson at his creepiest, and I’d love to see del Toro pick up where the puppet master left off. Other freaky Henson classics like The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth (keeping David Bowie in the cast, of course) would also be great, but I picked The Storyteller because del Toro could really kill in this semi-episodic TV format. 5. La Jetée (entire 27 minute film is embedded above)- This 1962 French short film consists only of a series of black and white photos accompanied by narration. It’s a stunning post-apocalyptic downer and an absolute must-see. Terry Gilliam already remade it as Twelve Monkeys, where he added a lot of story content in addition to quadrupling the original run time. I’d like to see del Toro build something different, but equally good, using La Jetée’s bare-bones structure. 6. Dungeons & Dragons - In 2000, the undisputed king of tabletop role playing games became the undisputed king of shitty movie adaptations. There are inherent problems in adapting a game like D&D to the screen, for one thing, the game is really just a rules system, the players provide the story. That being said, there have been countless supplemental “campaign settings” published which describe immensely imaginative worlds. I would particularly like to see what del Toro would do with Keith Baker’s fantasy-noir Eberron. 7. The Wizard of Oz - It would be pretty ballsy of del Toro to take this one on. In 1985 Walter Murch, known mostly for his stellar editing work, directed the wonderfully dark Return to Oz. While not a perfect film, it exploited the more disturbing dimensions of the Oz story, namely a lost girl in a strange world targeted by a supernatural evil. If all goes well with del Torro’s take on The Hobbit, I think the world will be ready to go back to an Oz where munchkins hanging themselves would no longer be confined to shadowy backgrounds. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/groups/Filmgaming/Re_Scarred_for_Life_Most_traumatic_movie_memorie/563/31057/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Filmgaming
Post Date: 6/10/2008 2:16:59 PM
Body: I've always been scared of black wolves. So I'll second the bid for The Neverending Story, but specifically the part where the big wolf is talking from within that cave. But the worst one for me was Benji The Hunted. There was a frightening wolf in that, and the worst scene is when Benji tricks the wolf to run off the side of the cliff. You see the wolf's body fall down this deep ravine while you hear the most blood chilling howl. For some reason this movie played often in my house. I don't know why we would have rented it more than once, but somehow it was always on TV or something. I would watch the movie with my family but have to run into the bathroom when I knew that scene was coming up and plug my ears. I had a lot of nightmares of wolves coming to attack me at school around that time. Holy crap, I just watched this and it just gave me major goosebumps. And I don't even have any audio at work.
]]>Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:16:59 GMTRisseladaFilmgaming6/10/2008 2:16:59 PMI've always been scared of black wolves. So I'll second the bid for The Neverending Story, but specifically the part where the big wolf is talking from within that cave. But the worst one for me was Benji The Hunted. There was a frightening wolf in that, and the worst scene is when Benji tricks the wolf to run off the side of the cliff. You see the wolf's body fall down this deep ravine while you hear the most blood chilling howl. For some reason this movie played often in my house. I don't know why we would have rented it more than once, but somehow it was always on TV or something. I would watch the movie with my family but have to run into the bathroom when I knew that scene was coming up and plug my ears. I had a lot of nightmares of wolves coming to attack me at school around that time. Holy crap, I just watched this and it just gave me major goosebumps. And I don't even have any audio at work. http://www.spout.com/blogs/jj79/archive/2008/6/9/30940.aspx Post By: JJ79
Post To: JJ79 Blog
Post Date: 6/9/2008 12:52:39 PM
Body: Release Year: 1984Director: Wolfgang Peterson *****In the wake of the success of the original Star Wars trilogy, every producer in the world ran toward science fiction/fantasy films. Krull, Conan the Barbarian, Beastmaster. The list goes on and on. So it shouldn't be any shock that this film, released after 1983's Return of the Jedi is a fantasy film shamelessly riding the coattails of George Lucas' epic trilogy. What The Neverending Story forgets is that Star Wars was foremost about character and only secondarily about the aliens. Plus, frankly, the story told in a galaxy far, far away actually had an ending that didn't make the audience want to throw their popcorn at the screen. Bastian is a boy living in the modern world with modern problems: his mother is dead, his father doesn't quite know how to deal with his book-worm son, bullies pick on him. In short, he's the typical "nerd". But on the run from bullies one day, he enters an old bookstore and snags a copy of something called "The Neverending Story". The book then tells the tale of the world of Fantasia which is being overrun by the Nothing. It is up to a teen hero, Atreyu, to stop it. Yes, this movie does bounce between the modern day and the world of Fantasia far more than it needs to. In fact, the "real world" portions aren't even needed. You see, Fantasia is populated by creatures of all shapes and sizes: a flying Qtip, a rock monster, a child empress, talking wolves with green eyes, talking bats, race snails...you get the idea. This is where the focus of the movie should have been. Leave Bastian's story alone; he's the worst part of the film. The child actor can't act to save his life. Worse, the audience is supposed to believe he is an integral part of "The Neverending Story". This is above all else a quest movie. Atreyu's quest in which he has to sacrifice (a horse), make new friends, overcome obstacles and defeat the Big Bad Guy to save his world. Only he doesn't save his world in the end. The Nothing destroys Fantasia. In a climax ripped right out of the "oh brother" book, we all learn it is up to Bastian to give the empress a new name...which will somehow vanquish the Nothing. Huh? Why would it happen that way? No matter, for the plot anyway. It continues right on its merry way, asking the actors and audience to believe every hackneyed twist it throws at us. Of course, by giving the empress a name, Bastian is able to recreate Fantasia...or turn back time...or something so that everything that happen doesn't happen. Confused? The flying Qtip even makes an appearance in the real world with Bastian to ward off the bullies at the end. Along with a pointless voiceover telling us it is the first of many adventures for Bastian in the world of Fantasia. Is that a promise or a threat?
]]>Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:52:39 GMTJJ79JJ79 Blog6/9/2008 12:52:39 PMRelease Year: 1984Director: Wolfgang Peterson *****In the wake of the success of the original Star Wars trilogy, every producer in the world ran toward science fiction/fantasy films. Krull, Conan the Barbarian, Beastmaster. The list goes on and on. So it shouldn't be any shock that this film, released after 1983's Return of the Jedi is a fantasy film shamelessly riding the coattails of George Lucas' epic trilogy. What The Neverending Story forgets is that Star Wars was foremost about character and only secondarily about the aliens. Plus, frankly, the story told in a galaxy far, far away actually had an ending that didn't make the audience want to throw their popcorn at the screen. Bastian is a boy living in the modern world with modern problems: his mother is dead, his father doesn't quite know how to deal with his book-worm son, bullies pick on him. In short, he's the typical "nerd". But on the run from bullies one day, he enters an old bookstore and snags a copy of something called "The Neverending Story". The book then tells the tale of the world of Fantasia which is being overrun by the Nothing. It is up to a teen hero, Atreyu, to stop it. Yes, this movie does bounce between the modern day and the world of Fantasia far more than it needs to. In fact, the "real world" portions aren't even needed. You see, Fantasia is populated by creatures of all shapes and sizes: a flying Qtip, a rock monster, a child empress, talking wolves with green eyes, talking bats, race snails...you get the idea. This is where the focus of the movie should have been. Leave Bastian's story alone; he's the worst part of the film. The child actor can't act to save his life. Worse, the audience is supposed to believe he is an integral part of "The Neverending Story". This is above all else a quest movie. Atreyu's quest in which he has to sacrifice (a horse), make new friends, overcome obstacles and defeat the Big Bad Guy to save his world. Only he doesn't save his world in the end. The Nothing destroys Fantasia. In a climax ripped right out of the "oh brother" book, we all learn it is up to Bastian to give the empress a new name...which will somehow vanquish the Nothing. Huh? Why would it happen that way? No matter, for the plot anyway. It continues right on its merry way, asking the actors and audience to believe every hackneyed twist it throws at us. Of course, by giving the empress a name, Bastian is able to recreate Fantasia...or turn back time...or something so that everything that happen doesn't happen. Confused? The flying Qtip even makes an appearance in the real world with Bastian to ward off the bullies at the end. Along with a pointless voiceover telling us it is the first of many adventures for Bastian in the world of Fantasia. Is that a promise or a threat? http://www.spout.com/blogs/jakestevens/archive/2007/10/10/20604.aspx Post By: JakeStevens
Post To: JakeStevens Blog
Post Date: 10/10/2007 11:59:32 PM
Body: I never get tired of watching this film. Even though my cousin Jonathan will disagree, I think the SFX still mostly hold up, especially when you consider that "Clash of the Titans" came out only 3 years before this film, and the SFX in that film look horrible. I think the story is strong and even though the music is dated, that damn song will still get stuck in your head. If I ever had kids, they will most certainly be watching this film...and I hope they get as much enjoyment out of it as I have through the years.
]]>Thu, 11 Oct 2007 03:59:32 GMTJakeStevensJakeStevens Blog10/10/2007 11:59:32 PMI never get tired of watching this film. Even though my cousin Jonathan will disagree, I think the SFX still mostly hold up, especially when you consider that &quot;Clash of the Titans&quot; came out only 3 years before this film, and the SFX in that film look horrible. I think the story is strong and even though the music is dated, that damn song will still get stuck in your head. If I ever had kids, they will most certainly be watching this film...and I hope they get as much enjoyment out of it as I have through the years. http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Classic/MemberTagFilms.aspxClassic
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