{ I've tried to keep possible spoilers minimal. }
I just saw The NeverEnding Story III for the first time. As a kid, I loved the book and the first movie. This one wasn't great and was missing some of the magic, but was definitely still worth watching.
I really enjoyed watching Bastian and his new step-sister Nicole's relationship develop. That element of the story was acted out brilliantly. There was resentment, attraction, interest, and finally trust and friendship. I actually came to IMDb today because I was particularly impressed with actor Melody Kay's (Nicole) performance and wanted to see what other films she's been in (very few, unfortunately.)
The Earth-aware dialog on Fantasia doesn't make much sense. But if you look at this movie on it's own, and don't assume any prior knowledge of the book or previous movies, issues like this go away. The generation this movie was made for had plenty of viewers that these inconsistencies with the prior story wouldn't bother.
I loved the contemporary pop/rock music! It is entirely reasonable that the hero and his step-sister, at about 13 years old, would be interested in popular music! It also helps recreate, in 2007, the aura of 1994... The soundtrack was great, with a feeling in-between the 80s sound and the 90s sound.
A couple of misconceptions:
1. (That there is a significant break from the prior movie because Bastian's Mom is alive and present again, and Bastian's Dad has disappeared.) -- Actually, the Mom in the movie is not Bastian's Mom, it is his step-sister Nicole's Mom. The Dad really is Bastian's Dad. There is a point in the story when an interaction between the kids and parents seems to contradict their (clearly established) blood ties, but that interaction has a different purpose altogether.
2. (That the karate in the movie is ordinary.) -- Actually, it is magically enhanced.
The NeverEnding Story III is not brilliant, but it is definitely enjoyable. ***-- 3/5
I just saw The NeverEnding Story III for the first time. As a kid, I loved the book and the first movie. This one wasn't great and was missing some of the magic, but was definitely still worth watching.
I really enjoyed watching Bastian and his new step-sister Nicole's relationship develop. That element of the story was acted out brilliantly. There was resentment, attraction, interest, and finally trust and friendship. I actually came to IMDb today because I was particularly impressed with actor Melody Kay's (Nicole) performance and wanted to see what other films she's been in (very few, unfortunately.)
The Earth-aware dialog on Fantasia doesn't make much sense. But if you look at this movie on it's own, and don't assume any prior knowledge of the book or previous movies, issues like this go away. The generation this movie was made for had plenty of viewers that these inconsistencies with the prior story wouldn't bother.
I loved the contemporary pop/rock music! It is entirely reasonable that the hero and his step-sister, at about 13 years old, would be interested in popular music! It also helps recreate, in 2007, the aura of 1994... The soundtrack was great, with a feeling in-between the 80s sound and the 90s sound.
A couple of misconceptions:
1. (That there is a significant break from the prior movie because Bastian's Mom is alive and present again, and Bastian's Dad has disappeared.) -- Actually, the Mom in the movie is not Bastian's Mom, it is his step-sister Nicole's Mom. The Dad really is Bastian's Dad. There is a point in the story when an interaction between the kids and parents seems to contradict their (clearly established) blood ties, but that interaction has a different purpose altogether.
2. (That the karate in the movie is ordinary.) -- Actually, it is magically enhanced.
The NeverEnding Story III is not brilliant, but it is definitely enjoyable. ***-- 3/5