What to Watch - Warner Bros. Film Club Picks 2024
Film Club - Meet Me in St Louis
This film colourfully cartwheeled onto screens in November 1944 and is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year! Test your knowledge of this fabulous film, with our monthly film club quiz!
About Meet Me in St Louis
Clunk clunk clunk went the trolley, Ding ding ding went the bell, and zing zing zing went the heartstrings of the audience as Meet Me in St. Louis cartwheeled colourfully onto screens in November 1944 and is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year!
It’s the summer of 1903, and Missouri is positively buzzing with anticipation for the World’s Fair, set to open next spring – and the Smith house is no different. As we sweep past the candy-striped exterior and rose-covered awnings we are serenaded with George Stoll’s ‘Meet me in St Louis’ performed with expectant glee by members of the family, young and old. We follow them through the glossy rooms of the house, leading us into the garden where we meet our leading lady. Judy Garland - playing Esther Smith - bounds headfirst into the story in a blue and white striped dress, an elaborate white bow, and her iconic glossy red hair.
The film tells the story of a year in the life of the Smith family, made up of Mr and Mrs Smith, Rose, Esther, Agnes, ‘Tootie’, Lon Jr., Grandpa and Maid Katie. We track the family through the seasons and festivities of the year – Rose hopes for a marriage proposal, Esther longs to be noticed by the boy next door, and Agnes and Tootie commit some Halloween hijinks, all set to a superb score - including originals written for the film - by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane. This isn’t a film to be watched sitting still, you’ll be tapping your feet to classics like ‘The Trolley Song’ and ‘The Boy Next Door’ and relishing the pure festive spirit of ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ - a song originally written for the film, but that would go on to find its place among the pantheon of Christmas tunes. The film is full of charm, warmth and heart all tied up in pink cellophane – it is indeed a ‘ginger-peachy’ show. And audiences agreed.
Upon its release the film was both a critical and commercial success, and it soon became a glittering jewel among the career credits of Garland, director Minelli and producer Freed – keeping esteemed company with the likes of An American in Paris (1951), The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Singin’ in the Rain (1952). The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including best original score, and became the second-highest grossing musical, and film, of 1944.
In 1994, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry, and deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The film holds a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and it’s easy to see why - Judy Garland singing ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ by glittering lamplight is bound to stir even the most reluctant to the holiday spirit. So have yourself a merry little Christmas, and watch Meet Me in St. Louis.
Film Club - Interstellar
This month’s Film Club selection is out of this world! We're celebrating the 10th anniversary of a sci-fi masterpiece. How well do you know this interstellar adventure? Test your knowledge with our quiz and find out!
About Interstellar
Wormholes. Time dilation. Black Holes. These are the kind of high-minded scientific concepts Nolan puts front and centre in Interstellar – his 9th feature film. While he flirted with science fiction with Inception, it’s premise leans more into the fiction than science. But with Interstellar he dived headfirst into a world governed by real life scientific principles. Wormholes, time dilation, black holes; all of these concepts form the framework for the film’s narrative but are also firmly rooted in astrophysics - with the peer reviewed papers to prove it.
The film begins on a near future version of Earth that is in the process of a slow and boring apocalypse. Natural resources are running out, the crops are dying, and a new Dust Bowl has descended. Amidst this slow-motion extinction is Coop (Matthew McConaughey) – a pilot and engineer turned farmer. He’s recruited by the dying remnants of NASA to search for a new home for humanity, leaving his family behind to journey into the stars. It’s during this journey that Nolan flexes his science fiction muscles. This is no pulp sci fi movie from the 50s; it’s intricately designed and planned out so that every equation, every small adjustment in velocity, and every celestial body encountered, is rooted in real life scientific theory.
Nolan hired theoretical physicist Kip Thorne early in production to lay down the scientific law. A balance had to be struck between scientific accuracy, while retaining a level of accessibility and stone-cold spectacle for the audience. So, Kip established two guidelines: First, that nothing would violate established physical laws. Second, that all the wild speculations would spring from science and not from the fertile mind of a screenwriter. Nolan agreed.
To create the effects for the black hole, Thorne provided pages of theoretical equations to the visual effects team, forming the basis for a new CGI rendering software. Some frames took over 100 hours to render, all in all totalling over 800 terabytes of data. But did these efforts pay off? An Oscar in visual effects would suggest so. And in 2019 the first image of a black hole was created, bearing a striking resemblance to Nolan’s depiction five years earlier.
But with all this scientific rigour there’s a risk the human element gets lost. Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey was a key influence on this film – Han’s Zimmer’s score at time resembles the iconic music from Kubrick’s masterpiece, and the robot assistants bear a similarity to the monolith. But while 2001 seems to operate on a level above its human characters and the relationships between them, Interstellar relishes in its humanness.
Just like any good science fiction, the film uses it’s futuristic setting as a vessel to explore the thematic content bubbling beneath the surface. For the case of Interstellar these themes take the form of human connection. The film is one part space exploration, and another part an exploration into the relationship between a father and a daughter. A father who left his daughter so that humanity may find a new home, so that his daughter might escape a dying Earth. It’s during these deeply human moments that Interstellar shines, driven home by a pitch perfect performance by McConaughey.
He simultaneously plays the calm cool and collected mission commander, the caring and nurturing father figure, and the man who is stuck between the two. He knows when to play it understated, and when to let the emotions show. This is backed up by an impressive cast – Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain and Casey Affleck, as well as Nolan regular Micheal Caine, and a fresh faced Timothée Chalamet.
So, relish in the spectacle and precision of Nolan’s sci fi epic, but have the tissues on stand by for this deeply human odyssey into outer space. Buy Interstellar here
Film Club - Friday the 13th
This month’s Film Club was picked because a) it’s spooky season and b) we have a Friday falling on the 13th day of the month! How strong is your knowledge of this slasher classic? Take our quiz to find out!
About Friday the 13th
It’s a perfect summers day at Camp Crystal Lake, a cool breeze blows its way through the trees, the sun beams down on the water, the light shimmering in a way that practically begs you to dive in for a swim. The temperature? Warm. The vibes? Immaculate. The day? Friday the 13th...
Six camp counselors have arrived early to fix up the place and get it ready for use. But they were expecting seven. And by the time this idyllic summer day gives way to a stormy summer night, who knows how many will remain?
Friday the 13th is a bona fide slasher film. A group of overconfident, rebellious, and naive teenagers are stalked by a vicious killer. They’re gradually picked off one by one in ever more inventive and bloody deaths, until a final survivor faces the ultimate confrontation with the forces of evil. It’s well trodden ground, and in the 1980s slasher films were a dime a dozen, but only a handful have the legacy and longevity of Friday the 13th. Spawning 8 traditional sequels, one futuristic reimagining where the franchise’s villain - Jason Voorhhees - stalks the crew of an isolated space ship (Jason X). Another entry sees Jason face off against Freddy Kreuger from the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise (Freddy vs Jason), while another reboots the series in the 21st Century (Friday the 13th 2009). All of this from one low budget 90 minute flick from 1980.
So why does Friday the 13th have such a strong staying power within the public consciousness? Firstly, it’s a very simple film. It knows what its audience wants. They don’t want an elaborate and over complicated backstory to the killer, they don’t want tedious sub plots amongst the central characters, and they don’t want the film to take itself too seriously. They’re here for a good time, not a long time, and that’s exactly what Friday the 13th offers.
The film is essentially split into two halves: day and night. The day is spent establishing the setting and creating a fun atmosphere, but beneath the laughs is a lingering sense of doom. The mere mention of Camp Crystal Lake puts the fear of God into the eyes of the local townspeople. They call it ‘Camp Blood’, claim that it is ‘jinxed’ and that the place has a ‘death curse.’ Of course, the overconfident teenagers shrug this off, ‘I’m not afraid of ghosts.’ Once we arrive the perfect amount of time is spent hanging out with these characters. Each camp member is given their own distinct personality, and the dynamics between them become clear. Before you know it the sun is going down and the heavens have opened up. A thunderstorm, what better weather for a night of bloody murder.
What follows is an efficient stream of death scenes. This was 1980, and for a low budget film such as this, digital effects were out of the question. So director Sean S. Cunningham and his team had to rely on practical solutions. There’s no huge explosions or over-edited fight sequences, just simple yet effective murder scenes that use these practical methods to their fullest extent. A fake neck for an arrow to be stabbed through, a fake face to be impaled with an axe. The atmosphere building up to these scenes puts you in the exact mood Cunningham wants you to be in. Scared, to be sure, but with a lingering thrill, a morbid curiosity into how the next camp member is going to be picked off.
Friday the 13th is the perfect late night watch for this Halloween season, it will leave you chilled and thrilled, looking over your shoulder and getting your blood pumping. You’ll never look at an idyllic summer camp the same way again. So turn off the lights, grab the popcorn, and watch Friday the 13th here.
Film Club - Amadeus
Celebrating 40 years of the iconic Amadeus. Test your knowledge of this classic, with our with our Amadeus Quiz.
About Amadeus
‘He was my idol, Mozart, I can’t think of a time when I didn’t know his name’ - so begins Miloš Forman’s 1984 box-office hit, his sumptuous period drama Amadeus.
In late 18th century Vienna, the young and famous Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce) is undoubtedly a genius - an unserious, giggling, musically gifted genius. And Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham) simply cannot stand it. The story begins in 1823 and is told through the confession of an aged Salieri - once the Holy Roman Emperor’s esteemed court composer but now the self-proclaimed ‘saint of mediocrity’ - Salieri recounts his relationship with Mozart, from first meeting him in 1781, up until his untimely death. Having idolised Mozart since his own childhood, the older Salieri believes God is playing a cruel joke on him when he is met with an obscene and juvenile version of his childhood idol. After all, why would God bestow such gifts upon one so unworthy when Salieri’s religious and musical devotion is so apparent? Scorning God and fuelled by envy, Salieri vows to settle the score - and so unfolds Forman’s fantastical period drama.
Amadeus’ impression of 18th Century Vienna is a pastel delicacy; its gilt edges twinkle in the candlelight as sinister figures with ill intent lurk in the shadows. It is clear why the film took home the Oscar for Best Art Direction that year, one of eight awards won at the 1985 Academy Awards out of eleven nominations – including Best Costume Design, Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor. In total Amadeus received 53 award nominations (including Golden Globes, Academy Awards and BAFTAs), winning 40 of them. Notably, both Hulce and Abraham were nominated in the Best Actor category, a unique occurrence that has not been repeated since. Abraham famously stated in his acceptance speech, ‘There’s only one thing that’s missing for me tonight, and that is to have Tom Hulce standing by my side.’ It is, after all, the interplay between Hulce and Abraham in their depictions of Mozart and Salieri that drive Amadeus and form the heart of the film’s glittering legacy. In 1998, the American Film Institute ranked it 53rd on its 100 Years... 100 Movies list, and in 2019 it was chosen for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being ’culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.’
In Amadeus, Tom Hulce and F Murray Abraham become musicians; they play notes of innocence, hope, envy, grief, forgiveness and tragedy. The film unfolds with the necessary rhythm and rhyme until Forman’s fantastical biographical symphony is beating in your heart and ringing in your ears.
Film Club - The Wizard of Oz
Ready to test your knowledge of this ultimate classic? Test it with our The Wizard of Oz quiz!
About The Wizard Of Oz
A farm girl, a lion, a tin man, and a scarecrow walk into a bar, it’s not the start to a bad joke, but the setup to Victor Flemming’s 1939 classic - The Wizard of Oz.
Dorothy (Judy Garland) dreams of a better life, she dreams of a place where there’s no trouble, somewhere beyond the rain, somewhere over the rainbow. Her wish is granted when she’s swept up in the eye of a tornado and transported to the fantasy world of Oz. Accompanied by nothing but a straw basket and her trusty dog Toto - to which she famously confesses ‘I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore’ - she embarks on an adventure the likes of which audiences had never seen before. In order to return home she follows the yellow brick road to find the titular Wizard of Oz, along the way she meets a scarecrow (Ray Bolger) who needs a brain, a tin man (Jack Haley) who needs a heart, and a lion (Bert Lahr) who needs courage, all while pursued by the Wicked Witch of the West (Margeret Hamilton).
When Dorothy first opens the doors and steps into the land of Oz, the colourless sepia tint of the first twenty minutes is replaced by a kaleidoscopic mix of greens, reds, and yellows. The film was one of the first to use a 3-strip colouring technique, better known as technicolour, allowing the fantastical land of Oz to be realised to its fullest extent. Whether it be the fields of red poppies, the sprawling green meadows, or the iconic yellow brick road, the film doesn’t take colour for granted. Every shade was meticulously planned, with the art department spending almost a week to settle on the hue of the yellow brick road, and the silver slippers in the novel were swapped to the now famous ruby slippers to make use of technicolour. This swap obviously paid off, as the ruby slippers remain one of the most treasured and valuable pieces of movie memorabilia.
L. Frank Baum, the author of the original novel, used colour to emphasise the difference between Dorothy’s Kansas home and the magical world of Oz. The prairies are grey, the house is grey, the sky is grey, and even the grass is grey. Whereas Oz is green, full of luscious fruit and verdant meadows. Technicolour allowed this symbolism to be captured perfectly on film. This, alongside the iconic musical numbers, vivid imagery, and the impressive yet simple character designs, makes Victor Flemming’s 1939 film the definitive adaption of the novel. Sit back, put on your favourite pair of red footwear, and get ready to have your breath taken away by watching The Wizard of Oz here.
Film Club - The Mask
Ready to dive into the wild and whimsical world of The Mask? Test your knowledge with our The Mask quiz!
About The Mask
When he dons an ancient Nordic mask, Stanley Ipkiss (Carrey) moves at warp speed, knows your every desire, satisfies your every whim and dances like Fred Astaire, Gumby and Baryshnikov combined. He's s-s-s-smokin'!
Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz star in this story of a sweet, socially inept bank teller who discovers a mask that transforms him into a superhero ... but one whom you may not want to call for help.
June Film Club - The Notebook
Test your knowledge of this romantic classic with our The Notebook quiz!
About The Notebook
In Seabrook, North Carolina in the 1940s, teenaged debutante Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams) and local boy Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) spend one passionate, carefree summer together and deeply in love. But when the summer ends, war and duty separate the young couple.
Today, an elderly man (James Garner) visits a nursing home to read from his notebook to a woman (Gena Rowlands) whose memory is fading. As he spins a tale of two young lovers with their whole lives before them, his beloved Allie relives a long-ago passion that has never died, an unbreakable bond between two ordinary people rendered extraordinary by the strength, power and beauty of true love.
Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, author of A Walk to Remember and Message in a Bottle.
Watch the ten minute preview of The Notebook here!
May Film Club - Mad Max: Fury Road
Test your knowledge of this post-apocalyptic epic with our Mad Max: Fury Road quiz!
About Mad Max: Fury Road
An explosive assemblance of guns, engines, noise, and FURY, Mad Max: Fury Road is gripping from the very start. Mad Max (Tom Hardy), a lone survivor imprisoned by the warlord Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne), makes a leap for survival onto the bandwagon of Imperator Furiosa’s (Charlize Theron) War Rig. The two rebels, alongside Immortan Joe’s wives (Zoë Kravitz, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Riley Keough, Abbey Lee, Courtney Eaton) journey across the desert in an attempt to reach Furiosa’s childhood homeland. But, outraged by the loss of his most valuable possessions, Joe and his band (literally) of crazed fighters follow the still-warm desert dust left by the War Rig in pursuit of Furiosa and Joe’s wives.
The post-production edit is an essential stage of any movie, but no more so than for the action genre. It is where that fast-paced, adrenaline-inducing atmosphere can be perfected. Unlike most action films where a ‘chaos cinema’ approach is taken, which is where numerous frenzied shots are thrown into the frame, Mad Max: Fury Road, contrary to its name, was more orderly and streamlined in its editing style. Using ‘eye trace’ and ‘crosshair framing’ techniques during shooting, George Miller, the Director, ensured the most important visual information was kept in the central frame. This meant the viewer could quickly understand what was happening in the scene, in turn, making it easier for the Editor, Margaret Sirex to amplify and accelerate scenes without worrying about overloading the viewer with too much visual content. With over 480 hours of footage to edit, utilising these techniques allowed Sirex to create an action film that flowed smoothly and augmented the storyline whilst fully immersing the viewer in the action.
The film received ten Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Cinematography, and won six of these nominations with Margaret Sirex winning Best Film Editing. The title has become synonymous with the action genre with several critics calling it one of the greatest action films ever made. It has been featured in numerous ‘best films’ lists including The New York Times’ “The 10 Most Influential Films of the Decade” and Wired’s “The 24 Absolute Best Moves of the 2010s”. So why not strap in and return for the exhilarating ride down Fury Road by watching the film here.
Watch the ten minute preview of Mad Max: Fury Road here!
April Film Club - Miss Congeniality
Test your knowledge of this Sandra Bullock classic with our Miss Congeniality film club quiz!
About Miss Congeniality
Gracie Hart (Sandra Bullock), the FBI’s resident thick-skinned, hardy, tomboy undergoes a miraculous transformation as she goes undercover at the 75th annual Miss United States beauty pageant. With the help of Victor Melling’s (Sir Michael Caine) fairy godfather abilities, Hart gets a makeover many would dream of! She learns how to dress like a pageant queen, walk as if she was gliding, and talk with perfect annunciation – ‘Gracie Lou Freebush’ a.k.a Miss New Jersey is prepped and ready to catch a terrorist.
As pageant proceedings get underway, Gracie must get close to the other contestants and try to uncover the identity of the terrorist. Although she previously thought of the pageant participants as superficial air-heads, Gracie comes to realise that she may have been too quick to judge these women who all dream of ‘world peace’. Gracie’s skills in glass harp playing and self-defence (thanks to the assistance of her FBI colleague Eric Matthews (Benjamin Bratt)), help her make it through to the final round. This is where the threat of a bomb reaches its pinnacle and Gracie and Eric must race against time to diffuse the situation before anyone is hurt.
Interestingly when Sir Michael Caine was preparing to play the role of beauty pageant guru, Victor Melling, he drew on his wife’s experience in the beauty pageant world to help him perfect the role. Shakira Caine was the runner-up at the Miss Guayana contest and in 1967 came third at the Miss World competition!
Miss Congeniality is synonymous with April 25th because of Cheryl’s answer to the ‘perfect date’ question. Not only was the answer supposedly used in a real-life beauty pageant, but the director, Donald Petrie chose to include the date to memorialise his wife’s birthday which is April 25th.
The film grossed over $212m worldwide and Bullock received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress (Motion Picture Comedy or Musical).
Miss Congeniality has continued to delight audiences with its comedic, light-hearted, yet also inspirational message that a person’s intelligence and character transcends superficial attributes and there is value in daring to look deeper.
Watch Gracie’s physical and emotional transformation from the very beginning here.
Watch the ten minute preview of Miss Congeniality here!
March Film Club - The Matrix
Test your knowledge of this Sci-Fi masterpiece with our The Matrix film club quiz!
About The Matrix
If you were offered the red pill or the blue pill which would you choose?
Neo (Keanu Reeves), a computer hacker already suspicious of the world he lives in, takes the red pill and is shown ‘the truth’ by Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) – that intelligent machines have trapped humans inside a computer-generated alternate reality known as the Matrix. Neo joins a group of noir-dressed leather rebels consisting of Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving and Joe Pantoliano, in the fight to free the rest of humanity and destroy the Matrix.
Celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year, the concept of The Matrix was conceived by The Wachowskis at a time when the Internet was becoming more sophisticated and integrated into society. They were always fascinated by mythology, alternate realities and perceptions of the world and we can clearly see how this formed the foundation of The Matrix. The Wachowskis said, ‘we began with the premise that every single thing we believe in today and every single physical item is actually a total fabrication created by an electronic universe.’ This harrowing thought, augmented by innovative camera techniques, Asian-style wire fighting sequences, and comic-book inspired set design, brought a unique take on the sci-fi action-thriller genre, which proved extremely popular.
The Wachowskis were intrigued by Eastern style fighting choreography that used wires to create more controlled and stylised stunts. With the help of Yuen Wo Ping, ‘one of the top Hong Kong stunt specialists in Kung Fu and wire-stunt work’, the cast spent four months training and learning Kung Fu before filming began. Alongside this, to give the action scenes a unique and dynamic feel, a ‘flo-mo’ process was used, which gave The Wachowskis control over actors’ movements in a shot. After filming a scene conventionally, they scanned the images and using a laser-guided tracking system, they planned the path the camera would take in the final scene. Then they placed still cameras along this path, which would take a single still image. The result was a continuous strip of still images in a similar vein to how an animation is created. This meant The Wachowskis could speed up and slow down isolated parts of a character’s movement without losing resolution.
The film was highly popular grossing over $470m at the global box office, the highest for Warner Bros. in 1999. It was extremely successful at The Academy Awards, winning all four categories it was nominated for: Best Visual Effects, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, and Best Sound Editing. Then in 2012, the Library of Congress selected The Matrix for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for the ‘cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance’ that the film held.
So, in celebration of 25 years since The Wachowskis visionary masterpiece first came to fruition, watch The Matrix from the beginning here.
Watch the Ten Minute Preview of The Matrix here!
February Film Club - Crazy Rich Asians
Test your knowledge of this groundbreaking rom-com with our Crazy Rich Asians Film Club Quiz!
About Crazy Rich Asians
Imagine dating someone whose family happens to be one of the wealthiest in Singapore but you only discover this the night before you’re due to meet the family for the first time. Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) finds herself in this situation when she travels to Singapore, unexpectedly in first-class, with her boyfriend Nick Young (Henry Golding). Fortunately for Rachel, good friend Peik Lin Goh (Awkwafina) is aware of the Young’s status in the East and preps her to pass the trials of the family. As Rachel spends more time in the company of Young’s social circle, she discovers just how different Singapore is compared to America – status, position, and wealth are the currency which people’s opinions are founded on. Crazy Rich Asians is a beautiful story about fighting for the person you love amidst the beliefs, opinions, and discernment of those on the periphery of the relationship.
The film was hugely significant upon release as it featured, for the first time in 25 years, a predominantly all-Asian cast. It was extremely important to the Director, Jon M. Chu, and Kevin Kwan, author of the book which the film is based on, to rewrite the narrative of Asian representation in the film industry. Asian characters have previously been sidelined to the stereotypical roles of ‘kung-fu master, chopstick-yielding exchange student, or quiet back-of-the-class follower’. In a refreshing breakaway from this, Crazy Rich Asians gives each character the space to display their intricacies – their insecurities, beliefs, and relationships.
Fashion is an integral element of the film, not only in depicting a lavish lifestyle that is such a huge contrast from Rachel’s New York life, but also in symbolising each character’s nuances. Colour palettes and the structure of pieces are used to convey emotions such as vulnerability and power, whilst the juxtaposition of different characters’ outfits is used to subtly communicate unspoken sentiments between them.
Food is also an essential part of the film with lavish banquets being meticulously crafted and actually consumed on set! There was a team of 50 cooks, food carvers and assistants on set and it is said that $9,000 was paid for live crabs to be used in one of the banquet scenes!
The film grossed a total of $239mill at the global box office with an array of awards nominations including Golden Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress – Musical or Comedy for Constance Wu.
So, in celebration of the Year of the Dragon, immerse yourself in the lavish lifestyles of these wealthy Singaporeans by watching Crazy Rich Asians here.
Watch the Ten Minute Preview of Crazy Rich Asians here!
January Film Club - The NeverEnding Story
Test your knowledge of this 80s classic with our The NeverEnding Story Film Club Quiz!
About The NeverEnding Story
Watch The Neverending Story this January and accompany Bastian (Barret Oliver), a bullied schoolboy who takes refuge in an ancient novel, to the mystical land of Fantasia where the impending arrival of The Nothing threatens to destroy Fantasia for good. Atreyu (Noah Hathaway) is their last hope. He must embark on a seemingly impossible journey to get to the Southern Oracle, where he shall discover the key to saving all of Fantasia. Along the way he is helped by an eclectic group of individuals but will their efforts pay off?
The Neverending Story is based on Michael Ende’s best-selling German novel and at the time of release it was one of the most expensive films to be made in the German film industry with a budget of $27m! Despite being classed as a children’s film, the story intertwines deeper themes which speak to the symbiotic nature of life and death. The Nothing can be likened to the impending fear of emptiness and loss of purpose which can come from a loved one’s death. It is through Atreyu’s battle against The Nothing and Bastian’s acceptance of his mother’s death that we realise the finality of death gives life purpose. The light replaces the darkness and life’s cyclical nature becomes a never-ending story.
The Director, Wolfgang Petersen, was quoted saying, ‘the whole idea of the film is that we need imagination, dreams, wishes, and creativity to fight against all these dangerous problems in the world’. So, click here to accompany Bastian and Atreyu on a journey of rediscovery as they battle to save Fantasia from The Nothing.
Watch the trailer for The NeverEnding Story here!