The NeverEnding Story III

The NeverEnding Story III: Return to Fantasia
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Peter MacDonald
Produced by	Heinz Bibo Dieter Geissler Tim Hampton Klaus Kaehler Harry Nap Harold Lee Tichenor
Screenplay by	Jeff Lieberman
Story by	Karin Howard
Based on	The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
Starring	Jason James Richter Melody Kay Jack Black Freddie Jones Julie Cox Tony Robinson
Music by	Peter Wolf
Cinematography	Robin Vidgeon
Editing by	Michael Bradsell Jim Roddan
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Family Entertainment (Germany) Miramax Films (USA)
Release date(s)	October 27, 1994 (1994-10-27) (Germany) February 2, 1996 (1996-02-02) (United States: limited)
Running time	95 minutes
Country	Germany United States
Language	English

The NeverEnding Story III: Return to Fantasia (also known as: The NeverEnding Story III: Escape from Fantasia) is a 1994 film and the second sequel to the fantasy film The NeverEnding Story (following the first sequel The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter). It starred Jason James Richter as the principal character, Bastian Bux, and Jack Black in one of his early roles as the protagonist's tormentor, the school bully.

Plot

The mountain of destiny looms before us as we overhear the Old Man of Wandering Mountain reading from a large book. Using a writing stylus he begins to record a prophecy of a day when 'The Nasty' will arrive in Fantasia. He goes on to describe the savior of "Extraordinary Courage".

Bastian Balthazar Bux has begun a new chapter in his life. His father has re-married, and now Bastian has a new step mother, a woman named Jane, whose daughter Nicole is displeased at having a new family. Bastian has also started high school, where he has become victim to the Nasties, a quintet of bullies led by Slip (Jack Black). He manages to get them expelled by the janitor after they trap him in the boiler room. He flees to the library where he is surprised to find Mr. Koreander and The Neverending Story. The Nasties locate him, but he uses the book to escape to Fantasia.

Bastian arrives in Fantasia, where he is reunited with old friends Falkor and the gnomes Engywook and Urgl. However, the Nasties find the Neverending Story and use their cruelty to bombard the land with fireballs and a storm. Meeting a walking tree troll named Bark Troll, Bastian and the group of his friends head for the Wandering Mountains to speak with the Childlike Empress. She asks Bastian to find the Neverending Story with the Auryn. Falkor, Barky, the gnomes and the Rock Biter's son, Junior, help him; a "wish overload" causes the group to scatter across Earth. Barky ends up in a conifer forest somewhere; Falkor saves Junior from falling to his death near Mount Rushmore; and the gnomes end up in Nome, Alaska. Bastian locates Falkor and Junior. Falkor flies off to find the others while Junior stays at Bastian's house. Rock Biter sadly informs his wife that Junior is gone and the effects of the Nasties cause them to fall out.

Nicole takes the Auryn from Bastian's room, discovers its wishing abilities, and takes it for a shopping trip to the local mall. Bark Troll arrives at Bastian's house disguised as a garden plant, while the Gnomes are mailed in a box. The reunited group go to the mall to find Nicole so they can get the Auryn back. The Nasties find it first, whereupon giant crustacean creatures appear in Fantasia to kill the Empress and her advisors. Everyone in the mall begins to turn to evil, including Mr. Koreander and Bastian's parents. Nicole runs away and reveals to Bastian outside that her father was abusive and eventually divorced Jane. Bastian is struck by lightning, and begins to succumb to the cruel effects of the Nasties, but Nicole saves him. The two rush back to the mall where all the Fantasians are being held captive by the Nasties. Bastian manages to retrieve both the Auryn and the book and defeats the Nasties with a range of fighting moves he wished for.

The Fantasians are sent back to Fantasia, which is restored to its former magnificence. Bastian and Nicole manage to keep their parents from divorcing, while Junior is reunited with his parents. Nicole and Bastian return to school the next day and find Bastian turned the Nasties into friendly school students. Bastian returns the Neverending Story to Mr. Koreander, who tells him that the story is not over yet.

Cast

• Jason James Richter - Bastian Bux, the main protagonist.
• Melody Kay - Nicole
• Jack Black - Slip, the leader of the Nasties, and the main antagonist.
• Freddie Jones - Coreander
• Julie Cox - The Childlike Empress
• Moya Brady - Urgl
• Tony Robinson - Engywook
• Tracey Ellis - Jane Bux
• Kevin McNulty - Barney Bux
• Frederick Warder (voice: Gary Martin) - Rock Chewer
• William Todd-Jones (voice: Mac McDonald) - Mrs. Rock Chewer
• Dave Forman (voice: Gary Martin) - Rock Chewer Jr.
• Gorden Robertson - Falkor
• Kaefan Shaw - Bark Troll

Reception and popular culture

The film received overwhelmingly negative reviews. Movie-vault.com gave the film 1 out of 10, stating: "This movie has removed any kind of magic the original movie had", concluding "There is not a single redeeming value about this movie. If you see a copy of this movie, BURN IT!"^[1] Variety stated : "The Neverending Story lives up to its title in the worst way possible with this third outing, a charmless, desperate reworking of the franchise that might just as well be subtitled Bastian Goes to High School.".

The film was mocked on an episode of the Web comedy series The Nostalgia Critic. After watching the film, the title character is so disgusted by it that he destroys the DVD with a crowbar in a fit of rage.

References

1. ^ "The NeverEnding Story III: Escape from Fantasia". Movie-vault.com. http://www.movie-vault.com/reviews/the-neverending-story-iii-escape-from-fantasia/. Retrieved July 3, 2010. 

External links

• The NeverEnding Story III at the Internet Movie Database
• The NeverEnding Story III at AllRovi
• The NeverEnding Story III at Rotten Tomatoes