The NeverEnding Story (1984) review

While running from typical 80's bullies, motherless child Bastian (Barret Oliver) accidentally sneaks into an antique book store, where he "borrows" a mysterious book - which so happens to be called The NeverEnding Story! - and, as he's reading it, "enters" a strange world where an entity called The Nothing is threatening to decimate all of creation unless young hero Atreyu (Noah Hathaway) can save the life of the Empress (Tami Stronach).  For being a strictly for-the-kids flick - you know, the making-it-up-as-we-go-along type - it has some nice visual effects (for its time), with the animatronic creatures - which include "wish dragon" Falkor and murderous wolf Gmork - all oddly fascinating to look at, as if they came from a Chuck E. Cheese straight out of hell.  The "message" of it is that kiddos should put down the game controller and read more ... which wasn't going to happen thirty years ago and certainly isn't happening today.