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NeverEnding Story: Hybrid Cut, The
Updated
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Genre:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1984
Original Running Time:
101
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
101
Time Cut:
6
Time Added:
6
Subtitles Available?
Available in HD?
Additional Links:
Brief Synopsis:
Mixes elements of the two released versions to give viewers a new take on this eighties classic.
Intention:
As is probably the case for most viewers I first saw the shorter International Cut, widely-available on blu-ray but with disappointing picture quality (image softness, excessive gate weave, weird colour timing etc). I had always been interested in seeing the longer original German version and finally bought it after it was released on blu-ray newly restored, and while I found the viewing experience overall better (a massive improvement in picture quality for one thing) I missed certain elements from the version I had seen before. I consider this Cut my ideal hybrid of the two official ones, and hope that others find it interesting.
Other Sources:
• Die Unendliche Geschichte - 2019 blu-ray
• The NeverEnding Story - 30th Anniversary blu-ray
• The NeverEnding Story - 30th Anniversary blu-ray
Special Thanks:
Huge thanks to Dwight Fry for reviewing my edit, providing assistance and making invaluable suggestions for improvements!
Release Information:
Digital
Editing Details:
The International Cut derived items are labelled TNS (The NeverEnding Story) and German Cut correspondingly DUG (Die Unendliche Geschichte). TNS is mainly used as audio source and for shot reference, the very occasional footage used is adjusted to try and match DUG as best as possible. DUG provides an English language track nearly identical to that in TNS, only a couple of noticeable differences besides the absence of any Giorgio Moroder music.
TNS footage speeded up by 0.1% from 23.976024 FPS to match DUG 24 FPS
TNS footage speeded up by 0.1% from 23.976024 FPS to match DUG 24 FPS
Cuts and Additions:
• Added FanEdit disclaimer and personal plate.
• Added Warner Brothers vanity plate from TNS.
• Extracted English language TNS text and pasted onto black background to resemble those from DUG (removing gate weave as a bonus), added in Tilo Pruckner’s credit from DUG at proper place.
• Retain Klaus Doldinger DUG title music in lieu of TNS song, combined with absence of coloured clouds this is more fitting to put us into Bastian’s mind as he dreams of his mother
• Used TNS shots from Bastian seeing the book to Coreander finding his note, to keep onscreen text English. Slowed down the tilt to the note in order to make room for a little of the DUG music that plays as the scene ends.
• Replaced audio of Rockbither, Nighthob and Teeny Weeny in the forest with that from TNS to avoid the latter’s (in my opinion) distracting accent of the dubbed voice in DUG.
• Recut DUG footage as Ivory Tower is introduced to play to TNS audio with Moroder theme (DUG music here is a variation on Happy Flight, commonly used throughout).
• Added three of the four TNS cutaway shots during Cairon’s speech (one is duplicated later in both versions).
• Rearranged DUG footage from Atreyu riding out to the reveal of Gmork so it closer matches TNS, find the flow more natural (all riding scenes are followed by Gmork rather than broken into two sections), kept DUG score so needed to repeat a middle section. Decided to retain the DUG soundtrack (same piece as TNS but arranged differently), a consequence is that the DUG accent of Teeny Weeny is present but is not so distracting under the music.
• Used TNS audio over scene of Atreyu and Artax in the clearing, it adds some nice music over the scene where there was none before.
• Added four TNS shots to show the English (rather than German) titled book in the attic after Bastian throws it down.
• Added TNS shot of Falkor’s reflection in the water just before he dives in search of the Auryn, shortened following DUG shot to match TNS equivalent (believed originally done so to avoid model drifting and spoiling the effect shot) and played TNS soundtrack as Falkor searches for the Auryn.
• Reinstated Moroder music as Atreyu and Falkor approach the Ivory Tower (and replaced a warped frame with an identical following one when cutting back to the Tower after Bastian bites the apple).
• Kept TNS credits with accompanying song, perfectly appropriate with the uplifting ending.
• Added Warner Brothers vanity plate from TNS.
• Extracted English language TNS text and pasted onto black background to resemble those from DUG (removing gate weave as a bonus), added in Tilo Pruckner’s credit from DUG at proper place.
• Retain Klaus Doldinger DUG title music in lieu of TNS song, combined with absence of coloured clouds this is more fitting to put us into Bastian’s mind as he dreams of his mother
• Used TNS shots from Bastian seeing the book to Coreander finding his note, to keep onscreen text English. Slowed down the tilt to the note in order to make room for a little of the DUG music that plays as the scene ends.
• Replaced audio of Rockbither, Nighthob and Teeny Weeny in the forest with that from TNS to avoid the latter’s (in my opinion) distracting accent of the dubbed voice in DUG.
• Recut DUG footage as Ivory Tower is introduced to play to TNS audio with Moroder theme (DUG music here is a variation on Happy Flight, commonly used throughout).
• Added three of the four TNS cutaway shots during Cairon’s speech (one is duplicated later in both versions).
• Rearranged DUG footage from Atreyu riding out to the reveal of Gmork so it closer matches TNS, find the flow more natural (all riding scenes are followed by Gmork rather than broken into two sections), kept DUG score so needed to repeat a middle section. Decided to retain the DUG soundtrack (same piece as TNS but arranged differently), a consequence is that the DUG accent of Teeny Weeny is present but is not so distracting under the music.
• Used TNS audio over scene of Atreyu and Artax in the clearing, it adds some nice music over the scene where there was none before.
• Added four TNS shots to show the English (rather than German) titled book in the attic after Bastian throws it down.
• Added TNS shot of Falkor’s reflection in the water just before he dives in search of the Auryn, shortened following DUG shot to match TNS equivalent (believed originally done so to avoid model drifting and spoiling the effect shot) and played TNS soundtrack as Falkor searches for the Auryn.
• Reinstated Moroder music as Atreyu and Falkor approach the Ivory Tower (and replaced a warped frame with an identical following one when cutting back to the Tower after Bastian bites the apple).
• Kept TNS credits with accompanying song, perfectly appropriate with the uplifting ending.
User reviews
13 reviews
Overall rating
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
9.9(13)
Audio Editing
9.5(13)
Visual Editing
10.0(13)
Narrative
9.9(13)
Enjoyment
9.8(13)
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Overall rating
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
Strong recommend. I've only watched the German cut once before, but the international cut (or rather, the version of the international cut recorded off the TV onto a VHS tape in the 80s) is pretty much burned into my brain. So while it was interesting to see what was different in the German cut, and I liked the extra bits here and there, my inner child still dreamt of the international cut. This edit is a nice mix between the two and will most likely be my preferred copy for future viewing. Smooth editing, great experience.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
H
(Updated: March 31, 2023)
Overall rating
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
9.0
So this edit was quite something! You must understand that I am someone who grew up with the international cut of the movie, I've never actually seen the German cut before so quite a few things in this cut were new and a surprise to me.
In terms of audio and video quality, I think this was top tier. The image quality is the clearest I've seen out of other versions of the movie, puts the official releases to shame. The audio quality is also great, you get to hear the painful groans of Gmork clearly in this one along with the actual name Bastian calls out to save the Empress which is heard a lot more clearly and can be made out here than what could ever be heard in the international cut.
In terms of visual editing, I never noticed any cuts or glitches at all. Same goes for the audio editing, it was all seamless and parts that cut abruptly are just how the official releases had it also, so zero issues on that front. With all the extra editing of visual and audio, it didn't alter the narrative or drastically change it one bit, it all flowed nicely and I had no issues in that regard.
My enjoyment is slightly lowered from a 10 to a 9. This is not actually a fault of the editor, it's actually an issue I personally have since I grew up with the international cut. There are certain parts that opted for the German version (namely the opening credits being black instead of the awesome visuals we get in the opening credits of the international cut, and changed audio to the German audio in the Atreyu riding the horse montages). Both of these things always stuck with me throughout my enjoyment of the international cut and seeing these replaced made my heart yearn to have those things back. But granted the purpose of this new cut was to give the international cut a more German flavor so I can't really fault it.
I do recommend this edit, quite a few scenes are longer and they put the international cut to shame for making the scenes shorter than they actually are. I would say that this particular cut is 95% better than the original movie, but this is for me personally. You might watch this cut and find it 100% superior to the original, and I absolutely could not fault you for thinking that.
In terms of audio and video quality, I think this was top tier. The image quality is the clearest I've seen out of other versions of the movie, puts the official releases to shame. The audio quality is also great, you get to hear the painful groans of Gmork clearly in this one along with the actual name Bastian calls out to save the Empress which is heard a lot more clearly and can be made out here than what could ever be heard in the international cut.
In terms of visual editing, I never noticed any cuts or glitches at all. Same goes for the audio editing, it was all seamless and parts that cut abruptly are just how the official releases had it also, so zero issues on that front. With all the extra editing of visual and audio, it didn't alter the narrative or drastically change it one bit, it all flowed nicely and I had no issues in that regard.
My enjoyment is slightly lowered from a 10 to a 9. This is not actually a fault of the editor, it's actually an issue I personally have since I grew up with the international cut. There are certain parts that opted for the German version (namely the opening credits being black instead of the awesome visuals we get in the opening credits of the international cut, and changed audio to the German audio in the Atreyu riding the horse montages). Both of these things always stuck with me throughout my enjoyment of the international cut and seeing these replaced made my heart yearn to have those things back. But granted the purpose of this new cut was to give the international cut a more German flavor so I can't really fault it.
I do recommend this edit, quite a few scenes are longer and they put the international cut to shame for making the scenes shorter than they actually are. I would say that this particular cut is 95% better than the original movie, but this is for me personally. You might watch this cut and find it 100% superior to the original, and I absolutely could not fault you for thinking that.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
A
Overall rating
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
Just watched this edit with my family and we all enjoyed it very much. I thought the cuts between the international version and the German version flowed together nicely. The visual and audio edits were seamless.
Speaking to the overall narrative, I think the editorial choices of what to include from each version did improve the film overall. My favorite part was the decision to use the opening from the German cut. For me this opening provides more emotional weight to what Bastian is experiencing as well as greater insight into his relationship with his father. I also really like the German score that accompanies the beginning as well.
Overall I would definitely recommend this version. It’s beautifully done and I think the video transfer of the German cut is worth a watch just by itself. Thank you for your work in making this edit!
Speaking to the overall narrative, I think the editorial choices of what to include from each version did improve the film overall. My favorite part was the decision to use the opening from the German cut. For me this opening provides more emotional weight to what Bastian is experiencing as well as greater insight into his relationship with his father. I also really like the German score that accompanies the beginning as well.
Overall I would definitely recommend this version. It’s beautifully done and I think the video transfer of the German cut is worth a watch just by itself. Thank you for your work in making this edit!
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
Z
Overall rating
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
This is my preferred version now. I didn't notice the cuts and changes, I was just enjoying the movie. Excellent work.
R
Overall rating
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
9.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
A great combination of the original German cut and the US cut that I grew up with. I think that the longer edits and original music not included in the US edit often add more depth and emotional weight to the story.
Paranoid Android ties these two edits together seamlessly. Any critical feedback from me is more around personal preference than about errors in the edit itself.
This made me see one of my childhood favorite films in a new light, and I appreciate it!
Paranoid Android ties these two edits together seamlessly. Any critical feedback from me is more around personal preference than about errors in the edit itself.
This made me see one of my childhood favorite films in a new light, and I appreciate it!
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
C