I notice that the term “nostalgia” has become something of a buzz word lately. Countless movies and TV shows have been made in the past few years to try and bring back things that were loved by children of the ’80s and ’90s, partly to bring the craze to a new generation and mostly to get money from their parents. But in my opinion, the best family films are the ones that evoke a different kind of nostalgia in older viewers: The kind that brings back memories of how great it was to be a kid.

Show me a movie that effectively captures what it was like when we were endlessly imaginative and playful, unknowing of just how big the world was or how vulnerable we were, and I’ll show you a film that viewers of any age can enjoy. Where the Wild Things Are and Toy Story 3 are two recent examples, but I’d say that The NeverEnding Story — released back in ’84 — fits that description as well.

This movie is about something that all of us have gone through in some way or another: Finding a book or a story that deeply affected us. Who hasn’t dreamed of being on the Polar Express or the Starship Enterprise? Where is the person who never cheered on some imaginary character or cried over a fictional death? Who among us has never been so moved by a work of fiction that its message and characters changed our lives? This is a universal moment of growing up that The NeverEnding Story depicts in an ingenious fashion. It portrays the reading experience of young Bastian with panache and heart, escalating until he is given the chance to affect the book directly, thus living out the fantasy of anyone who has ever heard a story.

Another great thing about this movie is in just how heightened it is. Even the “real world” segments of the film are exaggerated to show how boring or threatening they must be from a child’s point of view (seriously, how many grade schools have dusty attics filled with human remains and mounted animals?). But of course, this movie is most famous for that amazing world of Fantasia, and for good reason.

Fantasia is supposed to be the ultimate wonderland; a place made of humanity’s hopes and dreams. Naturally, such a setting demands to be populated by the creations of a great imagination and Wolfgang Petersen does not disappoint. Though the flight segments are set against some rather mundane stock footage for scenery, the visuals are otherwise exemplary. There are some amazing creatures and settings to be seen here, all depicted with production design and special effects that remain impressive even by today’s standards. What’s more, several of Fantasia’s denizens — most notably Falkor and the Rockbiter — are instantly memorable and lovable in their own right.

The phenomenal score (including the ’80s-tastic title song) do a lot to help this movie, though the sound design needed a bit more work. Seriously, when the empress’ name is such a huge story point and the movie makes it totally inaudible, that’s a pretty big problem. On a similar note, I will admit that the climax of the film was seriously overdone, even if it did revolve around a concept that’s understandably hard for our protagonist and the audience to wrap our heads around. It’s still better than Artax’s death, which was milked for so much drama that the scenery practically ate itself.

There isn’t much to talk about in the way of acting, considering how few humans are in the cast. Barrett Oliver doesn’t show much acting talent as Bastian, but he still makes the role sympathetic and he does so little that it doesn’t do too much harm. Noah Hathaway (who’s apparently one-quarter Mohican, by the way) shows a surprising amount of energy and strength as the Native American hero, Atreyu. Tami Stronach is slightly off-putting, but I suppose that adds to the Child Empress as an otherworldly character. Thomas Hill appears as a book merchant, perfectly delivering a wise and mysterious old mentor within his brief amount of screen time. I’d also like to mention Bastian’s dad — played by Gerald McRaney — who shows a practical attitude toward moderation in dreaming. I found that to be very refreshing for the film’s token “anti-imagination” character.

The NeverEnding Story can be a cheesy film at times, but at 93 minutes long, the film hardly overstays its welcome. The film is still a kids’ classic, with unparalleled visuals wrapped around a heartfelt celebration of reading and the discovery of a truly great story. If you haven’t already seen this film, check it out. And while you’re at it, do your best to pretend that the sequels never existed.