"They look like big, good, strong hands, don't they? I always thought that's what they were." Quoth, the Rock Biter, nevermore, nevermore... This line of dialogue from the magnanimous creature of stone is singlehandedly one of the most poignant and reflective moments of the entire film. It's here that The NeverEnding Story truly becomes the coming-of-age tale it always meant to be. While the initial build-up is fantastically driven by everything a child might find interest in, it's this third act's sequence of events which convey all of the deep-seated worries and internal conflicts of a maturing child. As the Great Nothing makes its merciless way through the land, the Rock Biter confronts Atreyu with the reality of failure and hopelessness, shortly before allowing himself to be taken by the unstoppable force of nature. As far as present-day children's films go, darker themes are typically avoided or vaguely implied. However, during The Neverending Story's time, such elements were addressed head-on in surprisingly blunt ways. Be it the aforementioned Rock Biter's monologue, the bloody execution of villain Gmork, or even the nude Sphinxes which kill those of weak fortitude, The NeverEnding Story declined to prance around such subjects lightly and is all the better because of it.