Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver (2018)

An orphan boy in search of his origin. A young princess held prisoner in deadly Dragon City. Jim and his friend Luke discovering mysterious lands on the quest of a lifetime.

Director:

Dennis Gansel

Writers:

Dirk Ahner, Andrew Birkin

Stars:

Michael Herbig, Hon Ping Tang, Uwe Ochsenknecht

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Michael Herbig	...	Nepumuk (voice)
Hon Ping Tang	...	Guard Lieutenant
Uwe Ochsenknecht	...	König Alfons
Henning Baum	...	Lukas
Christoph Maria Herbst	...	Herr Ärmel
Milan Peschel	...	Tur Tur
Thomas Fritsch	...	Erzähler (voice)
Rick Kavanian	...	Die Wilde 13
Volker Michalowski	...	Postbote
Annette Frier	...	Frau Waas
Judy Winter	...	Frau Mahlzahn (voice)
Darryl Quon	...	Langer Bonze
Ozzie Yue	...	Pi Pa Po
Paul Courtenay Hyu	...	Wise Man IV
Leighanne Esperanzate	...	Prinzessin Li Si

Storyline

An orphan boy in search of his origin. A young princess held prisoner in deadly Dragon City. Jim and his friend Luke discovering mysterious lands on the quest of a lifetime.

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Plot Keywords:

magic | transformation | based on novel | character name in title | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Family | Fantasy

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Did You Know?

Trivia

In the book Jim can't write or read. He manages to scribble his name, but other than that, he relies on crude drawings. In the movie, Jim can already read and write from the start.

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Quotes

Lukas: You'll become a great explorer.
Jim Knopf: I rather be an engine driver, just like you.
Lukas: Engine drivers only follow the tracks that were found by explorers.

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Crazy Credits

While the final closing credits are rolling the words "Jim Button" are moving slowly in the background.

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Connections

Followed by Jim Button and the Wild 13 (2020)

User Reviews

Perfect in Every Way!

Michael Ende's "Jim Knopf" books were among my favorite books as a child, and of course I had watched the puppet series by "Augsburger Puppenkiste" and still listen to the wonderful audio book today. So, as a decades-old fan, I was sceptical when this real life adaptation came up, but now that I've finally seen it, I can say: This might be the sweetest movie I've ever seen, and it made my heart jump with joy from beginning to end!

Everything about it is perfect, from the script to the actors, from the sets to the music. They really managed to capture the essence of the books, dusting the story off a little bit without losing the enchanting atmosphere Michael Ende had created in the original story. Even the unavoidable romance which even stories for children seem to need these days was not annoying or awkward but refreshingly natural and lovely.

The sets, especially Morrowland and the different versions of Emma, are super cute, and all the actors are perfectly cast. Eden Gough is the sweetest Png Pong you could imagine, and Milan Peschel's Tur Tur touched me to tears! Solomon Gordon is such a natural, and his smile & laughter are simply contageous. Oh, and I love that Thomas Fritsch was chosen as the German narrator, I could listen to his voice for hours.

Last but not least, the soundtrack played a big part in making this movie so magical. As someone who had already enjoyed "Wickie und die Starken Männer", I recognized Ralf Wengenmayr as the composer right away, and once again, he has done a fantastic job creating atmosphere and joy with music! I still had a smile on my face hours after I had finished watching this movie, it made me so happy.

I can not wait for the sequel!

Details

Official Sites:

official Facebook page Official site

Country:

Germany

Language:

English German

Release Date:

8 November 2019 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver

Filming Locations:

Studio Babelsberg, Berlin, Germany

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$12,699,718

Company Credits

Production Co:

Malao Film, Rat Pack Filmproduktion, Studio Babelsberg

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1