Yes, the movie translation really is that bad. Horrible, in fact. This story never should have been adapted for the screen, and particularly not for network TV. They left out SOOOO much (anyone else remember Rita Blakemoor? How about Frannie's mom?), and changed things that easily could have been left alone. It was also the most horribly cast movie I've seen in a long time (Molly Ringwald as Frannie? Please give me a freaking break! Where is the "puking my guts out" smily??). I'm not sure which was worse, this or the idiotic TV adaptation of "It" --- neither one was worth a damn, as far as I'm concerned.

Read the book, and you'll discover just how bad the movie sucked.

P.S. to Urgeok -- Swan Song was written by Robert McCammon. You were close! :)