I understand, but I grew up with that movie, and it's entrenched in my psyche. I still love it. Discovering the book was an absolute treat. It's so special!
I don't usually recommend this channel, but Mother's Basement has a really excellent video that discusses Neverending Story near the end (he spends most of it talking about DBZ).
So true. Michael Ende was a total genius and the book has to be filmed again. It has so much potential for surreal dreamy landscapes, morphing sceneries, psychedelic images...