The people who tell you that you need outstanding school marks are usually the older, a bit more out of touch with the current situation, type of people. No offence, but they are probably telling you that you need perfect vision as well.
The truth is that you can teach a monkey to fly (wait...didn't the Russians do that in the 1960's?). The harder part and less fun is the ATPL theory. Maybe it's not hard, but it is time consuming and aggravating at certain points of time.
So, basically you need a really wealthy father or be independently wealthy (or a bit mad, if you try and get a bank loan).
I know others will rip my post apart, but you need to get the facts straight from people who have done this thing...RECENTLY. Don't talk to the flight school recruiters...TALK to the students and get the real deal. Remember that the flight school recruiters are paid on a commission for every person they can get to sell their soul and mortgage their future, children's future, and children's children future.