Yeah, watched it myself. Wasnt a fan.
I've read the book and its surprising that the writer of the book wrote the screenplay of the film and completely ripped out core chunks of what made the book good.
If you get a chance to pick the book up, you should, its very good. In the book they're from the Wirral, support Tranmere, and embrace the fact they're not scousers. Its more about belonging and being apart of something, which is why Carty joins up with them and why Elvis ends up being mates with Carty. Carty is a trendy feller, like new wave 70's music, and Elvis admires him and brings him into the tranmere crew where the roles reverse - carty like smashing people up, Elvis wants to be Carty etc. As a book, which is always the case, there's more going on with Carty's family (you never really know them in the film), the fellers in the firm, the violence etc. The ending too is far better and has more of an impact. SPOILERS**** Carty leaves the firm then comes back. He gets slashed across the face by his own firm because they say "no one ever leaves" rather than it being more about the top boy not liking him (like in the film).
The film is disappointing in that respect. I could see what they were trying to do, make it more about Carty and Elvis' relationship and not about footy violence and having an identity. So apart from that, the fact it looks like Hollyoaks and some of the accents are off, its okay. It does have some well shot scenes, the lad who plays Elvis is very good, and a quality soundtrack. Other than that....stick with Football Factory or The Firm (both versions).
It does try something different though. I think the budget effects it as the book has some great descriptions of the fights they get into.
