Please read the book

Rating: Null/10 (23 January 2005)

There have not been many movies that I have critiqued in a bad way. But, Firday Night Lights strayed too far away from the book in too many ways. I know you can't do everything as the book tells it, but for the books' sake, get the freaking' game right! 1. The game was not played in the Astrodome. The game was played a Memorial Stadium at the University of Texas in the rain. The last play was an incomplete pass, not a QB scramble to the one yard line. And above all, it wasn't the 5A Championship Game, it was the Semi-Final game. 2. The tie-breaking coin toss was on the radio. The coin toss was not televised. Mike did not go with Coach Gaines the the coin flip, the team listened to the broadcast while returning from a football game on the bus radio.
This movie could have been so much better. The book is wonderful. Permian has a tremendous football heritage. I don't think the movie told the story of the town, the school, the fans or the football team as well as it should have. There was so much more that could have been told. I would have gladly sat through a 2 1/2 or 3 hour movie for more of the story to be told.
There are several other things wrong with this movie as compared to the book. Read the book and imagine the story in your head. The visions in your mind will far out-do the movie.