A waste of 90 minutes of my life

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Thoroughly entertaining and engaging adaptation of a cult novel, i would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys this style of film - along with I.D., Football Factory, The Firm, Green Street etc this is that type of fast paced take on football hooliganism. The characters are rock solid and portrayed excellently with commitment and enthusiasm. There is an arty, melancholy, even decidedly feminine touch to some parts of the film which lends it a neat contrast. I would actually read the book to understand the characters better - that's how much i enjoyed it! Despite a few very small details picked up by other viewers this is, i feel, a very underrated film which deserves more recognition for daring to be different. The performances by Nicky Bell and Liam Boyle in particular are powerful stuff.

Phil's Quick Capsule Review: Is to football movies what WestHam v Millwall is to patience and good will. Away Days wants to be cool but different. Like Green Street but with a odd gay love triangle twist. Problem is it's don eon a shoe string budget, dull as dishwater and boring to boot. Avoid and wait for The Firm. IMDb Rating: 4/10Best Bit: The fightsBuy, Rent or Borrow: Borrow If you liked this try: Rise of The Footsolider (7/10); Football Factory (7/10); ID (7/10)Phil Hobden For more reviews like this check out:http://www.mod-life.net/modlife/index_ugly.htm

Having read Kevin Sampson's thoughtful novel the screen version is something of a disappointment. Characterisation and motivation are largely over-looked in favour of scenes of adrenaline-charged violence. The clothing and style of the era are meticulously created for "The pack" (the hooligan group that Carty joins) but you have to question why the people they fight are generally older less fashionably dressed groups. The pack also emerge from every fight with barely an injury. The music itself is good but often misused - is Joy Division's delicately mournful "The Eternal" really an appropriate soundtrack to a group of bovver boys snarling their way down the street? Shane Meadows "This is England" offers a far superior vision of the period.

I'm sure this film isn't everyone's cup o' tea, I went in not expecting much, just hoping the soundtrack would live up to the hype. But I've got to say it is an amazingly good passage-of-rites drama. Vicious and Beautiful, it defies genre and is totally refreshing.Nicky Bell and Liam Boyle are two real discoveries, Boyle's Elvis character is pitch perfect, a complex and compelling performance that will make him a star, whilst Bell broods convincingly throughout.It has the best soundtrack ever. No messing around! Makes me wish I was around for that 1979 post punk period.Awaydays has a purposely ( I assume ) lo-fi look which really helps convey the grim post-thatcher Merseyside setting. All the clothes and general design looks spot on ( and often eerily contemporary ) Best film of the year by far.I pray that Elvis didn't die and ends up in Berlin so there's a sequel.