After reading the book, seeing your comments, and then watching the movie; I don't think you could be more wrong if you tried.
Given that she only had a little over two and a half hours to tell the story. The high points were all there. His delinquent youth, redemption through sports, the air battles, 47 days on a raft, and brutality of his POW experience.
It might have been a better miniseries, but this movie presented it in such a way that some viewers will want to read the book.
I think you are wrong