Wow, that is amazing. To have one family so dedicated to a single purpose; that's nearly unheard of!
Jake | Homepage | 10.29.05 - 10:58 am | #

Jake: The dedication is rare . . . but the most incredible aspect is that they produced a better film than Hollywood . . . It is the marriage of character and competence that makes this film historic.
Brett Harris | Homepage | 10.29.05 - 11:20 am | #

What an incredible family! What an encouragement to all of us!
Karen K | Homepage | 10.29.05 - 2:22 pm | #

I have to say... I was unimpressed by League of Grateful Sons. The message was obtuse, and the telling was to preachy. After the second vignette, I felt that it was just more of the same.

Production values were by and large quite good, but I have to say that Mr. Phillips desire to pound home his message ruined the film for me.
Anonymous | 10.29.05 - 9:02 pm | #

Anonymous: I'm trying to figure out what exactly would have impressed you. You say the message was obtuse (i.e. hard to understand, comprehend), yet you condemn Doug Phillips for what you deem as an over-emphasizing of that message.

I'd be interested to hear what you think the message was. I'm assuming that the reason Mr. Phillips "pounding" ruined the film was because you had some problem with the message in the first place.

Allow me to say that sometimes pounding is necessary to get past our thick heads and our 30-second-sound-byte attention spans.

Allow me to say further that to describe "The League of Grateful Sons" as repetitive and boring is to completely disregard and disrespect the incredible sacrifice and valor of the soldiers on Iwo Jima. I for one wished that the film had more "vignettes," with more great men, with "more of the same," because hopefully, such emphasis will wake us up from our sitcom induced slumber.
Brett Harris | Homepage | 11.02.05 - 4:49 pm | #

Yes.

What happened to the days when a five or even six hour sermon was considered short?

Well...

Around my house, when Dad does mensmeetings, it IS considered short, but that's another story... ;-)

I wish we lived back in the old days. Back in the days of focused attention for hours. I see many men who can't handle solid teaching for more than fourty-five minutes, at the most. It's incredible what the 'sitcom-slumber', as you so rightly put it, has caused.
John Robert Moore | Homepage | 11.04.05 - 9:16 am | #

To the Entire Family:
I cannot believe that I once knew you all! I am more than proud to say that..... From a tiny little town in WV all the way to New Zealand and creating such a life! The Lord has certainly blessed you.
Hannah Shipman
Hannah | 01.27.06 - 4:05 pm | #

My Dad and I love It! It convicted me to bring more honor to my father, mother, and forefathers as is required in commandment # 5. Oh, and it was a high quality film too. Good job Botkin family! May God continue to bless you and your ministry!

Oh, and if by any chance Isaac reads this, Thanks for the Victorian Cross story you told me on the ship at the Jamestown 400th. I hope you are signing a bunch of tiny little signatures!

Your Friends,
The Thelen Family
A friend | 06.17.07 - 9:44 pm | #