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List Price: $19.99 | | Label: Victory Multimedia
Salesrank: 77159
Released: November 14, 2006 |
| Our Price: $10.99 |
| Used Price: $10.79 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Rookie missionary Brandon Allen confronts the challenges of missionary life in Los Angeles, soon realizing that his most important convert may be himself.
God's Army Reviews:
LDS Missionaries Ogling Over Women? 
2009-06-26 - Ever since the marvelous "Brigham City" I have been a Richard Dutcher fan. But as a Latter-day Saint, I am on guard about what influences I invite into my home. I have noticed that some LDS film makers will try to sell us on compromises of God-given values. And with God's army, the director uses a bit of SWS - "spiced with stupidity". In the real world, LDS missionaries do not ogle over women in restaurants--or anywhere for that matter. So what's the point of including it? Why do we ever have to compromise our values?
Excellent Portrayal of Spiritual Journey 
2007-12-27 - God's Army is a spiritual journey made rich by the universal human struggles and strivings of the young people on that journey. Their questions, missteps, and mistakes make their yearning for, and grasping of the sacred powerful, and real. Although Richard Dutcher made this movie for a Mormon audience, I, a non-Mormon, loved it, as did a Muslim friend. God's Army has, in fact proved somewhat controversial in Mormon circles. While it's been very popular in Utah, with many finding the portrayal of Mormon missionary experience very true to life-- there is a minority who feel it's not proper to portray anything other than a sanitized picture of Mormonism to the outside world. Richard Dutcher, who produced and directed the film (as well as playing the part of ''Pops'' the oldest missionary) wrote this movie out of his own life experience--at different times he experienced the faith, doubt, joy, despair, miracles, etc. portrayed fictionally by the different characters in this film. This Deluxe Edition contains a new widescreen digital transfer of the film, as well as many new extras on a second disc. I highly recommend it.
The best LDS film of the decade!
2007-12-16 - Inspirational and heartfelt, I highly recommend this video to both Mormons and non-Mormons alike, it will touch your heart like none other. Great film for a family home evening gathering!
Another very uplifting movie
2007-12-12 - Although the nature of this movie is very spiritual it brings with it humor that balances it perfectly. It is moving, uplifting, entertaining, and just great to watch. My family loves it!
The Genius of Richard Dutcher
2007-12-09 - Writer/director Richard Dutcher's films are small masterpieces made on shoestring budgets and limited time, that have themes that will deeply touch anyone on a spiritual journey no matter what their particular denomination or faith. "God's Army" is about Mormon missionaries in Los Angeles, and reflects Dutcher's personal experience as a missionary in southern Mexico and has a wide range of emotions. It will make you roar with laughter, or cry with the beauty and tragedy of other scenes, and eventually will encourage you to reflect on the state of your own soul. Dutcher doesn't make one shot viewing movies. His films stick to your ribs like a good meal and stay inside your head. Don't rent them, buy them. You'll be watching them for many years to come, again and again.
"God's Army" cost $300,000 and was filmed in 18 days, incredible by Hollywood standards. The script is a marvel, and makes the characters come alive. Also a superb actor, Dutcher stars as Elder "Pops" Dalton, and as Brandon Allen, the new missionary with a troubled past, Matthew Brown, with his expressive, handsome face, gives an exquisite performance. The entire cast is good, and includes DeSean Terry, marvelous as Elder Banks, John Pentecost, Jacque Gray and Michael Buster. The extras in this terrific 2 disc set are voluminous, and include 2 audio commentaries on the 1st disc, and deleted scenes, outtakes (the ocean baptism outtakes are hilarious), a "making of" featurette, and more on the 2nd disc. It even includes 7 frames of the original film in a little clear baggie, as a nice souvenir.
In one choice scene, Elder Banks says to Elder Allen: "Sometimes I think God does it on purpose...He gives you 100 reasons to believe, and then He just drops one or two for you not to believe, so that you can choose to see if you really want to believe." Few films have depicted the struggle of faith as well as "God's Army."
Dutcher followed this film with the award winning "Brigham City," a crime drama with a spiritual core that also stars Dutcher and Brown. It's a very special film and another big favorite of mine, and then he made "States of Grace," which is somewhat of a sequel to "God's Army," and not to be missed. I love Richard Dutcher. I love his talent, his heart, and his faith (since this film was made he has left the LDS church, as stated on his web site over "theological differences"). I think he'll go down in filmmaking history as one of the greats.
