Jeux de Sang

With all respect to Dungeons and Dragons player, this movie was not really about the effects of the game. Instead, this finely acted drama dealt much more with a mother's love for the son who attempted her murder. Of the 2 "made for TV" movies produced on this true story at the same time (the other was "Cruel Doubt"), I liked this one the best. Sharon Gless, was excellent as the mother who slowly comes to the realization that the attack on herself and her husband, which left him dead, was planned by her son, a student who had been living at college. As the evidence against him becomes stronger, the boy falls apart. But rather than disowning him, Bonnie Van Stein apprehends her own fault in allowing his stepfather to prematurely push Chris into manhood. In spite of the opinions of all around her, she sticks to her support of her son, assuring him of her forgiveness and encouraging him to forgive himself. One judges a production by how it lingers with you afterwards. It has been over 10 years since I first saw this movie, and I still cannot forget it.

Normally, I wouldn't even stoop to viewing trash like this, but since role-playing is a dear hobby to me, and such was the subject of the film, I did. It was garbage in so many ways that I do not know where to begin. I would rather sit through the "Plan 9 from Outer Space" marathon than watch another minute of this vomit. At least Plan 9 didn't have an agenda. How the media could capitulate and irresponsibly represent extremist agenda as fact is beyond me. It is a scary time when a whole group of people can be unceremoniously trounced with no defense and no real facts presented. I know this commentary went more social, but it couldn't be helped, as this movie begged it. Imagine a pro-nazi film being reviewed strictly on film merit. Won't happen. As it sits, the people who made this film are facists themselves, and should perhaps move into a communist enclave where propagandizing is accepted.

Despite "B list" actors, the movie was entertaining, and kept me interested. Certain parts of the story were not quite believable, something that certainly detracted from the movie to an extent. Nonetheless, while not the greatest flick I've ever seen, it's worth 2 hours of your time.

Honor Thy Mother is based on the Jerry Bledsoe book "Blood Games". The acting is superb, the story line better than fair. The book, however, is excellent. Sharon Glass, is fantastic as Bonnie Von Stein.

I would have been much happier had they stuck to the actual book for their facts and did not exaggerate on the D&D aspect.

I would recommend this movie over the Blythe Danner/Gwenyth Paltrow "Cruel Doubt". I'd also recommend "Blood Games" over Joe McGinniss' book "Cruel Doubt".

For more information on this case, there is a wealth of information on the web, and articles on the Herald-Sun (Charlotte, NC).

The producers of this film should be sued for the misrepresentation of copyrighted materials, namely the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Players' Handbook. Fear and ignorance breed the sort of mindless propaganda that inspire garbage like this film. If any of you have any doubts about the innocence of Dungeons & Dragons, why don't you go to your local hobby store and see about sitting in with a gaming group, so you can see for yourself that D&D is nothing to be afraid of.