An Age of Dragons (Is More Than a Flock)

Thanks to my family, I'm enjoying Dragon Age for Christmas. Nothing says Christmas more than hacking up ogres, you know- it's traditional. So far, it looks like another Bioware classic. My favorite part? When leaving an area for another, the game asks me if I would like to gather my party before venturing forth! The young ones won't get this reference to the Baldur's Gate games, but us old farts remember it like last night's meatloaf.

I'd also heard infamous stories about the level of blood spattering in the game, and can now verify it. At the beginning, my character joined another to kill rats in a pantry. Five critters later, the cut scene showed us positively drenched in gore. Apparently, rats are 113% blood. Who knew?

Movie Monsters: Clover

Monster/s: Clover

Location: Atlantic Ocean, New York City

Movie/s: Cloverfield (2008)

Attacks/Strengths: Extreme size, fangs, claws, tail, ability to jump

Weaknesses: Missiles, bombs, large caliber weaponry, men with steadicams

Cavebabble Episode 52: Our Holiday Films

The Cavebabbling family has three films which we watch each holiday season, and this year we have added a fourth. Join us as we raid Santa's cookies, and discuss all four films. Our choices may surprise you. This episode is brought to you by Eggnog.

Movie Monsters: Gamera

Monster/s: Gamera

Location/s: Islands of Japan, remote Pacific Ocean island, the Arctic, Atlantis, space

Movie/s: Twelve Japanese films between 1965 and 2006

Attacks/Strengths: Extreme size, thick shell protection, fire breath, ability to absorb mana, plasma blasts, ability to fly, spinning shell, ability to enter healing coma, teeth, elbow spikes.

Weaknesses: Extreme cold, soup lovers

Movie Monsters: Medusa

Monster/s: Medusa

Location: Isle of the Dead

Movie/s: Clash of the Titans (1981)

Attacks/Strengths: Gaze which turns flesh to stone, multiple serpents as hair, proficiency with bow and arrow, giant snake tail, acidic blood which spawns scorpions

Weaknesses: Bladed weapons, heroes with mirrored shields

Cavebabble Episode 51: Max is a Mad Road Warrior

The apocalypse is upon us, and the only man tough enough to survive it is "Mad" Max Rockatansky. Tonight's solo-cast follows Max through three films, countless car chases, and a world of pain. So, hop into your Interceptor, and join me on the road to nowhere. This week's episode is brought to you by Waaalkerrrrr.

Movie Monsters: Hades Creatures

Monster/s: Hades Creatures

Location/s: Planet Hades

Movie/s: Pitch Black (2000)

Attacks/Strengths: Claws, fangs, ability to fly, night vision

Weaknesses: Sunlight, bladed weapons, rocket engines, former bouncers

Movie Monsters: Leviathan Genetic Mutant

Monster: Leviathan Genetic Mutant

Location/s: The deep sea, Earth

Movie/s: Leviathan (1989)

Attacks/Strengths: Toothed leech mouths, fangs, claws, ability to absorb human tissue

Weaknesses: Fire, bladed tools, explosives, hydraulic lifts, former Robocop stars

Cavebabble Episode 50: Scenes That Jerk Our Tears

Hollywood loves to yank our heartstrings, and we're ashamed to admit that often it works. Join the entire Cavebabble team as we spend an evening admitting to scenes which bring tears to our eyes. Along the way, we offer a review of Where the Wild Things Are, and introduce the world to Sushi the Wonder Dog. This week's episode is brought to you by Sup-Sup.

Movie Monsters: King Kong

Monster/s: King Kong

Location/s: Skull Island; Faro Island; Mondo Island; New York City, NY; Tokyo, Japan

Movie/s: King Kong (1933), King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), King Kong Escapes (1967), King Kong (1976), King Kong Lives (1986), King Kong (2005)

Attacks/Strengths: extreme arm strength, teeth, simian agility, extreme size

Weaknesses: Large firearms, warplanes, giant mutant dinosaurs, hot women

Movie Monsters: Audrey II

Monster/s: Audrey II

Location: Skid Row, New York City

Movie/s: Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Weapons/Strengths: Teeth, prehensile leaves and roots, ability to seed new buds

Weaknesses: Electricity, nebbish men