My two-year-old son Nathan absolutely loves to brush his teeth.  I know!  It’s that awesome!  He will say “toothbrush” or “brush teeth” and then patiently wait while my wife or I get him started brushing.  He takes over for several minutes and absolutely loves every moment.  Granted, he mostly chews on the brush but he still enjoys the idea of what’s going on.  Sometimes we have to stop him from brushing the furniture or other items nearby.  You know, for the sake of being sanitary.  It’s wonderful to know that Nate’s already taken to brushing.  There are so many things to worry about as a parent, here’s hoping trips to the dentist because of cavities won’t be an added trouble.

GOOD GRIEF! The Peanuts are at it again! Once again Charles Shulz's beloved characters have been brought to life, this time in a feature-length film produced by Blue Sky Studios. Did it stay true to the core values of ole Chuck and the gang? Or was it made by a bunch of blockheads that don't understand the characters?

Let's find out!

 _^^^ THE PEANUTS MOVIE REVIEW _^^^

If you're reading this, there's a good chance you've seen the previews and are wondering if you should take the kids to see THE PEANUTS movie. Or perhaps you're wondering if it's worth dropping money on an animated film to capture an hour and twenty-six minutes worth of nostalgia for yourself.

I'm here to tell you that regardless of your reason for going, you won't be disappointed!

If you’re a regular reader of my film reviews you know I have a weakness for spy movies. The flagship franchise, of course, is Ian Fleming’s Secret Agent 007, James Bond. Starting with Sean Connery in DR. NO, through George Lazenby (if he counts), Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and now Daniel Craig, the venerable series has had its ups and downs through the years. Sometimes campy, sometimes serious, sometimes just plain weird, the exploits of the most beloved spy in the world has always given me some level of satisfaction. That is, until now. With SPECTRE, the sequel to director Sam Mendes’ ultra-popular 2012 installment SKYFALL, the sky is indeed falling on 007. This is easily the worst James Bond film in the series and one of the worst films I’ve seen regardless of genre in years.

In Disney’s ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, an all-new spectacular adventure featuring the unforgettable characters from Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories, Alice returns to the whimsical world of Underland and travels back in time to save the Mad Hatter. Directed by James Bobin, who brings his own unique vision to the spectacular world Tim Burton created on screen in 2010 with ALICE IN WONDERLAND, the film is written by Linda Woolverton based on characters created by Lewis Carroll and produced by Joe Roth, Suzanne Todd and Jennifer Todd and Tim Burton with John G. Scotti serving as executive producer. ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS reunites the all-star cast from the worldwide blockbuster phenomenon, including: Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska and Helena Bonham Carter along with the voices of Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen and Timothy Spall.

With assistance by Mike Maillaro

Check out Newsarama for a complete list of Marvel books shipping in January.

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #5 by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS & DAVID MARQUEZ

• The big finale to our big first storyline. Cards are turned over. Truths are revealed. Tony's life is turned upside down!

With assistance by Mike Maillaro

Check out Newsarama for a complete list of DC books shipping in January.

GREEN LANTERN CORPS: EDGE OF OBLIVION #1 by TOM TAYLOR & ETHAN VAN SCIVER

Picking up where GREEN LANTERN: LOST ARMY left off! As the universe around them reaches entropy, the Green Lantern Corps must find a way home! Along the way, they’ll face dying gods, worlds torn asunder and a desperate group of survivors whose only hope is these cosmic heroes.

Welcome back, Flash fans! The latest CW episode, "The Darkness and the Light" has a lot of big things happen in it -- things that you probably have to read about rather than catch from watching the episode. So let's catch up...

One of the staples of my childhood television schedule was THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW. I was often too young to get some of the humor, and I'd sometimes watch the dance numbers and wonder what was supposed to be funny about them (because I expected the entire thing was meant to be comedy, not variety). But even so, it was something I watched as often as I could catch it.

Now grown (and with a greater appreciation of the arts), I can catch it whenever I wish, thanks to the sorcery of digital video discs. And while the entire series has yet to see any sort of collection, TIME LIFE has put together quite a few mini-collections, including this one: THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW: THE LOST EPISODES -- so called because they come from the first five seasons, and are episodes that had very few -- if any -- reruns.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, former Daily Show host (and part time WWE superstar) Jon Stewart just signed a four year deal with HBO...

Jon Stewart has a new home: HBO.

Stewart has signed a four-year production deal with the premium-cable network and will kick off the pact with the creation of topical short-form digital content.

The deal will see the short-form digital content showcased on HBO Now, HBO Go and other platforms. Also included in the pact is a first-look option for other film and TV ventures.

Here’s a bit of a strange story… I have mentioned in the past that I am pretty anal-retentive when it comes to my comic buying. On Google Docs, I have three separate lists dedicated to my month comic buying.

HOUSE OF M #4 by Dennis Hopeless, Cullen Bunn, and Ario Anindito

Summary: Magneto, Polaris, and the Human Resistance are breaking in to the Human Reeducation Center to free the other human rebels.  Alarms so off, so this quickly becomes a fight.  Even without his powers, Magneto is determined to fight as much as he can.  Sentinels arrive to stop the escape.  But Magneto's grandsons, Speed and Wiccan, arrive to lead the Young Avengers to defeat the Sentinels.  Wiccan tries to use his magic to restore Magneto's powers, but he's just not strong enough.  They need Scarlet Witch's power.  Lorna suggests they go rescue her from Quicksilver and Namor.

Last night debuted the second episode of Supergirl's maiden voyage and it continued to soar. SPOILER ALERT: Don't participate in the discussion unless you've seen the episode or don't care to have elements of the show spoiled!

Well, they finally said it.

Superman.

While there were many references and mentions of the Man of Steel in last night's episode titled 'Stronger Together', it was primarily focused on Kara stepping out from his shadow. This episode gives us a reason why Supergirl's story can be told in a way her cousin's never can.

Flashbacks.

Welcome back to Critical Blast’s weekly look at what new comics you should check out each week.   Just a warning, I make these picks pretty much a week BEFORE I actually get to read any of these comics, so if something is a stinker, I take no blame on that.  Let's get to it!

Comics shipping this week

Cheap Pops - November 1, 2015

by Chris Delloiacono, Mike Maillaro and Jeff Ritter

This week!

- Hell in the Cell Results-  The Return of Alberto Del Rio

STUDIO CITY, CALIF. AND NEW YORK, N.Y. – Nov. 2, 2015 – CBS Television Studios announced today it will launch a totally new “Star Trek” television series in January 2017. The new series will blast off with a special preview broadcast on the CBS Television Network. The premiere episode and all subsequent first-run episodes will then be available exclusively in the United States on CBS All Access, the Network’s digital subscription video on demand and live streaming service.

The next chapter of the “Star Trek” franchise will also be distributed concurrently for television and multiple platforms around the world by CBS Studios International.

BATKID BEGINS isn't an overly lengthy documentary. However, it did take me several atempts to watch it. I blame a manufacturer's defect in the disc, that caused the image to go blurry after five minutes or so of watching it (and which somehow made everything else I looked at blurry as well until I wiped my eyes).

Okay, I admit it -- I'm turning into a lachrymose old softie in my old age. Part of it has to do that I have a young boy of my own now, and when I see stories like this it's easier to put myself into their roles.

The story centers on young Miles, a little boy diagnosed with leukemia. During his treatment, he ends up qualifying for the Make-A-Wish program, and his wish is to be the real Batman. Superhero wishes are things that Make-A-Wish has worked out in the past, but this time they decided to think big -- and transform San Francisco into Gotham City for a day.

When I heard that Laurie Berkner was going to release a 2CD set of classic kids’ songs, I said to myself “This I have got to hear!”

It is no secret that I and my family are bonafide Laurie Berkner fans. Her original children’s songs have made us smile and given us countless memories since we first saw her perform on Nick Jr’s Jack's Big Music Show. Now here we were going to be able to listen to Laurie and her band sing and put her touch on classic children’s songs. This 2 CD set has 57 total songs, which also include 6 of her own (which, in my opinion, are classics as well and certainly belong here).

The later part of 2015 is a bountiful time to be a fan of James Bond. Anthony Horowitz's tense, spectacle-filled novel TRIGGER MORTIS was released last month, and the new film SPECTRE reaches American cinemas November 6th. To think, that would be enough to make most years a memorable one for Bondophiles, but for the first time in twenty-years the world's favorite secret agent is available in sequential artistic art! Let's all thank Dynamite Entertainment for rescuing 007 from comic oblivion!

Rob Nance's second album, Signal Fires, finds him broadening the sound he introduced with his first effort, 2013’s Lost Souls & Locked Doors.  Incorporating a wide range of musical styles and instruments- everything from pedal steel guitars to retro Casio synthesizers, Rob made a conscious effort to push Signal Fires into places he had not ventured on his first record.

“This time around I wanted to take the music I’m comfortable with and see if I could push it in any new directions,” says Rob. “I think this album reflects my need to explore beyond the normal scope of folk and Americana music. Whether it was having pedal steel and synthesizer together in the same song or veering into psych rock on occasion, it was cathartic to at least follow some of ideas wherever they led, even if they didn’t always fit.”

This contest has ended.

It takes a certain kind of chutzpah to set upon any stage and perform in front of a bunch of strangers. Be it stand-up comedy, dramatic or musical theatre, vocal or instrumental music, it takes guts and nerve perhaps even more than talent. Of course when someone has immense and diverse talents to go along with that particular blend of gumption and verve, the results are often magical.