Episodes

  • Smile 2 Movie Review with SPOILERS! | Cosmic Circus Reviews
    Nov 11 2024

    John and Vin return for Part 2 of their Smile 2 discussion, diving deep into the film's spoilers, sequel potential, and spiritual connections to Wes Craven's Scream.

    For part one, the non spoiler review of Smile 2 go here: https://youtu.be/sLlkwM1rn9M?si=wILhZAMFQDX3WT0Y

    For a video version of this review, go here: https://youtu.be/8qFcjQXflVU?si=9RQQLFlDLjvjqEU0

    Originally recorded October 17, 2024

    For more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors, visit https://www.thecosmiccircus.com

    Follow us on social media @mycosmiccircus or visit the Linktree to find us: https://linktr.ee/cosmiccircus

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    25 mins
  • The Remarkable Life of Ibelin is a Powerful Experience About Connection | Cosmic Circus Reviews
    Nov 9 2024

    The Remarkable Life of Ibelin is now available to watch on Netflix, and John and Vin discuss Benjamin Ree's breathtaking film. The fascinating documentary previously made a splash at Sundance, attracting rave reviews, and was picked up by the streaming service shortly after.

    The documentary centers on a Norwegian gamer named Mats Steen, who suffers from a degenerative condition that slowly takes away mobility. To find a life beyond his own growing limitations, gaming became something extraordinary. The result was a remarkable life no one knew about until now.

    Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/89yVpiqayCA?si=7zXzDBZhn8-fr-xh&t=3

    You can find James' Review of The Remarkable Life of Ibelin here: https://thecosmiccircus.com/ibelin-movie-documentary-review/

    For more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors, visit https://www.thecosmiccircus.com

    Follow us on social media @mycosmiccircus or visit the Linktree to find us: https://linktr.ee/cosmiccircus

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    42 mins
  • 'Venom: The Last Dance' and the Future of the Sony Marvel Universe | The Cosmic Circle Podcast
    Nov 7 2024

    With the recent release of Venom: The Last Dance, there was no denying a need to talk about this one on an episode of The Cosmic Circle. Join host Brian Kitson and fellow writers Uday Kataria and Wiktor Reinfuss as they discuss the highs and lows of this final chapter in the Venom trilogy. Do you think they liked the film? What were their impressions of the CGI? Do they think the story is riddled with holes? Near the end the three discuss what the future holds for the Sony Marvel Spider-Man universe such as with Kraven The Hunter.

    Find more reviews from these writers on TheCosmicCircus.com and follow our YouTube channel @TheCosmicCircus for movie and show reviews from John & Vin!

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    58 mins
  • 'Agatha All Along' Series Discussion | Across The Queerverse Podcast
    Nov 4 2024

    Marvel Studios' Agatha All Along pushed the boundaries of what an MCU series can be, but it also provided some wonderful queer representation that Marvel Studios has been lacking in its projects. From young love to established gayness, there's something for all LGBTQ+ members to enjoy throughout the nine-episode season.

    In our newest podcast episode of Across the Queerverse, host Brian Kitson and fellow Cosmic Circus writers Uday Kataria and Cameron Brook break down all the queerness present in Agatha All Along. Listen as they explore Billy's relationship with his boyfriend, the dynamics between Agatha and Rio (Aubrey Plaza), and their hopes for more LGBTQ+ representation in the MCU! Thank you for listening!

    Find more reviews from these writers on TheCosmicCircus.com and follow our YouTube channel @TheCosmicCircus for movie and show reviews from John & Vin!

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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • 2024 Our Favorite and Least Favorite Horror Films, Games & More! | The Cosmic Circle (Halloween) Podcast
    Oct 30 2024

    Host Brian Kitson and fellow The Cosmic Circus writers Wiktor Reinfuss and John Dotson share some of their favorite horror projects that have come out since the previous Halloween podcast, such as Smile 2, Alan Wake II, MaXXXine, Longlegs and A Quiet Place: Day One! Listen as they discuss what they love about these specific horror projects and what their honorable mentions are, and which horror media didn't make the cut from 2024. Enjoy!

    Find more reviews from these writers on TheCosmicCircus.com and follow our YouTube channel @TheCosmicCircus for movie and show reviews from John & Vin!

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    1 hr and 18 mins
  • 'Heartstopper' Season 3 & LGBTQ+ Discussion | Across The Queerverse Podcast
    Oct 23 2024

    In this episode, hosts Brian Kitson and Izzy Friedman break down all the excitement and heartbreak from Heartstopper season 3! Listen as they discuss how the series tackles the top of mental illness, explores growing older into an adult world, and how a confrontation with the real world brings about some excellent conversations for both audiences and the characters in the series. The hosts also discuss how their own queer experiences align with those in the series, and how Heartstopper balances the light and dark tones perfectly in this newest outing, and various topics discussed around living as a LGBTQ+ person. You can find all this in more in our first official Across The Queerverse episode!

    Ep. 1 Timestamps: Heartstopper Season 3 Review & Discussion of LGBTQ+ Issues

    [Warning: Spoilers from season 3 are discussed within this podcast]

    00:00 - Intro to Across the Queerverse podcast

    02:10 - Spoiler alert for Heartstopper season 3 going forward

    02:44 - Comparing season 2 vs season 3 of Heartstopper?

    05:00 - Dealing with real life problems, mental health, and problems with both friendships and romantic relationships

    08:49 - Building friendships and how you define family and build your community around you as a queer person

    11:25 - Aromantic & Asexuality, not feeling the need to explain yourself as a queer person and understanding that if someone cares about you they should put in the work and effort to try to understand. The wide array of what being queer means.

    18:00 - Characters in Heartstopper season 3 no longer having their friends and support groups around them as much, struggling with that and not being as protected, being politicized. (Elle scenes discussed, Transgender bias and attacks discussed)

    24:30 - The world outside not being as forgiving or understanding as their friendship group and dealing with those outside of that group, even family, not understanding mental health struggles.

    27:45 - Tori being ace, Darcy (non-binary), talking about responses to feeling such as butterflies and that it might mean something different that some might think

    33:05 - Some Like it Hot the Musical discussion about the transgender storyline with Jerry/Daphne, in the musical

    34:00 - Clothes as self-expression

    35:16 - Nick scenes, not feeling comfortable in your skin, Nick's insecurities, wanting to help Charlie, the idea that you can't cure someone else's mental illness with love. Nick wanting to be there for Charlie, but Nick also really needing to be there for himself too.

    42:10 - Exploration of having security and confidence in relationships this season

    43:30 - Healing messages in Heartstopper

    47:50 - LGBTQ+ adults as role models in the series

    51:27 - Is season 3 a comfort show like seasons 1 & 2?

    54:45 - Talking more about characters not being comfortable in their own bodies, teenagers, sex, and reality vs the show.

    01:01:05 - Heartstopper season 4

    01:01:50 - Outro

    Across the Queerverse podcast credits and show notes Contributors/Writers
    • Brian Kitson
    • Izzy Friedman
    Executive Produ...
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Venom 3 Comics and the Future of Sony's Spider-Man Universe | Cosmic Circus Comics
    Oct 21 2024

    Vin and Vic discuss Separation Anxiety and Planet of the Symbiotes, two classic Venom stories from the 1990s might hold clues for Venom: The Last Dance. What can these comics tell us about the future of symbiotes in Sony's Spider-Man Universe and the MCU?

    Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - Personal history and introduction to Venom (comics and cartoon) 03:48 - Venom in the movies prior to Venom: The Last Dance 06:00 - Spider-Man talk, Tom Holland's Spider-Man 07:12 - Rumors about introducing the symbiot in Spider-Man 4 and future Marvel films 09:48 - Tom Hardy's possible future in the MCU / Secret Wars? 12:00 - Venom comics discussion: Separation Anxiety 17:49 - Venom Comics discussion: Planet of the Symbiotes 24:17 - The art of these comics and Vic's favorite panels 28:13 - Wanting deeper dive, and supplemental reading material for this story 29:30 - Eddie & Venom, a story about a toxic relationship 30:24 - Theories and talking about how these comics might connect to Venom: The Last Dance 32:10 - Marvel Studios vs Sony handling Venom's character 33:48 - Other expected or possible characters that may appear in Venom 3. Rumors, theories, and confirmed. 37:00 - Potential Sinister Six lineup for the films 29:45 - Outros

    #venomcomics #venom3 #venomthelastdance #marvelcomics #spiderman

    Vic's written review of these Venom comics https://thecosmiccircus.com/venom-comics-separation-anxiety-planet-of-the-symbiotes/

    For more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors, visit https://www.thecosmiccircus.com

    Follow us on social media @mycosmiccircus or visit the Linktree to find us: https://linktr.ee/cosmiccircus

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    41 mins
  • Penguin and Agatha All Along Reviews & State of the Franchise (#Marvel #DC) | Cosmic Circus Reviews
    Oct 19 2024

    John & Vin give a midseason check-in for DC's Penguin and Marvel's Agatha All Along (spoiler warning if you haven't seen the shows so far). They also discuss the current state of the MCU, recent trailers for Thunderbolts* and Captain America: Brave New World, as well as whether or not Blade can really be adapted to the MCU.

    For the full video review, go to https://youtu.be/nz_Rr3rKVOU?si=AQ2rqCcG6USg62bi&t=1

    DC's The Batman spinoff Penguin stars Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti and is currently airing on HBO/MAX. #TheBatman #ThePenguin #SofiaFalcone #HBO

    Marvel series Agatha All Along is currently playing on Disney+ and stars Kathryne Hahn, Joe Locke and Aubrey Plaza. #MCU #Agatha #MarvelStudios #agathaallalong

    Timestamps 00:10 - intro 00:17 - Penguin season 1 discussion, history with the Batman universe? 05:40 - Comparing past Penguins to Colin Farrell's Penguin 09:45 - Penguin, Sofia Falcone, and the villain of this story. Breaking Bad Walter White comparisons 11:30 - predictions for the end of the show and who might make it to The Batman 2 16:09 - what is Penguin doing successfully that some past Marvel shows haven't? DC vs Marvel vs Star Wars handling of TV series and films overall. 18:21 - Things we don't like about the Penguin series 19:45 - Penguin episodes have increasingly gotten better 22:05 - comparing crime elements of Penguin to The Sopranos 23:17 - When we get to see more Penguin in the series? More comparisons to Breaking Bad. 25:45 - X-Men '97, talking about the quality of episodes up to mid-season vs end of season for a series. 26:55 - What will happen to Vic? Predictions for the rest of the season. 32:55 - Does the series really look like lower budget than the film? 34:00 - Colin Farrell's prosthetics and performance 37:04 - Agatha All Along discussion 41:18 - Performances have been great in the show 42:20 - Feelings about the current Phase of Marvel shows and films? (Thunderbolts* Captain America: Brave New World 44:30 - The first Blade movie, and bringing Blade to the MCU 47:36 - outros

    For more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors, visit https://www.thecosmiccircus.com

    Follow us on social media @mycosmiccircus or visit the Linktree to find us: https://linktr.ee/cosmiccircus

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    48 mins