Cosmic Circus Podcasts

Join Vin as he shares his instant reaction to the brand-new DC animated series, Creature Commandos! nd the Frankenstein universe. Find the video version of this review on YouTube  https://youtu.be/fmoXynCKkt0?si=u4jAA8j3isLQmfZT   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...

Vic and Vin discuss one of the most legendary Spider-Man storylines, Kraven's Last Hunt. They also look back at Sony's Spider-Man Universe and the potential for the upcoming Kraven The Hunter movie starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson! KRAVEN'S LAST HUNT (1987) Written by J. M. DeMatteis Pencilled by Mike Zeck Inked by Bob McLeod Lettered by Rick Parker Colored by Bob Sharen, Janet Jackson, Mike Zeck For...

John & Vin dive deep into Jon M. Chu's Wicked. Does the newest Wizard of Oz installment live up to expectations? How does it build on the legacy of the books, movies, and musicals that have come before?   Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning and Oscar®-nominated powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba and Grammy-w...

John & Vin continue their discussion of Gladiator II with a spoiler-filled deep dive into the twists and turns of Ridley Scott's new sequel. This next chapter is produced by Scott Free Productions and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The script was written by David Scarpa, based on a story idea by Peter Craig. Set years after the original 2000 Oscar-winning film, the sequel features Paul Mes...

John and Vin review the long-awaited sequel, Gladiator II, directed by Ridley Scott. This next chapter is produced by Scott Free Productions and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The script was written by David Scarpa, based on a story idea by Peter Craig. Set years after the original 2000 Oscar-winning film, the sequel features Paul Mescal as Lucius Verus. Returning cast members include Connie N...

Vin breaks down his thoughts on Paddington in Peru and the state of the Paddington franchise. Paddington in Peru is now playing in the UK, Ireland, Poland and some other countries (so check your local listings) and lands in theaters in the United States January 17, 2025 Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/EJB1V4XPz-Q?si=pqb70JNrRLxS2du0   For more nerdy pop culture...

Should you watch Gladiator II? Vin gives a quick late night instant reaction to the new Gladiator movie from Ridley Scott. Stay tuned for his full-length discussion next week with John! #gladiator #gladiator2 #moviereview #newmovie Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/EJB1V4XPz-Q?si=pqb70JNrRLxS2du0   For more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news,...

In this episode of The Cosmic Circle, Anthony, Vin and Wiktor (aka "Vic") discuss the full season of HBO's The Penguin in all its spoilery details! So come back later if you haven't watched the whole season yet because it was a great discussion! The three talk about the brutal nature of Colin Farrell's Oswald Cobb and Cristin Milioti's Sofia Falcone, the show's similarities with The Sopranos, and...

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,...

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 a...

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...

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...

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 me...

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 di...

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: T...

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=AQ2r...

Smile 2 is now in theaters and Vin and John have lots to say about this scary sequel just in time for Halloween! So much so that this new movie review will be in two parts. This one will have be spoiler free for the sequel (but not the first film) and a second Smile 2 review to be released soon will be a full spoilery discussion. Smile 2 is a new psychological horror film written and directed by P...

Superman & Lois returned to The CW this past week with a 2-hour premiere, signaling the beginning of the end of the Arrowverse's reign on the cable network. In this episode of The Cosmic Circle, host Brian Kitson and fellow The Cosmic Circus writers Wiktor Reinfuss and Vin break down all the exciting bits from the two-hour premiere. Was there anything shocking in the episodes they didn't see c...

Season 2 of the epic series Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has recently wrapped up, and writers Drew Reed and Uday Kataria have thoughts to share! Listen in to their in-depth discussion about the second season, what they expect to see in Rings of Power season 3 and possibly 4, and take a deep dive into some of the J.R.R. Tolkien lore behind the Prime Video show.   Timestamps 00:00 - Intros...

John & Vin dive deep into the Joker duology. Are they worth awards buzz or angry backlash? How does the new film compare to the original? Joker (2019) Directed by Todd Phillips Written by Todd Phillips and Scott Silver Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, and Zazie Beetz Joker: Folie à Deux (2024) Directed by Todd Phillips Written by Todd Phillips and Scott Silver Starring Joaquin Phoenix...

John & Vin discuss Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and the career of Tim Burton. Starring Michael Keaton, Wynona Ryder, and Jenna Ortega, and Catherine O'Hara Originally recorded September 7, 2024 Timestamps 00:10 - Intro 01:45 - history with the original Beetlejuice film starring Michael Keaton, Wynona Rider, Gena Davis and Alec Baldwin 10:10 - Discussing Beetlejuice Beetlejuice 16:38 -...

John & Vin review Terminator Zero! The hit 8-episode Netflix anime series covers the rise of Skynet, leading into the full Terminator movie saga. Written and developed by showrunner Mattson Tomlin Directed by Masashi Kudō Starring (English dub) André Holland, Rosario Dawson, and Timothy Olyphant Originally recorded September 3, 2024 Timestamps 00:10 - intro, our intro to the Terminator franchi...

John shares his early reaction to Joker: Folie à Deux starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga and directed by Todd Phillips. The film releases Friday October 4, 2024 Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 02:20 - Joker 2 is not interested in playing by the rules or being conventional 03:00 - Fantasy vs reality of Arthur Fleck aka The Joker 05:00 - What #2 does better than the first film 07:08 - Is Joker: Folie à...

John & Vin close out their Fantastic Fest coverage with four great international movies. John also thanks the FF team for their care and support, and reflects on the festival overall. U ARE THE UNIVERSE Written and directed by PAVLO OSTRIKOV Starring Volodymyr Kravchuk GHOST KILLER Directed by Kensuke Sonomura Written by Yugo Sakamoto Starring Akari Takaishi, Mario Kuroba, Masanori Mimoto ELSE...

John & Vin break down the fourth and fifth days of Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. Sebastian Stan double feature (A Different Man and The Apprentice), plus the Heretic! A Different Man Written and directed by Aaron Schimberg Stars Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, and Adam Pearson The Apprentice Directed by Ali Abbasi Written by Gabriel Sherman Stars Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump, with Jeremy...