Cosmic Circus Podcasts

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 Nielsen as Lucilla and Derek Jacobi as Gracchus. New additions to the cast are Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, and Denzel Washington. 

Find the full video review on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/-zvZG7a53s8?si=OwhgkKwY_cGAUnSP

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 (now on Bluesky @TheCosmicCircus.com) or visit the Linktree to find us: https://linktr.ee/cosmiccircus

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 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

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, 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

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 the shocking twists in the series.

Recorded on 11/14/2024

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

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

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

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!

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!

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!

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!

[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

Recorded on 10/20/2024

For more reviews and articles written by these writers visit https://thecosmiccircus.com