Movie Reviews

Cosmic Circus has been covering movies and TV/streaming series for over five years now. Please take some time to read through some of our movie reviews below to find out what the writers think of past and new films.

Refer to the Stellar Picks archive to find some of our top-rated movies, shows, books, games, and more!


 

FeaturesMovie ReviewsReviews

Review: Ridley Scott’s Comedy-Epic Hybrid ‘Napoleon’ Is (Mostly) A Triumph

At age 85, Sir Ridley Scott is showing no signs of slowing down. The legendary, and often polarizing, auteur works more consistently than perhaps any modern filmmaker. His five decade-spanning career is hardly marked by safe projects, either. Scott’s the type of filmmaker to come out of the gate with paradigm shifts like Alien and Blade Runner, hit a new high near

Read More
FeaturesMovie ReviewsOpinionReviews

Cosmic Psychologist: Grief, Loss, and ‘The Marvels’

Since the closing films of Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there’s been one unifying theme connecting most, if not all of the projects. No, it’s not the multiverse, although that is also threaded through so many of the films and series in Phases 4 and 5. It’s the idea of grief and loss that began with Avengers: Infinity War.

Read More
FeaturesMovie ReviewsReviews

Review: ‘Poor Things’ is a Bizarre Frankenstein Sex Comedy

Yorgos Lanthimos is one of the most fascinating filmmakers working in the industry. His films are anything but conventional and redefine weirdness in ways that might make Tim Burton envious. With his latest film, Poor Things, the director continues to explore humanistic themes through comedic and body horror/humor aesthetics.  The Lobster (2015) deals with romance through the eyes of characters having to find

Read More
FeaturesMovie ReviewsReviews

Review: ‘Wish’ makes a sincere effort at tribute to Disney’s magical past

A nostalgic waltz through a fairytale kingdom, Disney’s Wish charms with pixie dust, enduring songs, and charismatic leads in Ariana DeBose and Chris Pine. Every frame of Wish’s watercolor-soft animation evokes a sense of comforting familiarity. In this cinematic ode to Disney’s legacy, Wish refers to Disney classics like Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. While Wish may not be without its imperfections, it is perfectly

Read More
FeaturesMovie ReviewsReviews

Review: ‘Saltburn’ is a Devilishly Delightful Film

Sometimes going into a movie or screener knowing as little as possible is the right way to go. No preconceived notions, therefore no expectations. This feat might seem nearly impossible with how prevalent spoilers and promotional material are nowadays. However, if possible, doing so allows for a completely different experience and interaction with the material on screen. That was how I

Read More
FeaturesMovie ReviewsPodcastReviews

‘The Marvels’ Podcast (Cosmic Circle Ep. 47)

It’s another episode of Sloth Baby Productions… just kidding. The Cosmic Circle podcast is back, and we saw The Marvels just like (hopefully) all of you and had some thoughts about the return of Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). Their first big screen team-up featured Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), an interesting villain

Read More
FeaturesMovie ReviewsReviews

Review: ‘Trolls Band Together’ is Tuneful But Flawed

Trolls Band Together is out in theaters as of this past weekend. It’s a brightly colored boy-band symphony of animation and heart, but don’t expect a high-note encore to the previous two Trolls films. The film’s lighthearted message of familial love and self-acceptance, set to a catchy soundtrack and featuring incredible animation, is occasionally overshadowed by moments of questionable humor that raise the

Read More
FeaturesMovie ReviewsRankingsReviews

Ranking All The Live-Action Toho Godzilla Movies

With Godzilla: Minus One making its way to movie theatres very soon and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters releasing on AppleTV+, I embarked on a rather ambitious project in preparation: watch every live-action Godzilla movie produced by Toho and rank them from worst to best. Before this project, I had already seen Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi’s Shin Godzilla alongside the animated

Read More
FeaturesMovie ReviewsReviews

Review: ‘The Marvels’ Unites an Electrifying MCU Team

The Marvels, the long-awaited follow-up to 2019’s billion-dollar-hit Captain Marvel, has landed in theaters. While the original film was an MCU prequel, this team-up sequel jumps 30 years ahead to the present day to unite an electrifying new team of superheroes. Joined by Ms. Marvel Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau aka Photon, Captain Marvel is ready to take on a world-destroying

Read More
FeaturesMovie ReviewsReviews

Review: ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ Deepens the World of Panem

At long last, audiences are returning to the world of Panem and the Hunger Games! Directed by Francis Lawrence and starring Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage, and Viola Davis, the prequel film follows future president Coriolanus Snow as he mentors Lucy Gray Baird, the female tribute from District 12, in the 10th Annual Hunger Games. An emotionally complex film anchored

Read More
FeaturesMovie ReviewsPodcastReviewsSeries & Specials ReviewsStellar Picks

Cosmic Circle Ep. 44: Halloween Film and TV Series Discussion

Summer is long behind us over here in Michigan. The leaves are changing colors, bringing about the brilliant reds, oranges, and purples that signal the start of Autumn. As Halloween comes ever closer, and the gloomy clouds hang perpetually overhead in the sky, it’s time to embrace the reason for the season! That’s right, it’s time to get down with all

Read More
FeaturesMovie ReviewsReviews

Review: ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ is Flawed but Forgivable

Growing up, this writer enjoyed shows like Little Monsters and Nickelodeon’s Are You Afraid of the Dark. However, at 10 or 11 years old, my interest grew into more intense horror films like Scream. Attending Five Nights at Freddy’s brought back memories of these early experiences. While Little Monsters, Goosebumps, and Are You Afraid of the Dark may not be considered classical horror or memorable adult entertainment, they provide a gateway

Read More