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!

 

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Movie ReviewsReviews

Review: ‘Godzilla Minus One’ is a Monster Blockbuster Befitting the Franchise Legacy

Ayla Ruby ,  ,  ,  ,  6 min read

Amidst the post-war rubble and lingering trauma of nuclear destruction still present today in the world, Godzilla Minus One emerges as a blockbuster befitting a franchise that, like society, has transformed over the past 70 years. It continues breathing new life into kaiju stories. Still, instead of rehashing the political satire of 2016’s Shin Godzilla, it returns to the story’s roots, where Godzilla first emerged from

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Movie ReviewsReviews

Review: Prime Video’s ‘Candy Cane Lane’ is a Refreshingly Hilarious Christmas Film

Brian Kitson ,  ,  ,  7 min read

What’s the holiday season without a film about the importance of family and finding the true spirit of Christmas? It’s either that trope or a city girl stuck in a small town where she finds love and the spirit of the holidays. The pickings are limited when it comes to messages in our Christmas films, however, there’s something magical each and

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Movie ReviewsReviews

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

James Preston Poole ,  ,  ,  6 min read

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

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Movie ReviewsOpinionReviews

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

Brian Kitson ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  8 min read

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.

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

John Dotson ,  ,  5 min read

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

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

Ayla Ruby ,  ,  ,  5 min read

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

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Saltburn Review
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Review: ‘Saltburn’ is a Devilishly Delightful Film

Brian Kitson ,  ,  7 min read

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

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Movie ReviewsPodcastReviews

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

Ayla Ruby ,  ,  ,  ,  3 min read

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

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Review: ‘Trolls Band Together’ is Tuneful But Flawed

Ayla Ruby ,  ,  ,  5 min read

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

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