Reviews

Although we mainly focus on reviews of movies and TV or streaming series, we have a wide array of reviews here at Cosmic Circus. This includes concerts, tech and other products, travel, games, books, and comics.

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

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‘Predator: Killer of Killers’: A Fresh Take on a Killer Franchise

Joshua Ryan ,  ,  ,  4 min read

Arnold Schwarzenegger, at the height of his action star persona, went toe-to-toe with an advanced, trophy-hunting alien species and won. As Dutch in John McTiernan’s Predator, Schwarzenegger embodied the muscled-up masculinity of 80s action cinema. For decades, the franchise existed as an exercise in machismo, featuring strong-minded, big-biceped men in combat against the physically superior species of hunter. That all shifted

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‘Ballerina’: An Imperfect but Satisfying ‘John Wick’ Spin-off

John Dotson ,  ,  6 min read

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina has faced considerable confusion in recent weeks, primarily due to a puzzling embargo that instructed influencers to share only positive reactions. The embargo leak went viral, sparking concern regarding the film’s quality. The resulting controversy and fears were difficult to ignore, especially since the spin-off television show The Continental also received a lukewarm reception.

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‘The Life of Chuck’ is a Cinematic Antidepressant

John Dotson ,  ,  ,  ,  6 min read

The Life of Chuck sees Mike Flanagan take a step outside the box of horror films. The writer and director already has a massive winning streak, having created fantastic works such as The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, Gerald’s Game, and Doctor Sleep. Now, the filmmaker takes on a much more sentimental story from Stephen King—and it’s an astonishing piece

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‘Doctor Who’ Season 2 Finale: A Bittersweet Farewell

Wiktor Reinfuss ,  ,  ,  8 min read

There’s something beautifully paradoxical about how Doctor Who ends its seasons every single time. As the TARDIS doors unfortunately close on the 15th Doctor’s final adventure, fans are left with that familiar bittersweet feeling that appears whenever there is a season finale or “regeneration moment”. For many, it is the day they are mourning a beloved incarnation while wondering what comes

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‘Star Wars The High Republic: Trials of the Jedi’ by Charles Soule Book Review

Cameron Brook ,  ,  ,  ,  8 min read

The High Republic has been a huge part of many areas of Star Wars for the past 4 years. First teased in 2020 under the guise of “Project Luiminos”, The High Republic would then start with the amazing Light of the Jedi in early 2021, bringing us into the world of Star Wars over 200 years before the Skywalker Saga. Since

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‘Karate Kid: Legends’: A Strange Legacy Sequel Anchored by an Amazing Ben Wang

Maxance Vincent ,  9 min read

If you didn’t think you had enough of The Karate Kid after six incredible seasons of Cobra Kai, think again! Sony is bringing the iconic franchise back to the big screen in Karate Kid: Legends, a legacy sequel that wants to capitalize on the success of both iterations of the film & television series (the universe of the 1984 film created

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A detailed review of the BigSofti smartphone camera attachment for enhanced mobile photography.
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Big Softi: A Compact Game-Changer for Portable Lighting

RJ Miller-Zelinko ,  5 min read

When it comes to portable lighting solutions for content creators, photographers, and videographers, many products promise professional results but fall short in execution. Big Softi, however, is one of those rare finds that delivers on its claims. Designed as a lightweight, versatile, and high-quality soft light, this device has gained a reputation among creators who need reliable lighting on the go.

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‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’ Game Review

Wiktor Reinfuss ,  ,  9 min read

In the huge kingdom of RPGs, it’s rare for a game from a new studio to rise so high and instantly feel like the most obvious Game of the Year contender. Yet, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the debut title from French developer Sandfall Interactive (created by people who formerly worked at Ubisoft), has managed to do that. It was created by

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Marvel Comics Spotlight: ‘Thunderbolts’ (2023)

Wiktor Reinfuss ,  ,  ,  7 min read

Over the years, the team called “Thunderbolts” has carried a specific and unique weight in the Marvel Universe. Unlike the Avengers or X-Men, the Thunderbolts have always stood in a morally gray zone as a team forged not by ideals or family, but often by necessity, manipulation, political ambitions, or redemption. Since the debut of the original team in 1997 under

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‘Fountain of Youth’ Review: A Disastrous Knock-off

Anthony Flagg ,  3 min read

Fountain of Youth should have been a slam dunk for Apple TV+. There is great talent attached behind the camera with director Guy Ritchie and in front with John Krasinski and Natalie Portman as leads. Paired with an interesting premise and a globe-trotting adventure, this could have easily been a quality addition to the streamer’s reputation, sharing few but solid features.

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Universal Studios Epic Universe Review: Attractions and Highlights

Uday Kataria ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  17 min read

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit Universal Studios’ newest theme park in Orlando, Florida: Universal Epic Universe! This is the first major theme park to open in the United States in two decades and finally levels the playing field between the Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World, which has four theme parks in Orlando. As a major fan

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‘Andor’ Season 2 Review | The Cosmic Circle Podcast

Podcast and YouTube ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  1 min read

In this episode of The Cosmic Circle podcast, host Uday discusses Andor season 2 with fellow writers Vin and Cam. They talk about their favorite characters in the series, the show’s connection to Rogue One, where it ranks among other Star Wars projects, and the past and future of Star Wars as a whole. Check out their spoilery discussion below or

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