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!


Book ReviewsBooksReviews

Book Review: ‘The First Shadowdragon’ by Lee Newbery

Lee Newbery’s first book was about the last firefox so it only makes sense that his second book would be about the first shadowdragon. Once again, the citizens of Fargone need help, and they’re turning to Charlie the Great. However, Charlie isn’t feeling so great. Even though he managed to defeat the terrifying Grendilock, he’s still being bullied at school and

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Movie ReviewsReviews

Review: ‘Mean Girls’ Musical Falls Flat

The original Mean Girls is an iconic film, remaining a high school comedy favorite to this day. After spinning the franchise off into a Broadway musical, Tina Fey has adapted the stage show for the big screen once again. 2024’s Mean Girls remake tries to add a unique flair thanks to its musical trappings, but it fails to capture the magic

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ReviewsTV & Streaming Series Reviews

‘Echo’ Review: An Intimate and Gritty Marvel Experience

I was both intrigued and worried when Echo was announced to be a streaming series (a spin-off of 2021’s Hawkeye, starring Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld). How will Marvel Studios explore Maya Lopez’s (Alaqua Cox) Native American heritage? Will they somehow clean up Maya’s villainous characteristics from the comics? How will they tell a story with characters who do not communicate

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Book ReviewsBooksReviewsStellar Picks

‘Argylle’ by Elly Conway Book Review: Read It Before Seeing The Movie!

Get ready for a spy-thriller-treasure hunting adventure in Argylle by Elly Conway. Aubrey Argylle has been drifting ever since his parents died five years ago. But now he’s gotten the attention of the CIA, and they’ve recruited him for a special ops team. Argylle wasn’t quite sure what to expect working for the CIA, but this team isn’t it. While Argylle

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ReviewsStellar PicksTV & Streaming Series Reviews

‘The Brothers Sun’ Review: Fists Fly in this Heartfelt Black Comedy

The Brothers Sun is a surprisingly heartfelt black comedy where family is as fierce as fists, but both pack a powerful punch. The Netflix show is a story of a triad crime family spread across two continents, reunited due to an assassination attempt on a “country boy,” aka a powerful gang leader played by Johnny Kou. Michelle Yeoh plays Eileen ‘Mama’ Sun, the

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ReviewsTV & Streaming Series Reviews

‘Metallic Rouge’ Cyber-Noir Anime Premiere Focused on World-Building

It’s the start of a new year, and with it comes the promise of a new year of anime! One of the first new shows we’re getting is Metallic Rouge, a sci-fi production by Studio Bones. Metallic Rouge is a mysterious mecha anime, in a world where humans coexist with androids called “Neans.” When a group of Neans known as the

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Movie ReviewsReviews

‘Night Swim’ Review: A Shallow January Horror

Few months in the year are as scary to moviegoers as January. After the rush of awards season and holiday blockbusters, audiences spend far less time at the movies. Therefore, the studios dump the films they don’t expect to do very well at the beginning of the new year. Especially horror. The release of Night Swim, however, still feels a bit

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ReviewsStellar PicksTV & Streaming Series Reviews

Review: ‘Solo Leveling’ is a Groundbreaking Anime Phenomenon

The highly anticipated anime adaption of Solo Leveling is finally premiering on January 6th on Crunchyroll, and fans worldwide are excited about the upcoming series. The franchise began as a Korean web novel written by Chugong, dating back as early as 2015. The novel was later adapted into a webtoon and Manhwa in 2018, with illustrations by DUBU. The series has garnered a massive following,

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Book ReviewsBooksRankingsReviewsStellar Picks

My Top 23 Favorite Novels Read in 2023

Hello, fellow bookworms. It’s hard to believe that 2023 is over already. There’ve been highs and lows but overall it was a really great year for books. I’ve read well over one hundred books this year, many of them reviewed right here on Cosmic Circus for your perusal. So whittling it down to my top 23 was hard, almost like picking

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