Cosmic Circus Podcasts

Alien: Romulus | Cosmic Circus Reviews

Here's John and Vin's deep dive into the latest film in the Alien franchise, Alien: Romulus, directed by Fede Álvarez and written by Álvarez & Rodo Sayagues. It stars Cailee Spaeny as Rain, David Jonsson as Andy, and Isabela Merced as Kay.
Find the full video review on YouTube @TheCosmicCircus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPpUhd1RUQ0
Alien: Romulus review timestamps 00:10 - Intro 01:00 - Initial reaction and spoiler free thoughts for Alien: Romulus. Is this The Force Awakens for Alien 10:00 - Other parallels with Star Wars. 12:15 - Watching Prometheus may add to the experience and explain some things 14:09 - Alien: Romulus in IMAX 15:30 - The quality of sets, props and cinematography 17:50 - Actor performances in the film 19:30 - New additions to android lore and theories 20:45 - Beginning of spoiler discussion for Alien: Romulus. Issues with new rules for alien development and hybrid alien growth. 34:45 - Mixing all of the previous films in one, Easter eggs, and call backs 41:19 - Ridley Scott's first film, and the lack of philosophical questions in Romulus. 47:00 - Ripley vs Rain as our main hero 49:30 - Feeling less connected with the new group of characters than some previous films 50:23 - A need for a woman to direct or write something in the Alien franchise finally 53:20 - Ranking the Alien films  55:00 - Talking about the upcoming Alien TV series 56:00 - Outro
John's early reaction to Romulus https://youtu.be/fiqL6Lz55b4?si=O5wqY9lms9EdIAdv
John and Vin's retrospective review of the Alien films https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7PtoNooZTA
For more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors, visit https://www.thecosmiccircus.com
 

Alien Movies Retrospective | Cosmic Circus Reviews

John & Vin reminisce over their first encounter with Alien and share their thoughts on the Alien film franchise ahead of the release of Alien: Romulus.
For the full video of this review go to YouTube @TheCosmicCircus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7PtoNooZTA
Timestamps
00:10 - Intros  (SPOILERS) 01:10 - Introduction to the Alien franchise 04:58 - James Cameron and Aliens 08:30 - Alien 3 Assembly Cut vs Theatrical cut, Aliens Special Edition vs theatrical cut 13:20 - Aliens, Terminator 2, Avatar & James Cameron. Parallels between films 18:15 - first Alien film and Romulus 19:00 - more on Alien 3 and Aliens 28:55 - Alien Resurrection 36:30 - Expectations for Alien: Romulus 40:44 - Would we want to see a new trilogy from Alien coming out of this, or something else such as a remake of Alien vs Predator? 43:35 - Alien cameo in Spaceballs 45:30 - Ridley Scott's Alien and that brilliant first reveal of the monster, Jaws in space 46:50 - Outros
For John's early reaction to Alien: Romulus go to https://youtu.be/fiqL6Lz55b4?si=imb4_CA6z5uaQQ9R
For more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors, visit https://www.thecosmiccircus.com
 

The Count of Monte Cristo (2024) | Cosmic Circus Reviews

Vin reviews the 2024 French film The Count of Monte Cristo from directors Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte. Let us know below in the comments if you want to check out this movie when it hits theaters near you!
Find the full video review at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC0InqJz1eE
Timestamps 00:10 - Intro 00:35 - The story of The Count of Monte Cristo 01:30 - Cinematography and score of this new film 02:27 - Adapting the story from the famous book 03:55 - is a 3 hour movie too long or not enough time to tell this story? 04:45 - The Count of Monte Cristo as an inspiration for superhero and masked vigilantes seeking justice in films and a classic archetype. 05:55 - The Three Musketeers - Part I: D'Artagnan and The Three Musketeers - Part II: Milady, 2023 films from the same filmmakers. 06:36 - Outros
For more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors, visit https://www.thecosmiccircus.com

Trap Starring Josh Hartnett, Directed by M. Night Shyamalan | Cosmic Circus Reviews

John and Vin talk about the new M. Night Shyamalan film Trap starring Josh Hartnett. 
For the full video review go to YouTube @TheCosmicCircus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jgz4cRUJndA
Timestamps 00:10 - Intro 00:49 - Initial thoughts on and expectations about Trap before seeing the film 03:00 - Expectations vs reality seeing Trap 05:15 - absurd moments in the movie 05:55 - John Hartnett and his character in Trap 08:00 - Rashomon effect, multiple stories could have been told from several different character perspectives. 10:13 - Compared to our recently reviewed movie Twisters 11:16 - Saleka Shyamalan as Lady Raven in the film 12:00 - Compaints 14:56 - SPOILER discussion about Trap 27:20 - Comparing Trap to the rest of M. Night Shyamalan's filmography. 30:00 - Concert portion of the film, comparing the film to some of Ryan Johnson's work such as the Knives Out films, and Looper. 31:49 - Why he can't seem to recapture what he had in Sixth Sense 34:36 - Outros
For more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors, visit https://www.thecosmiccircus.com
 

Twisters 4DX Experience | Cosmic Circus Reviews

John and Vin talk about the Twisters movie 4DX experience! Find out if this is a must see or if it's too much of a good thing!
Timestamps 00:15 - Intro 00:40 - Did Vin survive the Twisters 4DX experience? 03:50 - Talking about older and shorter 4DX experiences. 06:30 - How is the immersive experience with 4DX Twisters? 07:57 - Would Vin do it again? 08:15 - Outro
 
Find the video review on YouTube @theCosmicCircus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWMx448WIbk
Vin and John's review of Twisters: https://youtu.be/bMvSpoQ8tEU?si=yrPw-NzUpzWzn_z9
Brian's ScreenX experience for Twisters: https://thecosmiccircus.com/review-twisters-screenx-experience/
John's written review of Twisters: https://thecosmiccircus.com/twisters-review-universal/
 

Deadpool & Wolverine Discussion with John and Vin! | Cosmic Circus Reviews

John and Vin talk about the newest Marvel Studios film, Deadpool & Wolverine, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.
Timestamps 00:12 - Intros 00:54 - General thoughts on Deadpool & Wolverine, comparisons to Toy Story 3 06:55 - Discussing the gratuitous use of cameos, and what was the purpose of these characters appearing or the movie itself 09:05 - SPOILER WARNING and more talk about the various cameos in Deadpool & Wolverine. 14:25 - Comparing this film to Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness 16:27 - What worked in Deadpool 3 19:00 - This film and how it compared to the Fox Universe of Marvel films. X-Men Fox movies talk. 22:15 - Vin's Deadpool comics reading guides are mentioned and he says, "the best Deadpool stories are the ones where he suffers the most." They discuss how the stakes should have felt higher than they did in Deadpool & Wolverine 24:00 - The confusing elements of the plot with the Multiverse, the TVA and Cassandra Nova. 25:50 - Strong feelings about Wolverine's yellow suit 27:25 - The end of Toy Story 3 being compared to Deadpool & Wolverine 28:54 - How we feel about Marvel's Multiverse Saga so far 30:15 - James Gunn's DC universe... does Marvel's issues help DC Studios? 32:20 - Deadpool 1 & 2 had real emotions and a good story, whereas Deadpool & Wolverine lacks. 33:55 - Outros
 
For the full video of this review go to YouTube @thecosmiccircus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZJUMYwucuM
Links referred to in this video...
Uday's movie review of Deadpool & Wolverine: https://thecosmiccircus.com/deadpool-wolverine-review-marvel-studios/
Vin's Deadpool Comics Guide: https://thecosmiccircus.com/deadpool-reading-guide/
Vin's Wolverine Comics Guide: https://thecosmiccircus.com/wolverine-reading-guide/
The Cosmic Circle Podcast Discussion of Deadpool & Wolverine with Brian Kitson, Anthony Flagg & Alex Perez: https://thecosmiccircus.com/deadpool-wolverine-discussion-cosmic-circle-ep-60/
 

Marvel Studios Hall H Panel at SDCC 2024 with Alex Perez! | The Cosmic Circle

San Diego Comic-Con is one of the most significant pop culture events of the year, and this year's celebration was especially hot if you are a Marvel fan! It feels like forever since the last Hall H presentation from the studio back in 2022, so it was electric to have Marvel front and center once again. Marvel's Hall H panel this year focused mainly on three of their upcoming projects: Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, and Fantastic Four: First Steps and also had some big reveals for Avengers 5 and 6.  In episode 61 of The Cosmic Circle, podcast host Brian Kitson with fellow writers Anthony Flagg and Alex Perez discuss reveals from the panel.  Insider Alex Perez also shares some of what he knows about the future of the MCU and how the Multiverse Saga will come to a close, so beware of spoilers in this podcast!
 
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Brian Kitson
Anthony Flagg
Alex Perez
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Find the companion article to this podcast at https://thecosmiccircus.com

Deadpool & Wolverine Movie and Beyond Talk with Brian, Alex, and Anthony! | The Cosmic Circle

Deadpool and Wolverine has finally arrived, and we're beyond excited about this film. Not only does it have the responsibility of furthering the story of the MCU, but it also serves as a closing chapter of the 20th Century Fox universe of Marvel characters. So naturally, we had to have a podcast about it! (Spoiler warning!)
Join host and head writer Brian Kitson and fellow writers Anthony Flagg and Alex Perez as they discuss every exciting detail of this newest Marvel Studios offering. Did they think Deadpool and Wolverine was a good movie? What were some of their favorite parts? And just where do they think we'll see these two mutants again in the MCU? This is definitely not a podcast you want to miss, as Alex Perez shares some juicy details about what's next for our favorite merch with the mouth and his newfound family. Enjoy!
 
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Brian Kitson
Anthony Flagg
Alex Perez
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 7/28/2024
Find the companion article to this podcast at https://thecosmiccircus.com

Twisters Movie Review with John and Vin! | Cosmic Circus Reviews

Twisters starring Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones and directed by Lee Isaac Chung! Check out Vin and John's thoughts on the sequel film, what worked and what didn't, and comparisons to the original Twister film (1996). 
Timestamps 00:10 - Intros 01:00 - Talking about John's history with the first Twisters movie from 1996 06:00 - Thoughts from a first-time viewer (Vin) of Twister & and Twisters. Comparing the films and general thoughts with no spoilers. 09:45 - Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones in Twisters 11:40 - John's written review on TheCosmicCircus.com and more on comparing the new film with the original 14:30 - SPOILERS for Twisters discussed from this point on 23:30 - Talking about the soundtrack 24:40 - The legacy of Twister and connections (or lack thereof) between the films. 29:00 - On creating a sequel vs a remake 32:08 - Rodeo scene discussed 34:45 - Outros
 
Find the video review on YouTube @theCosmicCircus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMvSpoQ8tEU
For John's review of Twisters: https://thecosmiccircus.com/twisters-review-universal/
Brian's review of Twisters and his ScreenX experience: https://thecosmiccircus.com/review-twisters-screenx-experience/
Vin's review of the Twisters 4DX experience https://youtu.be/ZWMx448WIbk?si=hE2nI4THQ1lJ6B_I
 

Star Wars: The Acolyte Season 1 Discussion with Uday, Cam & Vic | The Cosmic Circle

After seven weeks of mystery, The Acolyte has wrapped up its first season on Disney+. Set during the end of the High Republic era, this Star Wars series was the first live-action show to break out of the Skywalker-dominated time period viewers often find themselves in. Between secret twins, sexy Sith, and the Jedi Order’s shockingly poor decision-making, The Acolyte was never a dull time! 
Join host Uday Kataria (X: @GoldenNinja3000) and his guests Vic (X: @Eridrexalkee) and Cam (X: @camandfilm) as they dive into the secrets uncovered in The Acolyte and what they mean for the past and future of Star Wars. This episode discusses everyone’s favorite parts of the show, what we could see in a potential Acolyte season 2, and what we all thought of Osha, Mae, Sol, and Qimir by the end of this breakneck series. 
 
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Uday Kataria
Wiktor Reinfuss
Cameron Brook
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 7/21/2024
Find the companion article to this podcast at https://thecosmiccircus.com

Christina Chong of Audible’s ’Impact Winter’ | Exclusive Interview

Audible has been one of the leaders in the industry for audiobooks, with a one-stop shop for any title you can imagine. They've also branched out into original programming, such as Impact Winter from Travis Beacham (Pacific Rim) and executive producers of The Walking Dead. I sat down with actress Christina Chong (La'an Noonien-Singh in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds) about her role in Impact Winter's third season.
In this interview, Christina Chong discusses what drew her to this series and how her mysterious new character factors into the larger mythos of this Audible original. Chong discusses how recording an audio drama differs from acting on screen, how she gets into character, and the challenges and rewards she experienced with recording her first audio drama. Also, find out just how she would fare if she lived in the world of Impact Winter! Check out the interview below!
Host/Interviewer: Brian Kitson
Theme: "Coffee and You" via Pixabay.
Find the companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com

Longlegs starring Nicholas Cage! | Cosmic Circus Reviews

New Neon thriller/horror film Longlegs staring Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage and was written and directed by Osgood Perkins. Find out what John had to say about this new film here.
Timestamps
00:00 - Intro 00:55 - Story and characters in Longlegs 02:50 - Going in without prior knowledge about this movie is the best way to approach it. 04:20 - Maika Monroe is a strong lead 06:12 - Dynamics between the lead characters, and opinion on Nicolas Cage's performace in Longlegs 10:30 - Cinematography in this film 13:20 - About Lee Harker's character 15:50 - Final thoughts on the film. 18:00 - Outro
 
For Max's review of Longlegs visit https://thecosmiccircus.com/longlegs-review-neon/
Find the full video review on YouTube @thecosmiccircus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFMu4Yaws6U
For more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors visit https://www.thecosmiccircus.com

’Doctor Who’ Season 1 Reflections and Future Season Discussion | The Cosmic Circle

It's hard to believe that the newest season of Doctor Who is over when it feels like it's just started. Ncuti Gatwa's first season as the 15th Doctor is over, but that doesn't stop the excitement that we're feeling about it. From the moment that Gatwa appeared on our screens in the third special to him meeting his companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), so many moments have taken our breath away and left us speechless. We were not speechless, though, as we needed to get together and break it all down in our latest Doctor Who discussion!
Join host Brian Kitson and writers Wiktor Reinfuss and Cameron Brook as they discuss their highs and lows from the most recent batch of episodes, such as the barriers that showrunner Russell T. Davies is breaking down in the long-running sci-fi series, their favorite episodes, and why, and where they think the next season of Doctor Who is headed. Do you think they enjoyed the re-introduction of the Pantheon of Gods? You'll have to listen to the podcast to find out!
 
Podcast credits and show notes
Contributors/Writers
Brian Kitson
Wiktor Reinfuss
Cameron Brook
Executive Producer/Editor
Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 6/29/2024
Find the companion article to this podcast at https://thecosmiccircus.com

’Space Cadet’ EP/Writer/Director Liz W. Garcia | Exclusive Interview

I recently spoke with Executive Producer, Director, Writer Liz W. Garcia about her new film Space Cadet, a comedy about second chances, chasing your dreams, and what it takes to become NASA astronaut! The hilarious new comedy releases on Prime Video next month July 4, 2024 and stars Emma Roberts, Gabrielle Union, and Tom Hopper.
Host/Interviewer: Lizzie Hill
Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 00:20 - Talking about the themes of chasing your dreams, and second chances, as well as what it takes for women who are NASA candidates to get there. Inspirations for writing the film. 03:20 - On the diversity of the cast and how it benefitted the film 04:45 - On the differences between writing dramas vs comedy 06:00 - Did she have any actors in mind for the parts? 06:45 - Outro
 
Theme: "Coffee and You" via Pixabay.
Find the companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com
You can find the video to this interview on The Cosmic Circus YouTube channel https://youtu.be/B_Ghz288oMI?si=lPFuw27llGq2pMN7

Monique Asher, Author of ’Don’t Eat the Pie’ | Exclusive Interview

I've had the immense privilege of knowing Monique Asher for over a decade, having met her through some friends, one of whom was her younger sister. Throughout the years, she has worn many hats, such as mother, wife, and therapist. However, one hobby and passion that she kept coming back to was writing, which began at such a young age (as you learn in the interview!). Not one to give up on her dreams easily, she's pushed through and her debut novel, Don't Eat the Pie, comes out September 24, 2024, with more novels already on the way! I was able to sit down with Asher to discuss this novel as well as various other topics.
In the interview, listen to when Asher got her start with writing and how it developed into her budding career as a published author, what her developmental process has been for Don't Eat the Pie, and what else she has in the pipeline writing-wise over the next few years. She also discusses how her time as a therapist has helped to foster her writing, and talks about her spooky podcast Stay the Night (@Staythenightpod), which she hosts with her sister. And like the true horror fanatic that she is, Asher shares some of her current favorite scary novels. Check out the interview!
Monique Asher's novel, Don't Eat the Pie, is available for preorder most places books are avaiilable! Let us know on social media @mycomsiccircus if you plan on checking out this upcoming novel!
 
Find this book on Amazon or most places books are sold.
Host/Interviewer: Brian Kitson
Theme: "Coffee and You" via Pixabay.
You can find out more about the author and upcoming books at her official website, www.moniqueasher.com/
Find the companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com