profile pic ian.jpg

Welcome to Kicking the Seat!

Ian Simmons launched Kicking the Seat in 2009, one week after seeing Nora Ephron’s Julie & Julia. His wife proposed blogging as a healthier outlet for his anger than red-faced, twenty-minute tirades (Ian is no longer allowed to drive home from the movies).

The Kicking the Seat Podcast followed three years later and, despite its “undiscovered gem” status, Ian thoroughly enjoys hosting film critic discussions, creating themed shows, and interviewing such luminaries as Gaspar NoéRachel BrosnahanAmy Seimetz, and Richard Dreyfuss.

Ian is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. He also has a family, a day job, and conflicted feelings about referring to himself in the third person.

Ep519: Mullin' MULAN

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and Don Shanahan of Every Movie Has a Lesson look at Mulan! No, not the 2020 live-action remake that has been indefinitely shelved; up for discussion is the 1998 2-D animated film about a village girl who assumes the role of a male soldier in the Chinese Emperor's war against the Huns.

This fun and sometimes flippant chat encompasses societal and cultural changes of the last two decades; the beauty of traditional animation; and speculation as to whether or not the updated Disney film will be too different from the original to be worthwhile.

Also, Ian gets his 80's on with a look at Shout! Factory's "Select" Edition Blu-ray of The Wizard (as well as a must-see documentary about the Nintendo Power Glove), and plugs a recent appearance on the You'll Probably Agree podcast!

Episode 519 will make a man out of you!

Show Guide:

Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14

Intro: 0:14 - 5:42

Mulan Trailer: 5:42 - 7:44

Mulan Discussion: 7:44 - 1:31:04

Outro Music: 53:53 - 54:08

Keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on TwitterFacebookYouTubeInstagramiTunesStitcher!

Ep520: I Love Your Precious Heart

Ep518: Permission to Live