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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.

Ep506: 12 Years a Sled Dog

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast navigates The Call of the Wild's treacherous frontier with David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel and Don Shanahan of Every Movie Has a Lesson!To call this CG-enhanced family adventure and adaptation of Jack London's classic novel is to require a complete redefinition of the word.

Gone is the bloody existential dread and keen examination of man's relationship with beast and nature--replaced by performances that range from competent to embarrassing, and animation that makes the Garfield films seem like top-shelf Pixar.

Also, Ian talks about the new Shout! Factory kids' movie, Swift, and teases his appearance on the Spoiler Room Podcast (courtesy of Special Mark Productions, who also hosts The Final Cut YouTube channel).

Episode 506 has the cuddliest frontier murder stories you'll ever hear!

Show Guide:

Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14

Intro: 0:14 - 6:35

The Call of the Wild Trailer: 6:35 - 8:33

The Call of the Wild Discussion: 8:33 - 53:38

Outro Music: 53:38 - 53:54

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Ep507: Reelpolitik: A Message from the Phone Company

Ep505: Late Screening: BULL Meets World