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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.

Ep566: Page2Screen: Transfiguration

Ep566: Page2Screen: Transfiguration

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Today, The Kicking the Seat Podcast and Cole Rush of The Quill to Live throw another birthday party for Harry Potter with a “Page2Screen” look at The Prisoner of Azkaban! Alfonso Cuaron’s 2004 film adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s third HP novel is widely regarded as a highlight of the series. When our hero returns to Hogwarts at age thirteen, he discovers more secrets about his family’s past, while dodging a fanatical Voldemort acolyte who’s just escaped from a maximum-security wizard prison.

This book and movie represent a turning point for Ian, who takes exception to the liberties with which the filmmakers approached their translation. He and Cole talk through the omissions to determine whether or not a feature film could have sustained all of the novel’s richly textured supporting details to the main action.

And, yes, the guys touch on the recent controversy surrounding Rowling’s comments about the Transgender community, with some takes that may surprise you.

Also, Ian reviews Ron Howard’s harrowing new documentary, Rebuilding Paradise, and tells you about Varèse Sarabande’s newly released, limited-edition CD of the Dracula 2000 soundtrack!

Note: Here are links to the posts that Ian and Cole reference during the J.K. Rowling controversy discussion:

Glamour Timeline of J.K. Rowling Controversy:

https://www.glamour.com/story/a-complete-breakdown-of-the-jk-rowling-transgender-comments-controversy

J.K Rowling Blog Post Re: Trans Activism (referenced in Glamour article): https://www.jkrowling.com/opinions/j-k-rowling-writes-about-her-reasons-for-speaking-out-on-sex-and-gender-issues/

Episode 566 is a simple kind of podcast!

Show Guide:

Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14

Intro: 0:14 - 2:05

Rebuilding Paradise Review: 2:05 - 4:16

Intro (Ct’d): 4:16 - 6:10

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Trailer: 6:10 - 7:56

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Discussion: 7:56 - 1:21:45

Outro Music: 1:21:45 - 1:22:01

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Ep567: Lew Temple in LIMBO

Ep567: Lew Temple in LIMBO

Ep565: Cobb's Web

Ep565: Cobb's Web