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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.

Ep694: Page2Screen: HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE

Ep694: Page2Screen: HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE

We're celebrating Harry Potter's birthday a bit early this year, with a "Page2Screen" review of The Goblet of Fire!

Ian and Cole uphold their annual tradition with a literary look at the fourth book in the fantasy phenomenon, which finds Harry Potter competing in a dangerous wizarding competition while also contending with the return of He Who Must Not Be Named!

This episode presents a big change in Ian's affection for the book series' big-screen adaptations, and in the next hour the guys will break down the problems (and pluses) of director Mike Newell's wildly divergent version of events.

Show Links:

  • Watch the Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire trailer.

  • Keep up with all of Cole's literary criticism at The Quill to Live.

  • Check out Cole's TikTok channel, BookRush.

  • Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ep695: Anthony Michael Hall: The Kicking the Seat Interview

Ep695: Anthony Michael Hall: The Kicking the Seat Interview

Ep693: Hammerland: FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED

Ep693: Hammerland: FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED