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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 Noé, Rachel Brosnahan, Amy 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.

Ep792: E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982) - 40th Anniversary Review

Ep792: E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982) - 40th Anniversary Review

Ian Simmons

Ian and David look back on 40 years of Steven Spielberg's groundbreaking family adventure, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial!

The guys recently caught a special IMAX re-release screening and sat down a couple hours later to talk about a film they consider to be perfect. What follows is a look at why the movie about a little boy and his stranded space-alien buddy became a cultural phenomenon; why it towers over modern summer blockbusters; and what they noticed as adults that they didn't pick up on as kids.

This episode is dedicated to the magic of movies.

Note: Due to an audio issue, Ian's sound is a bit tinny for the first 14 minutes.

Show Links:

Ep793: Qualities of MERCY: An Interview with Filmmaker / Actress EMILY LAPE

Ep793: Qualities of MERCY: An Interview with Filmmaker / Actress EMILY LAPE
Ep791: SPAWN (1997) - 25th Anniversary Round Table Review

Ep791: SPAWN (1997) - 25th Anniversary Round Table Review