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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.

Mullin' MULAN

Mullin' MULAN

Ian Simmons

Disney's live-action remake of Mulan was supposed to come out today. Unfortunately, movie theatres all over the globe went dark last week--so Ian and Don talk about the 1998 film that inspired it!

The guys touch on social and cultural dynamics (perhaps inappropriately); marvel at 2-D animation; and wonder if the 2020 adaptation may have stripped too much fun out of its re-imagining*--and whether or not that's a bad thing.

If you enjoy this content, please consider subscribing to the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel for more commentary and reviews--and leave a "like" and a comment while you're there!

*Neither critic has seen the 2020 version, so this is pure speculation, based on the trailer.

RE-ANIMATOR, Revisited

RE-ANIMATOR, Revisited
Inbreak! Movies in the Time of Quarantine

Inbreak! Movies in the Time of Quarantine