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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.

Throwing Down the Glitter Gauntlet!

Throwing Down the Glitter Gauntlet!

Ian Simmons

In this YouTube exclusive, Ian and Don look at a history-making bit of cinema: Trolls World Tour! Yes, Dreamworks' latest animated feature is the first movie slated for theatrical release to be re-routed exclusively to VOD.

The guys immerse themselves in the Trolls' sparkly pop universe, which turns out tohave many more dimensions to it than heroes Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) ever suspected. How does this musical odyssey stack up to the first film (and the movies that influenced it)? And what might Trolls World Tour's success mean for the future of first-run features--not to mention piracy?

Please follow Don's work at Every Movie Has a Lesson and at 25 Years Later.

And check out this deadline article on TROLLS WORLD TOUR's "box office" as discussed in the video. 

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!

FRIDAY THE 40TH Part 4: Get Off My Campground!

FRIDAY THE 40TH Part 4: Get Off My Campground!
Bond & Determined: No GOLD to EYE

Bond & Determined: No GOLD to EYE