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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.

Ep283: The Power (and Peril) of Myth

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast convenes a Jedi Council of critics to discuss Rian Johnson's magnificent eighth chapter in the Star Wars saga, The Last Jedi! Joining Ian are David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, Emmanuel Noisette of EMan's Movie Reviews, and Don Shanahan of Every Movie Has a Lesson.

This extended conversation took place mere minutes after an advance screening earlier this week, so you'll hear the guys' raw, unfiltered reactions to a movie that seeks to upend the Star Wars mythos in ways that some will undoubtedly celebrate--while others may take as a lightsaber to the heart.

By the way, do not listen to this episode until you've seen The Last Jedi. Following a few minutes of general reactions, we venture deep into spoiler territory. You have been warned.

It's also worth noting that we're honoring the Kicking the Seat Podcast's 100th episode of 2017. Yes, Ian has officially gone insane, and he has a large cast of enablers to thank.

Episode 283 knows who Snoke's father is! Or something...

Ep284: The All-Pervert Edition

Ep282: Late Screening: Programmed Comedy Robot