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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.

Ep369: High Tide

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast welcomes back Keeping it Reel's David Fowlie and Emmanuel Noisette of EMan's Movie Reviews for a deep dive into James Wan's Aquaman! Despite a handful of problems (script issues, a second lead who barely treads water), this dazzling big-screen spectacle is a much-needed course-correction for the DC Extended Universe. Gone is the doom-and-gloom of Justice League and Suicide Squad--replaced by an adventurous spirit that owes much to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, while retaining its own voice and unique visual style.

Also, Ian asks listeners to help EMan get to 50k followers on his phenomenal YouTube channel, and recommends Don Shanahan's four-star Aquaman review at Every Movie Has a Lesson!

Episode 369 is a reluctant hero with a saltwater past!

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Ep370: Late Screening: It's SPEED on a DIE HARD!

Ep368: Miles Ahead