GUEST CRITIC #70: Detroit

by Lafronda Stumn

As busy I get from time to time, I find that I can't see every movie under the sun, leaving my friends and colleagues to fill in the blanks for me. As poetically as I think I wax about movies on this website as a wannabe critic, there are other experts out there. Sometimes, it inspires me to see the movie too and get back to being my circle's go-to movie guy. Sometimes, they save me $9 and you 800+ words of blathering. In a new review series, I'm opening my site to friend submissions for guest movie reviews.

GUEST CRITIC, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, Social Media, 2021Don ShanahanJuly 11, 2021Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" Midweek Mischief for Episode 5 of "Loki"

The fifth and penultimate episode of Disney'+’s Loki sent the whole show off a motorcycle ramp with an adventurous episode of Easter eggs and foreboding questions and answers before what is promising to be a pretty impactful finale bext week. “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” were there to talk about all of it and then some on the “Midweek Mischief” panel hosted by Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel and podcast. Enjoy Ian, myself, David Fowlie of Keeping It Reel, and Mike Crowley of YPA Reviews. Find us on YouTube every Wednesday and definitely pull up a chair for the big ending next week!

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanJuly 8, 2021AMC River East 21Kicking the SeatComment

GUEST EDITORIAL: 10 Tips for Writing a Film Review

by Melissa Mauro

Writing movie reviews is a very interesting and creative task. Some people think that this is not a job, but a hobby. But in fact, in order to make a high-quality review of the film, the authors do not limit themselves to just watching the film. How to get started with writing interesting and valuable movie reviews? Below you will find some tips that will help you not only make a high-quality review but also become a professional in this interesting writing direction.

2021, Column, Editorial, GUEST EDITORIAL, Social MediaDon ShanahanJuly 5, 2021Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" Midweek Mischief for Episode 4 of "Loki"

You know, with all this rain we’ve had in Chicago to end the month of June, I’m guessing a few shrubs and bushes need some PRUNING. Well, over on Disney'+’s Loki, the pruning going on is sharp and spicy. Episode 4 for the Marvel series arrived for “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” on the “Midweek Mischief” panel hosted by Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel and podcast. We deep dive into Marvel villainy for an extended chat. Come watch say why as the five of us bounce our ideas and reflections around. Enjoy Ian, myself, David Fowlie of Keeping It Reel, Mike Crowley of YPA Reviews, and Mark Krawczyk of The Spoiler Room Podcast. Find us on YouTube every Wednesday!

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanJuly 1, 2021AMC River East 21Kicking the SeatComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" Midweek Mischief for Episode 3 of "Loki"

No tardiness this week from me and I land in a busy and full dais of five of “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” for the “Midweek Mischief” panel hosted by Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel and podcast. Of the panel, I’m guy yawning and calling this third episode of Loki on Disney+ the dreaded F word: FILLER. Come watch say why as the five of us bounce our ideas and reflections around. Enjoy David Fowlie of Keeping It Reel, Mike Crowley of YPA Reviews, and Mark Krawczyk of The Spoiler Room Podcast. Find us on YouTube every Wednesday!

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanJune 24, 2021AMC River East 21Kicking the Seat, WandaVisionComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" YouTube Channel for "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"

Unlike Sean Penn’s iconic Jeff Spicoli, I was righteously un-stoned but still happy to join Ian Simmons dive into the “Criterion Cove” pool for his Kicking the Seat YouTube podcast. He and I climb in and out of that pool in our own Zoom call red bikinis to bow upon the altar of Mr. Hand and all the derelicts of Amy Heckerling’s 1981 seminal classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High. We go deep enough to get water in our ears on this one. Enjoy!

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanJune 22, 2021AMC River East 21Kicking the SeatComment

GUEST CRITIC #69: Nomadland

by Lafronda Stumn

As busy I get from time to time, I find that I can't see every movie under the sun, leaving my friends and colleagues to fill in the blanks for me. As poetically as I think I wax about movies on this website as a wannabe critic, there are other experts out there. Sometimes, it inspires me to see the movie too and get back to being my circle's go-to movie guy. Sometimes, they save me $9 and you 800+ words of blathering. In a new review series, I'm opening my site to friend submissions for guest movie reviews.

GUEST CRITIC, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, Social Media, 2021Don ShanahanJune 21, 2021Comment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" Midweek Mischief for Episode 2 of "Loki"

I was a little late to this week’s “Midweek Mischief” panel of “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” hosted by Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast and the matching YouTube channel. However, the buzz and intrigue is all there in just the second episode of Marvel’s Loki playing on Disney+. If last week was the merely the introduction to the weirdness and intrigue, this new head-spinning episode announces those two traits even greater. I’m lost and I love it, as I get into on Ian’s show, alonside Ian and David Fowlie of Keeping It Reel. Without David’s acumen, we would be even more lost. Find us on YouTube every Wednesday!

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanJune 17, 2021AMC River East 21Kicking the Seat, WandaVisionComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" YouTube Channel for "Cruella"

It's dogfight time as Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel and podcast and I spare over the live-action Disney prequel, Cruella! Emma Stone stars as the titular villainess-in-the-making, whose rise from 1960s street urchin to ruthless mid-70s fashion magnate is portrayed with all the glam and intrigue of a superhero origin story. But is that a good thing? In this wide-ranging and VERY spoilery debate, we look at the character's origins in 101 Dalmatians, examine the bizarre narrative traps that the movie must dodge, and question the messages lurking beneath the dresses, dogs, and de Vil-ish hijinks.

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanJune 16, 2021AMC River East 21Kicking the SeatComment

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" Midweek Mischief for Episode 1 of "Loki"

New show alert! The hiatus of new Marvel content is over with the arrival of the new Loki series on Disney+. Adding to the well-built carnival act of “Earth’s Mightiest Critics,” Ian Simmons, the host of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel has another excellent weekly live show, this time called “Midweek Mischief.” To opne this exciting six-week appointment, I joined Ian, David Fowlie of Keeping It Reel, and Mike Crowley of YPA Reviews. Everyone loves Tom Hiddleston and everyone loves imitating Owen Wilson. Let’s put them together with superhero stakes. Every Wednesday, we will discuss them all live on YouTube!

Media Appearance, Podcast, Social Media, SPECIAL, 2020Don ShanahanJune 11, 2021AMC River East 21Kicking the Seat, WandaVisionComment

GUEST CRITIC #66: Promising Young Woman

by Lafronda Stumn

As busy I get from time to time, I find that I can't see every movie under the sun, leaving my friends and colleagues to fill in the blanks for me. As poetically as I think I wax about movies on this website as a wannabe critic, there are other experts out there. Sometimes, it inspires me to see the movie too and get back to being my circle's go-to movie guy. Sometimes, they save me $9 and you 800+ words of blathering. In a new review series, I'm opening my site to friend submissions for guest movie reviews.

GUEST CRITIC, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, Social Media, 2021Don ShanahanJune 7, 2021Comment

GUEST CRITIC #65: Judas and the Black Messiah

by Lafronda Stumn

As busy I get from time to time, I find that I can't see every movie under the sun, leaving my friends and colleagues to fill in the blanks for me. As poetically as I think I wax about movies on this website as a wannabe critic, there are other experts out there. Sometimes, it inspires me to see the movie too and get back to being my circle's go-to movie guy. Sometimes, they save me $9 and you 800+ words of blathering. In a new review series, I'm opening my site to friend submissions for guest movie reviews.

GUEST CRITIC, Independent Film, MOVIE REVIEW, Social Media, Foreign Film, 2021Don ShanahanMay 29, 2021Comment