After a two-month siesta thanks to the rigors of the teacher day job, I found myself back on the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel hosted by Ian Simmons. The cinephile world was set ablaze at the end of September with much-ballyhooed release of Paul Thomas Anderson’s new multi-genre opus One Battle After Another. The film has been enjoying all the recency bias and proclamations that it’s the best film of the year and the titan to beat at the Oscars.
Read MoreAs I have grown in press credentials and professional affiliations nationally, I have found myself landing in circles with other film critics of various levels. Recently, I was included in a poll for voting critics for Jordan Ruimy of World of Reel, a fellow Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. His survey was to collect picks for the best films of Steven Soderbergh from over 100 critics and other industry folk.
Read MoreAt 7 pm last Thursday, the Davis family settled around their living‑room TV, not to scroll Instagram, but to co‑build a virtual zoo in Minecraft. While 9-year-old George crafted pixel-perfect flamingos, his parents monitored the chat and cheered every tiger enclosure, an immersive ritual that, until recently, felt unthinkable for a family once wary of “screen time.”
Read MoreAs I have grown in press credentials and professional affiliations nationally, I have found myself landing in circles with other film critics of various levels. Recently, I was included in a poll for voting critics for Jordan Ruimy of World of Reel, a fellow Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. His survey was to collect picks for the best films of the Coen Brothers from over 120 critics and other industry folk
Read MoreTwo weeks after a combative Superman discussion on the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel hosted by Ian Simmons, cooler heads prevailed with an extended retrospective on the history of “The Fantastic Four” comic book property on the big screen. The assemblage of “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” went back to 1994, 2005, 2007, and 2015 before finishing with the brand spanking new The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Enjoy Ian, myself, Jeff York of The Establishing Shot, Mark Krawczyk of Special Mark Productions, and Cati Glidewell of The Blonde in Front sharing our experience and critiques.
Read MoreSomething I’ve learned in the past few weeks basking in the success of James Gunn’s universal starter Superman is that something the “S” on that costume can stand for more things than the name of the hero or some Kryptonian translation of hope. On a recent livesteam joining “Earth’s Mightiest Critics” led by Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel, the “S” stands for SPICY. With supporters and contrarians clashing, this roundtable got heated.
Read MoreI’ll go right ahead and admit. Summer has been busy. I’m a school teacher on summer vacation where every day is a Saturday and the memories blend together. I forgot about one of the opportunities I had this past month to joing Ian Simmons on his Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel. A few weeks back, Ian, myself, and Mark Krawczyk of Special Mark Productions talked about the thrills and spills of Jurassic World: Rebirth. Enjoy this recorded live chat!
Read MoreMovies are communal experiences. While us film critics are spoiled by mostly closed press screenings, we still get to sit with familiar friends in our circle. When the big and loud F1 came around, I had the pleasure of sharing an armrest with Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel. We shared the IMAX energy of the Brad Pitt film and were revved up plenty to talk about it on his weekly live show. Enjoy Ian, myself, David Fowlie of Keeping It Reel, and Jeff York of The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists on camera waving our own checkered flags!
Read MoreEvery now and then you run into a movie that carries a level of profundity that it’s genuinely beautiful to get the chance to talk to other people who see the same importance and impact. Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel saw one of those such movies, and it was one that I—and many others—have become over the moon for. The movie in question is The Life of Chuck, the latest Stephen King adaptation from filmmaker Mike Flanagan.
Read MoreWith the 20th anniversary re-release of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Mike Crowley of the You’ll Probably Agree website was very eager to talk about the blockbuster’s legacy. He, David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, and I ignite our lightsabers and reminisce about the best George Lucas’s prequel finale had to offer. Time has been kind to the movie and so were we. May The Force Be With You!
Read MoreI don’t mind being part of “game recognizing game.” Film Threat editor-in-chief (and fellow Critics Choice Association member) Alan Ng and his friend Chris Gore held an episode of “Alan’s Corner” on the publication’s YouTube channel discussing the Rotten Tomatoes reviews for Thunderbolts and the backlash to Alan’s own negative-skewing review. At around the 5:16 mark, Film Obsessive any my blurb get a namedrop and mention.
Read MoreDirector Ryan Coogler is on to something. That man is a hot streak, not only as an artist, but as an innovator of storytelling and filmcraft. Ian Simmons of the Kicking the Seat podcast and YouTube channel is on to something too with his own genius to assmble, as always, Earth’s Mightiest Critics. Last week, he brought on-camera guests to talk about the big spring hit Sinners. I pleased as punch to join Ian, Jeff York of The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists, Mark Krawczyk of the Spoiler Room, and Cati Glidewell of The Blonde in Front, to talk about it.
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