Kicking the Seat

A Minecraft Movie is high-gloss, empty-calorie, IP garbage...right?

Not so fast, ya zombies!

Join Earth's Mightiest Critics as we build a case for the year's biggest box office sensation--directed by the guy who brought you Napoleon Dynamite!

Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:

• kickseat.com

• X

• Letterboxd

• BlueSky

• Instagram

• Facebook

Show Links

• Watch the A Minecraft Movie (2025) trailer.

• Bonus! Check out Ian and Luke's "Target Audience" review of the movie!

• Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:

  • Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.

  • Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.

  • Get seated with The Blonde in Front!

  • Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.

  • Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…

    • ...And Film Obsessive

    • ...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.

  • Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue.

    • ...and We Got This Covered.

  • Make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

  • And stir things up with Will Johnson of the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.

Ian and Luke enter a world of swords, zombies, and cube-shaped chickens!

Yes, it's time for a "Target Audience" review of A Minecraft Movie! Can fans (and non-fans) of the video game enjoy Warner Bros' big-screen adaptation? How does Minecraft stack up to other recent console-to-silver-screen releases? And what about those freaky McDonald's Grown-up Happy Meal toys?

Join us for this mildly spoilerific mini-review, and find out!

Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:

• kickseat.com

• X

• Letterboxd

• BlueSky

• Instagram

• Facebook

Show Links

• Watch the A Minecraft Movie (2025) trailer.

• Catch up with all of Ian and Luke's reviews in our "Target Audience" Playlist!

It's April. It's Accademia Giallo. It's your fearsome faculty getting downright foolish!

This month we're talking about The Editor, Adam Brooks and Matthew Kennedy's stalker send-up, in which a film editor gets wrapped up in a series of murders! Join us for a presentation on parodying the perilous!

We also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!

Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:

• kickseat.com

• X

• Letterboxd

• BlueSky

• Instagram

• Facebook

Show Links

• Watch the Editor (2014) trailer.

• Support all of our terrifying teachers' axe-tracurricular activities!

  • Stay studious with Aaron Christensen at Horror101 with Dr. AC!

  • And subscribe to his YouTube channel!

  • If you dare, venture down into Kitley's Krypt with Jon Kitley!

    • And listen to Jon's scary-good podcast, Discover the Horror!

  • Stalk Bryan Martinez in The Giallo Room!

  • Buy J. Blake Fichera's "Scored to Death" Volume I and II on Amazon (mentioned in the show).

    • Catch up with classic episodes of his Saturday Night Movie Sleepovers podcast!

• Continue your education with our "Accademia Giallo" Playlist!

If you've seen Drew Hancock's Companion, you know that explaining it to those who haven’t seen it is nearly impossible--which is why Earth's Mightiest Critics are assigning you homework for this livestream!

The late-January release is still playing in some theaters (Go, go, go!), but you can also rent/buy it On Demand. It tells the story of Iris (Sophie Thatcher), a young-and-in-love young woman who's accompanying her boyfriend, Josh (Jack Quaid), on a weekend getaway with his friends at a remote luxury cabin.

Yep, that's all we can tell you, besides:

Don’t watch the trailer.

Don’t look up the synopsis.

Don’t look at the movie poster or any streaming/physical media cover art.

But definitely do watch the movie and then join us for a complete breakdown of one of the year's sharpest, surprising, and downright relevant films!

We'll escort you down a spoilerific path of twists, turns, and totally messed-up ideas! We also answer your questions, comments, and SuperChats!

Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:

• kickseat.com

• X

• Letterboxd

• BlueSky

• Instagram

• Facebook

Show Links

• Watch the Companion (2025) trailer.

• Companion is now available on 4K from Warner Bros.

• Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:

  • Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.

  • Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.

  • Get seated with The Blonde in Front!

  • Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.

  • Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…

    • ...And Film Obsessive

    • ...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.

  • Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue.

    • ...and We Got This Covered.

  • Make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

  • And stir things up with Will Johnson of the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.

This month, Ian and Sujewa look back on a truly remarkable indie gem from 2011: Lynn Shelton's three-character dramedy, Your Sister’s Sister!

Mark Duplass stars as Jack, an aimless Seattle-ite who's still grieving a year after his brother's death. His best friend, Iris (Emily Blunt), offers him the use of her family's remote cabin for a week, to relax, reflect, and plan to get his life back on track. Little do either of them know that Iris's older sister, Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt) has also decided to stay at the house, following a nasty breakup. During a comedically tumultuous week, the trio will uncover secrets, shatter illusions, and make decisions that will affect them for decades to come.

In this spoilerific review, the guys lament the loss of the earnest relationship indie; pay tribute to the stars' distinct approach to delivering realistic performances, in service of Shelton's keen direction and sharp screenplay (minus a few spotty contrivances); and dig into some interpretations of where the story might go, following a harsh cut to black.

Plus: Stick around to learn how Sujewa approaches learning about new film gear, in preparation for shooting his films!

Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:

• kickseat.com

• X

• BlueSky

• Instagram

• Facebook

Show Links

• Watch the Your Sister’s Sister (2011) trailer.

• Check out Sujewa's latest podcast venture, This Arthouse Life!

• Watch Sujewa's latest film, Cosmic Disco Detective Rene for free on YouTube!

• Rent The Secret Society for Slow Romance (the predecessor to Cosmic Disco Detective Rene).

• Follow Sujewa on X.

• Check out all the episodes in our “IndieSeen” Playlist!

Earth's Mightiest Critics emerge from the mines of pop culture controversy to deliver a detailed look at Snow White!

And because this is a special "Here We Go Again" episode, we'll see how Marc Webb's 2025 film compares to Disney's foundational 1937 animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs!

In the new movie, Rachel Zegler stars as Snow White, whose kingdom was transformed by the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot) from an "apples for everyone" utopia into a capitalist hellscape of brute-strength tax enforcement.

(Yes, you read that right).

The would-be princess leads a proletariat revolution of banished thieves, magical animals, and the formerly eponymous dwarfs to reclaim the land. There is also shoehorned singing, a magic mirror, and an "eeeww-do-we- have-to?" romance with not-a-Prince (Andrew Burnap).

Is this the most audacious and revisionist of the so-called "live-action" Disney remakes? If so, is that necessarily a bad thing? Perspectives are as varied as the hand-drawn raindrops in the '37 cartoon--and we'll tackle as many of them as possible.

Join us for a grumpy, dopey, (but never sleepy) spoilerific review that's guaranteed to be the fairest of them all! We also answer your questions, comments, and SuperChats!

Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:

• kickseat.com

• X

• Letterboxd

• BlueSky

• Instagram

• Facebook

Show Links

• Watch the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) trailer.

• Watch the Snow White (2025) trailer.

• Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:

  • Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.

  • Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.

  • Get seated with The Blonde in Front!

  • Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.

  • Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…

    • ...And Film Obsessive

    • ...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.

  • Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue.

    • ...and We Got This Covered.

  • Amd make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

After two years on various shelves, Elijah Bynum's Magazine Dreams is finally in theaters.

Why did it take so long for the critically acclaimed festival darling to reach the mainstream silver screen? Well, you may have heard of its (former rising) star, Jonathan Majors, and the legal troubles stemming from assault and stalking charges.

But Kicking the Seat believes in "separating the art from the artist", and we're here today to review a film in which Majors stars as a mentally unstable bodybuilder who...stalks and assaults people.

So much for objectivity, eh?

In this spoilerific discussion, Ian and David break down the handful of positives, and delve into the far-too-numerous stumbling blocks that led to a split recommendation. They also review the timeline of Magazine Dreams's troubled release and explore critics' ability to truly compartmentalize real-world events when watching movies!

Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:

• kickseat.com

• X

• Letterboxd

• BlueSky

• Instagram

• Facebook

Show Links

• Watch the Magazine Dreams (2025) trailer.

• Read David Fowlie's Magazine Dreams review and follow his film criticism at Keeping It Reel.

• Plus! Listen to Ian and David's other recent (and very raucous) reviews of:

  • A Real Pain (2025)

  • Rebel Ridge (2024)

  • Duchess (2024)

  • The Old Oak (2024)

  • What Remains (2024)

Is escaping from Hammerland a good idea? Ian and AC are starting to wonder, as they take a look at Terence Fisher's lavish 1962 period piece, The Phantom of the Opera!

Herbert Lom stars as the titular mystery man who lives beneath a prestigious opera house, plotting revenge against the ne'er do well composer who stole his life's work (Michael Gough).

In today's spoilerific discussion, the guys dig into this surprisingly modern take on a film that had the unenviable task of following two iconic predecessors--and whose heightened production design and drama offered moviegoers more than just a rehash!

So why isn't this Phantom more fondly remembered? And how can it be so...bad...yet so impactful?

Yes, this episode is a veritable landmine of Ian and AC's tripping over the numerous story problems while simultaneously praising Fisher and company's brilliant overall presentation!

Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:

• kickseat.com

• X

• BlueSky

• Instagram

• Facebook

Show Links

• Watch the Phantom of the Opera (1962) trailer.

• Read AC's written review of The Phantom of the Opera at Horror 101 with Dr. AC!

• Order AC's books on essential and obscure horror movies, Horror 101 and Hidden Horror!

• Subscribe to AC's YouTube channel, Horror 101 with Dr. AC.

• Grab only what you can carry as we "Escape from Hammerland"!

• Hitch a ride with our entire 2024 series in the "Return to Hammerland" Playlist!

• It’s not too late to catch up with our 2023 trip “Beyond Hammerland”!

• Check out 2022's year-long journey, "Son of Hammerland"!

• And watch the series that started it all: "Hammerland"

Earth's Mightiest Critics get deep in their feels with Novocaine!

Jack Quaid stars as Nate, an assistant credit union manager with a rare medical condition that prevents him from feeling pain. He's geeky, isolated, and extremely cautious--until one day he goes on a date with free-spirited co-worker Sherry (Amber Midthunder). Their connection is instant; their romance undeniable. Unfortunately, the next day is Christmas Eve, and a gang of gun-toting Santa suit-wearing criminals busts in and takes Sherry hostage. Nate throws caution to the wind, embarking on a citywide chase to stop the bad guys and save the girl.

The trailers make Novocaine look like a fun but predictable action comedy, but there's a lot more going on here than bloody gags and quips.

Join us for a spoilerific look at one of the best, most surprising films of the year so far! We also answer your questions, comments, and SuperChats!

Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:

• kickseat.com

• X

• Letterboxd

• BlueSky

• Instagram

• Facebook

Show Links

• Watch the Novocaine trailer.

• Watch Ian and Pat McDonald's review of Harry and Walter Go to New York (mentioned in the show).

• Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:

  • Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.

  • Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.

  • Get seated with The Blonde in Front!

  • Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.

  • Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…

    • ...And Film Obsessive

    • ...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.

  • Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue.

    • ...and We Got This Covered.

  • Make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

  • And stir things up with Will Johnson of the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.

Bong Joon Ho's Mickey 17 may be a dystopian sci-fi dramedy about cloning, but the assessment of Earth's Mightiest Critics is one-of-a-kind!

Robert Pattinson stars as the eponymous, disposable space worker who's tasked with dangerous grunt work aboard a deep-space colonial vessel. When the craft lands on a planet suitable for starting civilization anew, Mickey 17 (the latest iteration of a down-on-his-luck Jerseyite named Mickey Barnes) discovers that they're not the only lifeforms on the icy desolate rock--and that he's not the only "Mickey" aboard the ship! The film has a solid cast; is sourced from a popular novel (Edward Ashton's Mickey 7); and is adapted/helmed by the Oscar-winning director of Parasite--so why did it stumble at the weekend box office?

Join us for a spoiler-filled look at the movie, its rocky production, and the sad state of "topical" sci-fi. Ian and Cati also talk about the filmmakers' denial that Mark Ruffalo plays a Trump-like figure, prove that civil discourse isn't dead, and provide an extended preview of next week's Novocaine livestream (mark your calendars for Wednesday the 19th at 8pm CST)! We also answer your questions, comments, and SuperChats!

Note: On play-back we discovered some sound distortion on Ian's mic at the 2:30 mark--which lasted for about 3 minutes. Fortunately, it cleared up after that. Apologies for the disruption!

Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:

• kickseat.com

• X

• Letterboxd

• BlueSky

• Instagram

• Facebook

Show Links

• Watch the Mickey 17 trailer.

• As mentioned in the show, here's a ScreenRant article detailing the differences between Bong Joon Ho's film and Edward Ashton's novel.

• Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:

  • Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.

  • Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.

  • Get seated with The Blonde in Front!

  • Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.

  • Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…

    • ...And Film Obsessive

    • ...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.

  • Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue.

    • ...and We Got This Covered.

  • Make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

  • And stir things up with Will Johnson of the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.