POPULARITY
Earth's Mightiest Critics have made their peace with Alien: Earth, and are prepared for an even-tempered, non-confrontational look at the Episode 8 Season Finale ("The Real Monsters").Oh, who're we kidding?We called it from Episode 1: This show is objectively awful, and we're here to break some coffins with the force of our righteous hammering!Watch the latest episode of Alien: Earth now on F/X/Hulu, then join us for a searing send-off--and an answer to The Big Question: "Will we bother coming back for Season 2?"We also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Note: Some of this episode touches on points raised in this recent interview with Alien: Earth creator/showrunner Noah Hawley. Sorry, this is some really grueling homework. Support Kicking the Seat on Patreon, watch us on YouTube, and follow us at:XLetterboxdInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Alien: Earth (2025) trailer.Catch up with all our "Say No More, Xenomorph" roundtables in the Playlist!Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets: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 Maryue....and We Got This Covered.Make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.And save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".
Earth's Mightiest Critics suit up for a look at the latest Jordan Peele (produced) thriller, Him!It's "Any Given Sunday meets The Devil's Advocate", starring Tyriq Withers as Cam Cade, a promising college football star who gets a chance to train with his pro-football hero, Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans). But during his grueling week at a state-of-the-art desert compound, Cam begins to suspect that fame and fortune might just come at a higher price than he'd...ahem...bargained for.There's no getting around it: Justin Tipping's film is a mess, and we'll give you the cold, hard play-by-play of a movie whose premise and trailer are genuinely great--but whose execution is one of 2025's greatest disappointments!Join us for a spoilerific scrimmage that also includes your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Support Kicking the Seat on Patreon, subscribe to us on YouTube, and follow us at:XLetterboxdInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Him (2025) trailer.Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets: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 save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".
Earth's Mightiest Critics are just about done with the Alien franchise--but Alien: Earth is not done with them!This week, we look at Episode 7, "Emergence", which finds many of the deep-space monsters breaking containment on Prodigy Island--leading to chest-bursting, jaw-ripping mayhem, and the World Record for "Most Ambushes in a 40-minute TV Show"!Join us as we hack our way through the rest of this nonsense jungle!We also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Support Kicking the Seat on Patreon, watch us on YouTube, and follow us at:XLetterboxdInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Alien: Earth (2025) trailer.Catch up with all our "Say No More, Xenomorph" roundtables in the Playlist!Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets: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 Maryue....and We Got This Covered.Make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.And save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".
Ian and Jeff strap on their skates and venture into the heady neon-glow of Xanadu!Robert Greenwald's 1980 musical fantasy stars Olivia Newton-John as Kira, a muse and daughter of Zeus, who seeks to inspire a struggling L.A. artist named Sonny Malone (Michael Beck). As romance blooms, Sonny meets a former magician-turned-construction-magnate named Danny McGuire (Gene Kelly), who dreams of opening up a nightclub--and who may have crossed paths with Kira during his days as an enlisted entertainer during World War II.This syrupy cult classic was recently brought back to stunning life on 4K, and the guys look back at Xanadu with a reverence that surprised them both. Wade through the cheese and the at times iffy filmmaking, and you'll see a truly moving story about the push-and-pull of independent artists and the end of the Mass Media Artist as Tactile Craftsman era.This episode is part movie review, part continuation of Ian and Jeff's ongoing discussion about the role of Artificial Intelligence in the arts. Whether you love or hate Xanadu (or have no idea it ever existed), there's a veritable buffet of food for thought in this loving look back!Support Kicking the Seat on Patreon, watch us on YouTube, and follow us at:XLetterboxdInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Xanadu (1980) trailer.Order the new 4K UHD of Xanadu from Kino Lorber.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.
Jeff York, CEO of Altea Active, joins Ingenious Thinkers for an in-depth conversation on what it takes to build one of Canada's most dynamic wellness brands. From his background in economics at Princeton to leading the launch of AVANT Yorkville, Jeff shares how Altea Active is creating communities where people feel supported, motivated, and inspired to thrive. This episode explores leadership, innovation, and the evolving role of wellness in modern life.
The Long Walk may be one of Stephen King's finest novels, but how well does it translate to film?Earth's Mightiest Critics look at the dystopian game show thriller, in which 50 teenagers walk for as long as they can while flanked by armed guards who execute anyone who stops. The filmmakers (which include Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence), take bizarre and often unforgivable liberties with the source material, blending elements of Death Race 2000 with tired armchair political messaging--all in the service of (allegedly) adapting a novel that demonstrated far greater economy and subtlety.But will that matter to casual moviegoers who never read the book? And should we demand more from studios who count on such ignorance?Join us for a spoilerific stroll that also includes your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Support Kicking the Seat on Patreon, subscribe to us on YouTube, and follow us at:XLetterboxdInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Long Walk (2025) trailer.Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets: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 save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".
Earth's Mightiest Critics want to nuke Alien: Earth from orbit (just to be sure), but they soldier on through Episode 5--determined to see this frustrating series to the bitter end.In episode 5, "In Space, No One...", the series' momentum grinds to a halt as we revisit the doomed crew of the Weyland/Yutani science vessel, The Maginot, in an hour-long flashback that serves up a cargo bay's worth of narrative contradictions.Is Noah Hawley messing with us, serving up slop for more than half a season before wowing the (dwindling) audience with a finale packed with sharp characterization, wit, and imagination? Or is this just...it for the next three weeks?Join us as we continue our desecration dissection! We'll also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Be sure to watch new episodes of Alien: Earth every Tuesday at 7pm CST on F/X/Hulu, and join us back here every Thursday night at 8:30pm CST through September for more gooey Alien: Earth goodness!Support Kicking the Seat on Patreon, watch us on YouTube, and follow us at:XLetterboxdInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Alien: Earth (2025) trailer.Catch up with all our "Say No More, Xenomorph" roundtables in the Playlist!Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets: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 Maryue....and We Got This Covered.Make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.And save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".
Grab a soda pop and join Earth's Mightiest Critics for a look at the anime phenomenon that's sweeping the globe: KPop Demon Hunters!International singing superstars Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zoey (Ji-young Yoo) are secretly part of an ancient order of warriors who defend our reality from the forces of darkness. When a rival band appears on the scene to seduce fans away from the power trio, a battle for the songs and souls of billions begins!KPop Demon Hunters has captured the hearts and playlists of people around the world, but is there more to the hype than bright colors and catchy tunes? Does there need to be?Join us for a spoilerific, boomerlicious look at the latest animation sensation! We also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Support Kicking the Seat on Patreon, subscribe to us on YouTube, and follow us at:XLetterboxdInstagramFacebookBlueSkyShow LinksWatch the KPop Demon Hunters (2025) trailer.Check out Annie's recent CBR articles on all things anime, including opinion pieces on KPop Demon Hunters!Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets: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 save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".
Earth's Mightiest Critics would give a lung to be done with Alien: Earth--but we soldier on in the hopes that it will (someday, in the far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far future) get good!The synopsis for Episode 4 ("Observation") reads: "An unexpected connection is formed while a covert plot puts everyone in danger."Yep, that...sounds like an Alien story alright.But beyond the synopsis, this installment brings us a truly unexpected surprise: an episode worthy of our time and analysis!Join us for a spoilierific deep dive into the halfway point of what has suddenly become a (mildly) promising Alien prequel series!Be sure to watch new episodes of Alien: Earth every Tuesday at 7pm CST on F/X/Hulu, and join us back here every Thursday night at 8:30pm CST through September for more gooey Alien: Earth goodness!Support Kicking the Seat on Patreon, watch us on YouTube, and follow us at:XLetterboxdInstagramFacebookBlueSkyShow LinksWatch the Alien: Earth (2025) trailer.Catch up with all our "Say No More, Xenomorph" roundtables in the Playlist!Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets: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 save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".
As summer winds down, Earth's Mightiest Critics speed things up with Eenie Meanie!Samara Weaving stars in this direct-to-streaming action movie about a reformed teenage getaway driver who gets dragged back into her unsavory past when a former employer offers her a chance to save the life of her chronically unreliable ex-boyfriend.The film has been savaged by critics, but does it deserve the hate--or is there more to this entry in a well-worn sub-genre than meets the eye?Join us as we take this high-octane actioner for a spin--and your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Warning: This baby's got spoilers!!!Support Kicking the Seat on Patreon, subscribe to us on YouTube, and follow us at:XLetterboxdInstagramFacebookBlueSkyShow LinksWatch the Eenie Meanie (2025) trailer.Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets: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 save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".
Earth's Mightiest Critics might be tempted to nuke Alien: Earth from orbit, but they'll wait to pass judgment on Noah Hawley's prequel series until after the finale...just to be sure.But that won't stop us from reviewing Episode 3, "Metamorphosis":"The team returns home with unexpected cargo. An unsettling experiment occurs, and a new talent is discovered."Vaguely chilling, or chillingly vague! You decide--we'll analyze!You're one click away from more spoilerific space spore savagery! We also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!And be sure to join us back here every Thursday night through September for more gooey Alien: Earth goodness!Support Kicking the Seat on Patreon, watch us on YouTube, and follow us at:XLetterboxdInstagramFacebookBlueSkyShow LinksWatch the Alien: Earth (2025) trailer.Catch up with all our "Say No More, Xenomorph" roundtables in the Playlist!Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets: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 save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".
Ian and Jeff travel back to the vibrant art scene of early-80s New York City with a look at two related but very different films, Make Me Famous and Basquiat!The former is Brian Vincent's 2021 documentary about obscure expressionist portraitist Edward Brezinski, who lived in a crumbling 3rd Street slum; he spent his days painting and his nights hitting up gallery openings trying to drum up interest in his work (as well as scrounging for food and drink). He orbited the likes of Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, but never caught on to the "It" factor that carried many of his contemporaries to super-stardom and wealth.Julian Schnabel's 1996 drama, Basquiat, stars Jeffrey Wright as the titular, troubled painter of graffiti and challenging art pieces. The disjointed film chronicles his ascent to fame as a protege of Andy Warhol (David Bowie), and his descent into a drug-fueled early demise at the age of 27.As alums of Chicago's American Academy of Art, your enthusiastic hosts dive right into what makes both films essential viewing--despite flaws both minor and nigh insurmountable. Ian and Jeff talk about their affinity for films about artists; the thematic threads that weave through two works that differ in form but unite in defining a vivid time, place, and people; and lament the commoditization of creativity presaged in both Basquiat and Brezinski's stories.Support Kicking the Seat on Patreon, subscribe to us on YouTube, and follow us at:XLetterboxdInstagramFacebookBlueSkyShow LinksWatch the Make Me Famous (2021) trailer.Watch the Basquiat (1996) trailer.Follow all things Make Me Famous at the film's official website.Order the new 4K UHD of Basquiat from The Criterion Collection.And read Roger Durling's essay about the controversial restoration here.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.
Earth's Mightiest Critics may fight a lot, but at least we fight fair--thanks in part to the punky, earnest admonitions of 1985's The Legend of Billie Jean!Helen Slater stars as the titular teen outlaw who goes on the lam with her younger brother and a couple of close friends, following a violent run-in with a skeevy local businessman. The story gains national attention, and Billie Jean becomes a symbol for rebellion and extra-judicial justice.Four decades on, can The Legend of Billie Jean still inspire faith in youthful activism in the face of corrupted authority? Or is it yet another dated cringe-fest propped up by iconic imagery and a Top 40 single?Join us for a spoilerific retrospective of this 80s cable staple and see if it remains...invincible!We also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Support Kicking the Seat on Patreon, subscribe to us on YouTube, and follow us at:XLetterboxdInstagramFacebookBlueSkyShow LinksWatch the Legend of Billie Jean (1985) trailer.Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets: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 save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".
In space, everyone can see you stream--and Earth's Mightiest Critics do just that with the latest sci-fi/horror TV show, Alien: Earth!This series, set two years before the events of Ridley Scott's landmark 1979 film, Alien, follows an investigation into a deep space vessel that crashed into Earth, carrying weird and ultra-deadly creatures--including everyone's favorite long-domed, double-mouthed drool machine!Will showrunner Noah Hawley bring the same shot-in-the-arm to Alien that he did to Fargo and Legion? Or is this doomed to be another synthetic rehash of a once-great premise?Join us as we burst open the first two episodes of the F/X prequel series. We also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!And be sure to join us back here every Thursday night through September for more spoilerific livestreams!Support Kicking the Seat on Patreon, watch us on YouTube, and follow us at:XLetterboxdInstagramFacebookBlueSkyShow LinksWatch the Alien: Earth (2025) trailer.As mentioned in the show, Culture Crave provided a helpful in-universe timeline of all the main Alien films (including the new TV series).Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets: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 save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".
Earth's Mightiest Critics don't condone violence, but we will review Weapons!The latest thriller from writer/director Zach Cregger centers on a small town in mourning after 17 grade school children from the same class mysteriously vanish in the middle of the night. Tensions run high as parents suspect the kids' teacher (Julia Garner) of being a witch; as Cregger's Roshomon-style narrative unfolds, the unsettling truth of who orchestrated the mass disappearance comes to light.In this wild EMC roundtable, we discuss the highs, lows, and WTF's of this artsy, bloody pastiche. The film has garnered much praise as a standout in the genre. But does Weapons live up to the hype--or is it another sad signifier of audiences' diminishing standards for big-studio horror?Join us for a disarmingly spoilerific look at the latest spooky sensation.We also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Support Kicking the Seat on Patreon, watch us on YouTube, and follow us at:XLetterboxdInstagramFacebookBlueSkyShow LinksWatch the Weapons (2025) trailer.Read Ian's controversial written review of Weapons (discussed in the show)!Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets: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 save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".
We take a look at a movie that's deemed by many to be the greatest comedy of all time. But how have its jokes aged? Jeff York is a member of the Chicago Indie Critics, whose work you can catch at https://theestablishingshot.org/ Follow him on X @JeffYorkWriter . BlueSky@jeffyorkwriter.bsky.social, Instagram @jeffyorkchicago, TikTok @jeffyorkchicago You can also find him on TikTok as @jeffyorkchicago where he reviews movies while drawing beautiful illustrations of the movies he's reviewing. https://filmobsessive.com/author/everymoviehasalesson/ Don's Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/6G0dYEHovZsjHd2ItOuRL2?si=29c0063796204b90 Don's Socials Instagram and TikTok @cassablancadon Bluesky @casablancadon.bsky.social Subscribe to YPA Reviews for more content. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQrUmfPvYdxuBYuvkAREhxA?view_as=public Go to https://www.ypareviews.com/ to read my written reviews and stay up to date on all of my newest podcast and YouTube content. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/youll-probably-agree/id1453935603 Subscribe on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6poDSN5vjKFFk5XVY7SHtq?si=979e81a7063f4005 Subscribe on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-114056851 Follow Me on X and Instagram @ypareviews My TikTok @ypareviewschicago
Summer's not over yet, and neither is Hollywood's addiction to remakes and requels! Case in point: The Naked Gun!Akiva Schaffer's legacy sequel picks up decades after 1988's The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, and centers on Frank Drebin, Jr. (Liam Neeson), who wants nothing more than to live up to the legacy of his bumbling-hero father (Leslie Nielsen). When a bank heist connects to a murder, Frank Jr. finds himself in the midst of a wild techno conspiracy--and a whole lot of cartoon nonsense in the background! There's been a lot of controversy surrounding original Naked Gun co-writer/director David Zucker's lack of involvement in the new movie, but Earth's Mightiest Critics feel the new creative team has done their best to uphold the franchise's zany spirit.Does this mean that comedy is "back"? If so, where did it go? Join us for a spoilerific and oh-so-silly look at one of cinema's perfect sequels (including just what we mean by "perfect sequel") and the movie that inspired it! 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.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Naked Gun (2025) trailer. Watch the Naked Gun (1988) trailer.Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets: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 save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".
Being showered with rave reviews, The Naked Gun returns, but how does it compare to the original, and why do goofball comedies like it barely exist these days? Jeff York is a member of the Chicago Indie Critics, whose work you can catch at https://theestablishingshot.org/ Follow him on X @JeffYorkWriter . BlueSky@jeffyorkwriter.bsky.social, Instagram @jeffyorkchicago, TikTok @jeffyorkchicago You can also find him on TikTok as @jeffyorkchicago where he reviews movies while drawing beautiful illustrations of the movies he's reviewing. https://filmobsessive.com/author/everymoviehasalesson/ Don's Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/6G0dYEHovZsjHd2ItOuRL2?si=29c0063796204b90 Don's Socials Instagram and TikTok @cassablancadon Bluesky @casablancadon.bsky.social Subscribe to YPA Reviews for more content. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQrUmfPvYdxuBYuvkAREhxA?view_as=public Go to https://www.ypareviews.com/ to read my written reviews and stay up to date on all of my newest podcast and YouTube content. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/youll-probably-agree/id1453935603 Subscribe on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6poDSN5vjKFFk5XVY7SHtq?si=979e81a7063f4005 Subscribe on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-114056851 Follow Me on X and Instagram @ypareviews My TikTok @ypareviewschicago
According to Hollywood, the best bait is nostalgia-bait. In this week's live panel, Earth's Mightiest Critics bite down hard on I Know What You Did Last Summer and don't let go!In this requel of Jim Gillespie's 1997 thriller (written by Scream's Kevin Williamson) a group of twenty-somethings reunite in the storied town of South Port. Their excessive drinking leads to an accidental death on a winding road and...you know the rest. One year later. Killer with a hook. Return of legacy characters. "Surprise" twist in the climax.Despite its lack of originality, there are some things to recommend in I Know What You Did Last Summer 2025. The question is--is there enough to recommend buying a ticket, or even bothering to stream it later?Join us for a cutting and oh-so-spoilerific look at the latest horror retread! 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.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) trailer.Watch the I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) trailer.Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets: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 save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".
Ian and Jeff visit the not-so-sleepy little town of Eddington for a spoilerific look back at 2020, through the cracked lens of indie genre giant Ari Aster!Joaquin Phoenix stars as sheriff Joe Cross, whose crumbling marriage and personal beef with Eddington's mayor, Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal) is already enough to put him off kilter. In sweeps the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by BLM protests, and Antifa saboteurs--all of which push him and the town to the brink of absolute insanity.In this no holds barred review, the guys tackle Eddington's lows, highs, and in-betweens--and ask if Aster is all he's cracked up to be as a storyteller.They also draw strange but apt parallels to James Gunn's Superman and recommend some of the sources Aster knowingly or unknowingly cribbed from as alternatives to sitting through two-and-a-half-hours of "juvenhilism" (a word that Ian mistakenly believed he'd coined--but which is actually the title of a book. Womp, womp).Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Eddington (2025) trailer.For reference, check out Earth's Mightiest Critics' roundtable review of Superman 2025.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.
The James Gunn Era of the new DCU kicks off with Superman, and Earth's Mightiest Critics have a lot to say about it!David Corenswet stars as the latest big-screen incarnation of the Man of Steel in this wacky, rebooted-but-already-established universe. Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) is out to destroy Superman's public image so that he can hatch a nefarious plan involving geopolitical war. Throw in the misfit Justice Gang, Metropolis-munching Kaiju, pocket universes, Internet trolls, and a bizarre twist on Supes' origin story, and you have one of the boldest relaunches in cinema history.But "bold" doesn't necessarily mean "good". And in this week's pugnacious panel, the EMC will duke it out over whether or not Gunn has laid a promising path for future DCU films--or if Superman signals the death knell of not only a franchise, but an entire genre!Join us for a super-scrappy and spoilerific roundtable review of one of summer's most highly anticipated (and divisive) blockbusters!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Superman (2025) trailer.ICYMI: Watch Ian's Superman 2025 Public Service Announcement, including his thoughts on the DCU moving forward!As teased in the show, Ian interviewed Rachel Brosnahan a few years ago, during her Marvelous Mrs. Maisel days. Check it out here! Looking for a real punch in the feels? Check out this montage of the 1978 Donner film, set to John Williams' Superman theme.Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets: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 save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".
Join us for a Jurassic Park 7 roundtable review, and place bets on which panelist will fall asleep first.Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Jurassic World: Rebirth (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.Make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.And save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".
Ian recommends skipping the new Superman. But there's another recent release that demands your attention--and offers everything James Gunn's empty, ill-fitting tights cannot!Also, he makes a bold commitment that will change the direction of this channel...forever! Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Superman (2025) trailer.Not all of Earth's Mightiest Critics agree with Ian's take on the film! Prepare for the Internet battle of the century as the gang goes at it live next Wednesday (7/16) at 8pm CST!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 save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".
Teach and Retire Rich - The podcast for teachers, professors and financial professionals
We check in with Jeff York on how retirement's going and discuss his attempts to hire an estate fiduciary who would act as the trustee of his estate. The Wealthy Custodian (pod) The Wealthy Custodian in Retirement (pod) Questions to Ask a Professional Fiduciary Learned by Being Burned (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues) 403bwise.org Meridian Wealth Management Nothing presented or discussed is to be construed as investment or tax advice. This can be secured from a vetted Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).
Summer 2025 has been the IP killer, with once-mighty franchises bombing harder than the climax of Dr. Strangelove.But, wait! What's that coming around the track? Why, it's Brad Pitt behind the wheel of the ultimate racing flick, F1: The Movie!This week, Earth's Mightiest Critics are revved and ready to make the case that Joseph Kosinski's latest IMAX spectacle is one of the best films of the year--and a danger to commuters everywhere! While Ehren Kruger's screenplay won't set the world on fire, F1 is packed with classic performances, hard-driving race photography, and enough Dude Energy to fuel ten Top Gun: Maverick's!Join us as we drive circles around other movie review podcasts with fair, spoilerific, and high-octane analysis! We also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Public Service Announcement: If you're planning to see this summer sleeper hit, we implore you to see it in IMAX, or whichever premium-format experience is nearest to you. This is the reason such experiences exist!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the F1: The Movie (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.Make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.And save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".
Before there was The West Wing, Aaron Sorkin wrote The American President. A movie that represents the best qualities in America through a leader who exemplifies empathy over ego. Can America be great again? Only if our next President in charge (if there is one) carries more of President Andrew Shepard's characteristics. Jeff York is a member of the Chicago Indie Critics, whose work you can catch at https://theestablishingshot.org/ Follow him on X @JeffYorkWriter . BlueSky@jeffyorkwriter.bsky.social, Instagram @jeffyorkchicago, TikTok @jeffyorkchicago You can also find him on TikTok as @jeffyorkchicago where he reviews movies while drawing beautiful illustrations of the movies he's reviewing. Don Shanahan is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved and Banana Meter-approved film critic writing for film obsessive, his own website Every Movie Has a Lesson, and as a co-host of the Cinephile Hissy Fit podcast on the Ruminations Radio Network. He is a co-founder/co-director of Chicago Indie Critics and a member of the nationally-recognized Critics Choice Association and Hollywood Critics Association. Don's sites https://everymoviehasalesson.com/ https://filmobsessive.com/author/everymoviehasalesson/ Don's Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/6G0dYEHovZsjHd2ItOuRL2?si=29c0063796204b90 Don's Socials Instagram and TikTok @cassablancadon Bluesky @casablancadon.bsky.social Subscribe to YPA Reviews for more content. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQrUmfPvYdxuBYuvkAREhxA?view_as=public Go to https://www.ypareviews.com/ to read my written reviews and stay up to date on all of my newest podcast and YouTube content. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/youll-probably-agree/id1453935603 Subscribe on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6poDSN5vjKFFk5XVY7SHtq?si=979e81a7063f4005 Subscribe on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-114056851 Follow Me on X and Instagram @ypareviews My TikTok @ypareviewschicago
Earth's Mightiest Critics return to the dystopian hellscape of Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's stop-and-start franchise with a look at 28 Years Later!Nearly three decades after a "rage virus" wrecked Great Britain, a small island commune attempts to restore normalcy while staying ever vigilant against the mainland's ongoing horrors. The latest film centers on a family's struggle to shape a timid preteen into a zombie killer and to find a cure for mom's mysterious illness--and also to uncover more unsettling mysteries stalking the woods!Is this third chapter as "highly anticipated" as the media claims? Have the filmmakers bungled their own continuity by (rightfully) ignoring the second film ever existed?And what about that ending?We'll get into it all during this positively infectious (and oh-so-spoilerific) roundtable review--in which 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.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the 28 Years Later (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.Make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.And save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".
Our "Bond & Determined" series emerges from deep cover for a 60th anniversary review of Thunderball! Sean Connery's fourth big-screen outing as the MI6 super-spy finds James Bond tracking down stolen nuclear warheads while dodging SPECTRE's second-in-command! Packed with gutsy gals, groovy gadgets, and gorgeous underwater cinematography, this decades-old adventure outshines just about anything at the multiplex today.In this spoilerific episode, Ian and Jeff look at how Thunderball fits into the Bond legacy; the ways in which the character comes into his own four movies in; and whether or not the franchise should have a future--and what that might entail!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Thunderball (1965) trailer.You can pick up Thunderball, and 5 other Connery Bond titles, recently remastered in 4K from Warner Bros!Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at: The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists!Spy on our other "Bond & Determined" episodes in our series playlist!
Dreamworks has entered the "live action remake" arena with How to Train Your Dragon, and Earth's Mightiest Critics have a take or two on the déjà vu!Dean DeBlois returns with an update of the 2010 animated hit, which he co-directed with Chris Sanders (Lilo & Stitch, The Wild Robot). He's riding solo this time and, depending on who you ask, the "new" version is either so faithful that it puts Disney's recent live-action efforts in their place--or renders the whole experience "toothless"!This week's EMC panel promises fire-breathing spectacle nonpareil, as our animated animation fans present both POV's with gusto!Join us for a look at the good, the bad and the repetitive. 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.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the How to Train Your Dragon (2010) trailer.Watch the How to Train Your Dragon (2025) trailer.Bonus! Catch the "Target Audience's" take on the new How to Train Your Dragon film, with Ian and Luke's latest review!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 save your celluloid soul with Dave Canfield's Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher".
Darren Aronofsky drops his montage-heavy, anxiety-driven shock fests to bring a melancholic pseudo-documentary film about the consequences of self-destructive failure and the loss of relevance. Jeff York is a member of the Chicago Indie Critics, whose work you can catch at https://theestablishingshot.org/ Follow him on X @JeffYorkWriter . BlueSky@jeffyorkwriter.bsky.social, Instagram @jeffyorkchicago, TikTok @jeffyorkchicago You can also find him on TikTok as @jeffyorkchicago where he reviews movies while drawing beautiful illustrations of the movies he's reviewing. Subscribe to YPA Reviews for more content. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQrUmfPvYdxuBYuvkAREhxA?view_as=public Go to https://www.ypareviews.com/ to read my written reviews and stay up to date on all of my newest podcast and YouTube content. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/youll-probably-agree/id1453935603 Subscribe on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6poDSN5vjKFFk5XVY7SHtq?si=979e81a7063f4005 Subscribe on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-114056851 Follow Me on X and Instagram @ypareviews My TikTok @ypareviewschicago
Forget comic book movies and video game adaptations: low-budget Westerns are charging over the pop culture horizon!Today, Ian and David look at Richard Gray's The Unholy Trinity, starring Pierce Brosnan, Samuel L. Jackson, and Brandon Lessard. Unlike many of the Saban Films the guys have reviewed in the past, this one is actually out in theatres--and one of your two intrepid hosts heartily recommends it!Yes, this twisty tale of multi-pronged revenge, found family, and buried gold is either a standard-issue I-guess-we-can-shoot-here cash grab, or it's an above-average adventure with witty dialogue, unexpectedly fun developments, and a main cast that does far more than sleepwalk across the plains!Notice, we said "main cast".In this spoiler-lite episode, Ian and David talk about the perils of casting modern young actors in period parts--along with how The Unholy Trinity stumbles as much as it strides, and whether you should rush out to the theater or wait 'til it hits home (on the range)!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the The Unholy Trinity (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.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.
For their historic 200th episode, two detective-minded film critics, two dream theory dads, and two noir-loving teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, have reached a milestone that deserved a big movie and the help of stellar new guest. The hosts welcome Chicago-based film critic and artist Jeff York of The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists to compare two examples of poisonous Hollywood settings separated by decades and mere blocks of postal addresses. Our trio compares the dangerous and pervasive themes to be found in David Lynch's revered 2001 fever dream "Mulholland Drive" versus Billy Wilder's salaciously seminal 1950 dark comedy "Sunset Boulevard." The interpretations and lasting effects run quite the gamut in this extended discussion. Come learn more and stay for the mutual love and respect that fun movies encapsulate. Enjoy our podcast!https://discord.gg/N6MKWXU2https://www.teepublic.com/user/ruminationsradionetworkhttps://www.instagram.com/cinephilehissyfit/https://www.instagram.com/casablancadon/Twitter: https://twitter.com/CinephileFitwww.RuminationsRadioNetwork.comwww.instagram.com/RuminationsRadioNetworkTwitter: RuminationsRadioNetwork@RuminationsNProduction by Mitch Proctor for Area 42 Studios and SoundEpisode Artwork by Charles Langley for Area 42 Studios and Soundhttps://www.patreon.com/RuminationsRadiohttps://everymoviehasalesson.com/https://ruminationsradio.transistor.fm/ ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
2025 is shaping up to be the Year of Stephen King, with three films and one TV series adaptations of his work on offer for rabid fans. This week, Earth's Mightiest Critics look at Mike Flanagan's The Life of Chuck, a very different kind of King movie--inspired by a very different kind of King short story!Chuck Krantz (Tom Hiddleston) is an accountant whose imminent retirement is advertised on billboards all over town. Most residents are too busy worrying about rampant Internet outages, colossal natural disasters, and mysterious sinkholes to notice. But soon, Chuck's likeness becomes impossible to escape. How does this relate to dancing? And why are people calling this bizarre, end-of-the-world scenario an uplifting film?The answers are as tricky as The Life of Chuck's asynchronous structure. Join us for a spoilerific look at one of 2025's best films--and one of the most faithful book-to-screen adaptations you'll ever see!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.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the The Life of Chuck (2025) trailer: https://youtu.be/jlN1Mmj6YNo?si=ptNf5atSYVjxMs-Q Read Ian's The Life of Chuck written review: https://kickseat.com/written-review/the-life-of-chuck-2025 Flashback to our February livestream about The Monkey (which we'll definitely talk about in this show!): https://youtube.com/live/T-oD7FMNJ00 As mentioned in the show, reframe your movie brain with the Mindframes podcast, hosted by Dave Canfield and Mike Cockerill: https://mindframesfilm.com/ And subscribe to Dave's new Substack, "Creature Feature Preacher": https://open.substack.com/pub/creaturefeaturepreacher/p/come-hear-the-confessions-of-a-creature?r=5q7lkx&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false Oddly enough, this week's Spoiler Room Podcast centered on The Giant Spider Invasion--which is also the subject of Dave's latest Substack piece! Coincidence? Or part of a grand plan?! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHe9onCjVjYSupport 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.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.
The Class of '95 graduates this week with a look at one of that year's most memorable cult hits--and biggest flops: Empire Records!Allan Moyle's bewildering follow-up to his generational anthem, Pump up the Volume, tracks a day in the life of several record store employees whose love lives and futures are as questionable as their tastes in music. Featuring a cast packed with soon-to-be-famous young actors, the offbeat comedy is known more for its memes (yes, this is where "Rex Manning Day" comes from) than its overall quality.Is it still a flannel-draped cringe-fest, three decades on? Or does Empire Records (whose soundtrack famously sold more than the film it promoted) deserve some respect?Join us as we damn the Man, save the Empire, and take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Empire Records (1995) trailer.Here are the Empire Records deleted scenes mentioned in the show.And here's the full video for Rex Manning's "Say No More Mon Amour"!Check out our other "Class of '95" episodes!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.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.
Just when you thought it was safe to write off another killer-shark movie--here comes Sean Byrne's Dangerous Animals to mangle your expectations!Friendly Australian tourist boat operator Bruce Tucker (Jai Courtney) loves taking young couples on shark-feeding tours in the heart of the ocean--only trouble is, he feeds his customers to the sharks! Enter Zephyr, a free-spirited surfer played by Hassie Harrison. After being kidnapped by Tucker, she must fight her way out of the bowels of his vessel before he can turn her into chum.In this spoilerific (you've been warned) panel discussion, Ian, Cati, and David heap praise on Byrne's thriller--while also talking about some of the off-putting character dynamics that almost (ahem) sunk the story for one of them.They also talk about Jai Courtney's stunning transformation into a real actor and lament the state of movie trailers--with Dangerous Animals being Exhibit A!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Dangerous Animals (2025) trailer: (don't watch it until after you've seen the movie--trust us!).As mentioned in the show, the EMC also reviewed another new horror movie, Bring Her Back! Watch that discussion here.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.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.
If Francis Ford Coppola's Godfather films (Not You Part II!) mastered the mafia genre, then Martin Scorsese evolved it, leading to a string of films from other directors, including Scorsese himself, to mimic its style. Yet it's Goodfellas that stands as one of the best mob films ever made and Scorsese's most revered film, which has endured for 34 years. Is it worth its admiration? If you say no, then you're not being a funny guy. #goodfellas #martinscorcese #rayliotta Jeff York is a member of the Chicago Indie Critics, whose work you can catch at https://theestablishingshot.org/ Follow him on X @JeffYorkWriter BlueSky@jeffyorkwriter.bsky.social Instagram @jeffyorkchicago TikTok @jeffyorkchicago Sujewa is an Underground Filmmaker and avid fan of underground cinema Sujewa's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@NYCIndieFilmmakerSujewa Follow Sujewa on X @sujewafantastic BlueSky @53spaceships.art Subscribe to YPA Reviews for more content. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQrUmfPvYdxuBYuvkAREhxA?view_as=public Go to https://www.ypareviews.com/ to read my written reviews and stay up to date on all of my newest podcast and YouTube content. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/youll-probably-agree/id1453935603 Subscribe on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6poDSN5vjKFFk5XVY7SHtq?si=979e81a7063f4005 Subscribe on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-114056851 Follow Me on X and Instagram @ypareviews My TikTok @ypareviewschicago Follow Me on Twitter and Instagram @ypareviews
Horror wunderkinds Danny and Michael Philippou are back with Bring Her Back--a follow-up to their 2023 cult hit, Talk to Me!While not a sequel, the new film delves into similar realms of demonic possession, busted family dynamics, and body horror-as-adolescence metaphor. Billy Barratt and Sora Wong star as Andy and Piper, siblings who are placed in a new foster home following the sudden death of their father.Their new guardian, Laura (Sally Hawkins), is doting but odd, and has an odd relationship with a mute child named Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips) whom she is also looking after. It's not long before weird things begin happening around the house, and Andy and Piper must uncover the dark mysteries surrounding Laura and Oliver before it's too late!Do the Philippous catch lightning in a bottle twice, or is Bring Her Back destined to be another entry on Hollywood's storied "Sophomore Slump" list?Join Earth's Mightiest Critics for a spoilerific summoning of cerebral, cinema-celebrating speakers! 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.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Bring Her Back (2025) trailer.Flashback! Watch Ian and Cati review 2023's Talk to Me! 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.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.
We continue our look back on the "Class of '95" with a roundtable review of Kevin Smith's sophomore effort, Mallrats!This "day in the life" (of a mall) comedy centers on recently dumped romantic, TS (Jeremy London) and his annoying best friend, Brodie (Jason Lee). While navigating choppy relationship waters, they must also contend with a cast of weirdos and malcontents; TS's ex's overbearing dad (Michael Rooker); and the filming of New Jersey's lamest gameshow.Mallrats was a big flop for Smith and Universal, who had banked on the writer/director's indie sensation, Clerks. Despite bad press and empty theaters (and Smith's public apology for the movie on a late-night talk show), Mallrats has developed a cult following over the last three decades, and is worthy of reappraisal. Join us for a stink-palmin', opinion-slingin' good time! 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.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Mallrats (1995) trailer.Check out our other "Class of '95" episodes!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.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.
Trey Parker and Matt Stone hit the cultural jackpot in their "South Park" feature film, calling out all politically correct hypocrites. Guest Info Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association, Critics Choice Association, and Online Film Critics Society. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Follow him on BlueSky @flickmythrob.bsky.social Jeff York is a member of the Chicago Indie Critics, whose work you can catch at https://theestablishingshot.org/ You can also find him on TikTok as @jeffyorkchicago where he reviews movies while drawing beautiful illustrations of the movies he's reviewing. Subscribe to YPA Reviews for more content. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQrUmfPvYdxuBYuvkAREhxA?view_as=public Go to https://www.ypareviews.com/ to read my written reviews and stay up to date on all of my newest podcast and YouTube content. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/youll-probably-agree/id1453935603 Subscribe on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6poDSN5vjKFFk5XVY7SHtq?si=979e81a7063f4005 Subscribe on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-114056851 Follow Me on X and Instagram @ypareviews My TikTok @ypareviewschicago Follow Me on Twitter and Instagram @ypareviews
You've never seen Earth's Mightiest Critics really upset--but that all changes with our Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning roundtable review!In fairness, some of our super savvy cineastes enjoyed Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise's curtain call for globe-trotting do-gooder Ethan Hunt. But for others, this over-long, overstuffed race against the AI clock was a little too self-serious (and dare we say, "messianic") to serve as a worthy capstone to one of the great action-adventure series.Join us for a spoilerific, self-destructing deconstruction of the mega franchise's alleged last gasp! 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.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (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.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.
Schools around the country are letting out for the year, and in our new miniseries, "Class of '95", Earth's Mightiest Critics look back on seminal teen flicks from the year Ian graduated high school--and, yes, they had movies back then!We kick things off with the Queen Bee, Amy Heckerling's "mall-sterpiece", Clueless! Alicia Silverstone stars as Cher, a bubbly, fashion-obsessed student whose days are as aimless as her notebooks are empty. But complications with friends and strange feelings for her bookish older stepbrother, Josh (Paul Rudd), force Cher to grow up and stop being so, well, y'know...Join us for a totally bitchin' look back at one of the biggest and most influential comedies of the 1990s!We also reminisce about the good ol' days while answering your questions, comments, and SuperChats! Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Clueless (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.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.
Tenacious D once proclaimed that "Friendship is rare". That's doubly true of Friendship, A24's hilariously uncomfortable new comedy from writer/director Andrew DeYoung!Tim Robinson stars as Craig, a bored suburban dad who befriends Austin (Paul Rudd), the carefree, charismatic local weatherman who's just moved in down the street. The two make fast friends, but their bromance soon flames out as Craig's feeble attempts at being cool prove disastrous. The neighborliness soon turns nightmarish as Friendship spirals into a black hole of insecurities, workplace incidents, and more property damage than a low-tier Marvel movie!Join us as we bond over the bonkers badness of would-be besties! 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.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Friendship (2025) trailer.As mentioned in the show, this Sunday we'll kick off our "Class of '95" miniseries with a look back at Clueless! Join us live at 3pm CST.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.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.
We have a new Pope mere months after 'Conclave' was released in theaters. How does the religious thriller compare to what happens in real life? And what is its message regarding the evolution of the Vatican? Join us to find out. Guest Info Sujewa Ekanayake is an independent NYC filmmaker who makes movies every year. You can find his work here https://www.youtube.com/@NYCIndieFilmmakerSujewa You can also find him on X @sujewafantastic Jeff York is a member of the Chicago Indie Critics, whose work you can catch at https://theestablishingshot.org/ You can also find him on TikTok as @jeffyorkchicago where he reviews movies while drawing beautiful illustrations of the movies he's reviewing. Subscribe to YPA Reviews for more content. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQrUmfPvYdxuBYuvkAREhxA?view_as=public Go to https://www.ypareviews.com/ to read my written reviews and stay up to date on all of my newest podcast and YouTube content. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/youll-probably-agree/id1453935603 Subscribe on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6poDSN5vjKFFk5XVY7SHtq?si=979e81a7063f4005 Subscribe on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-114056851 Follow Me on X and Instagram @ypareviews My TikTok @ypareviewschicago
Earth's Mightiest Critics come alive with a 40th-anniversary review of Stuart Gordon's horror/comedy classic, Re-Animator!Based on H.P. Lovecraft's short story, the film stars Jeffrey Combs as Herbert West, a weaselly med student whose single-minded focus on conquering death leads to disastrous consequences. His new roommate, Dan (Bruce Abbott), and Dan's girlfriend, Megan (Barbara Crampton), get swept up in a madcap nightmare of undead cats, lecherous faculty, and a glowing green serum whose effects are as unpredictable as they are grotesque!Join us for a grave-robbin' gush-fest in which we talk spoilers, sequels, and celebrity encounters-- AND take your questions, comments and SuperChats! Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Re-Animator (1985) trailer.Check out Ignite Films' new 4K UHD release of Re-Animator, available in several different collectible editions!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.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.
Join Earth's Mightiest Critics in witnessing the middle of the end of the MCU: Yes, we're talking Thunderbolts*!Marvel's answer to DC's Suicide Squad kicked off the summer blockbuster season last weekend. And if this gray, introspective, pseudo-artsy take on superheroics is any indication, moviegoers will be trading in their collectible popcorn buckets for pill box organizers!In the film, a cast of cast-offs from other MCU movies and TV shows must band together to stop a willpower-gobbling threat that has emerged from a top-secret research lab--while also coming to grips with deep-seated trauma and not strangling their teammates!Join us for a spoilerific look at enemies, empathy, and that eyebrow-raising asterisk! 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.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Thunderbolts* (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.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.
Earth's Mightiest Critics left the house to see Until Dawn...so you don't have to.Join us for a spoilerific roundtable review of a film best described as "Groundhog Day meets...every other direct-to-video horror movie you've ever turned off."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.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Until Dawn (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.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.
IndieSeen sells out! This month, Ian and Sujewa welcome Jeff York for a spirited discussion of Adrian Lyne's blockbuster relationship drama, Indecent Proposal.This (very loose) adaptation of Jack Engelhard's novel centers on David (Woody Harrelson) and Diana (Demi Moore), a young married couple who, after loosing their meager savings in Las Vegas, are presented with a life-changing offer from billionaire John Gage (Robert Redford): $1 million to spend the night with Diana. The encounter and its after-effects may have split the narrative right down the middle--but it united audiences in making Indecent Proposal one of the highest-grossing films of 1993.In this spoilerific episode, the guys examine the movie in a few different contexts: as a comparison to the source material; as an awkward attempt to fit Lyne's film into the trendy "erotic thriller" niche; and as a bungled telling of what could have been (in more thoughtful hands) a challenging and dare-we-say-"sexy" head-trip for the ages.They also talk bad casting; Indecent Proposal's unfortunate connection to The Brutalist; and the recently announced news that Redford's Sundance Film Festival is vacating Park City, Utah, after nearly 40 years!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Indecent Proposal (1993) trailer.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.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!
Ryan Coogler has made believers out of Earth's Mightiest Critics!Sinners is the best film of 2025 so far, and continues a hard-charging streak of smart, game-changing genre pictures that could make this one of the best movie years in decades.(Jinx!)Michael B. Jordan stars as twin criminals Smoke and Stack Moore, who return to Mississippi after seven years building their ill-gotten fortunes in Chicago. They enlist several local acquaintances, including their young Christian guitarist cousin, Sammie (Miles Caton), to help them open a juke joint at the edge of town. All goes to plan, until three mysterious strangers ask to join in the fun--and don't take kindly to being turned away.If you don't know anything else about Sinners, please, please, please avoid trailers, spoilers, word-of-mouth--anything that might give away the heart (dare we say, the meat) of the film.Just go see it (in IMAX, if you can) right away!Then join us for a spoilerific celebration of the movie many of us have been waiting for.We'll also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats! Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Sinners (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.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.
The Amateur is a hilarious new comedy about a CIA analyst whose world is turned upside down when he finds out the Agency isn't trustworthy!Or did Earth's Mightiest Critics read the latest Rami Malek vehicle totally wrong?Join us for secrets, spoilers, and your SuperChats (plus regular ol' comments and questions)!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Amateur (2025) trailer.Bonus! Listen to Ian's vintage interview with The Amateur star Rachel Brosnahan!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.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.
Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza's Warfare is now in theatres, and we can't recommend it enough! Based on first-person accounts of a 2006 attack on US Navy SEALs in Iraq, the film offers a harrowing, on-the-ground look at modern combat.In this spoilerific review, Ian and Cati dive into what makes this a standout among the war-picture genre--and share their experience of having front-row seats to the Chicago premiere, with the co-directors and star Will Poulter in attendance!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Warfare (2025) trailer.As mentioned in the review, you can catch the full Q&A from last month's Music Box Theatre special screening, featuring co-directors Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza, and star Will Poulter!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.And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.