Ian Simmons launched Kicking the Seat in 2009, one week after seeing Nora Ephron’s Julie & Julia. His wife proposed blogging as a healthier outlet for his anger than red-faced, twenty-minute tirades (Ian is no longer allowed to drive home from the movies).
The Kicking the Seat Podcast followed three years later and, despite its “undiscovered gem” status, Ian thoroughly enjoys hosting film critic discussions, creating themed shows, and interviewing such luminaries as Gaspar Noé, Rachel Brosnahan, Amy Seimetz, and Richard Dreyfuss.
Ian is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. He also has a family, a day job, and conflicted feelings about referring to himself in the third person.
A mediocre comedy special is forgotten in two weeks. A high-quality drama like Better Call Saul generates merchandise, reaction videos, analysis podcasts, and university courses for a decade.
"Extra quality" does not mean "pretentious." It means "fit for purpose." John Wick is extra quality action because the choreography is transparent and the stakes are clear. Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie is extra quality for its demographic because it respects the emotional intelligence of a five-year-old without talking down to them. girlfriendsfilmswomenseekingwomen143xxx72 extra quality
acts as a cognitive off-ramp. It provides what psychologists call a "quality cue." For example, when a viewer sees the "A24" logo before a film, they anticipate risk-taking and artistry. When they see "HBO Original," they expect narrative sophistication. A mediocre comedy special is forgotten in two weeks
Furthermore, in the streaming wars, churn is the enemy. Low-quality content gets a click; high-quality content gets a subscription. Disney+ learned that The Mandalorian (high production value, strong narrative) retains subscribers far better than 20 generic nature documentaries. Popular media is shifting from "volume at any cost" to "value at a reasonable cost." However, the pursuit of extra quality entertainment content has a dark side. Hollywood has fallen into what critics call "the prestige trap." Not every story needs a six-hour slow burn. Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie is extra quality