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.
What’s missing? The community. The old comment section under each movie was half the fun—people recommending similar films or roasting bad endings. That’s gone. Also, the site asks you to create a login to track watch history. Annoying, but fine if you use a burner email.
The catch: like all free sites, longevity is uncertain. The domain could vanish tomorrow. But for now? It’s a solid, low-fuss option that respects your time more than most. watchsomuch new site
Would I recommend it? Yes—with cautious optimism. If you miss the old WatchSomuch, you’ll feel at home here. Just don’t fall in love. Free streaming sites are like candles in the wind… but this one’s burning brighter than most right now. What’s missing
If you were a fan of the original WatchSomuch, you probably felt that familiar sting when it vanished. Great UI, solid streams, minimal pop-up rage—it was a rare gem in the free streaming world. So when I heard whispers about a "new site," I was skeptical. But curiosity won. That’s gone
Here’s the short review:
What’s improved? Speed. The new hosts load faster than the old ones ever did. I tested it on a few blockbusters and an old BBC drama—no buffering, no sudden redirects to a sketchy "you won a gift card" page.
8/10. Worth bookmarking. Just use an ad blocker and don’t share personal info.