Articles by: Rob Allyn
I'm a writer, a wise-ass, and a self-proclaimed connoisseur of the movie and television arts. I also know a thing or two about the life-enhancing joy that is music. I like to consider myself a modern-day gentleman and a scholar. Old in soul but young at heart. I'm a mystery wrapped in an enigma surrounded by a soft and cuddly shell. And I like it that way.

The Problem with Power Rangers (or, How About a Mighty Morphin’ Retcon?)
by / on May 23, 2013 at 12:00 pm / in Celluloid Cynicism

The Problem with Power Rangers (or, How About a Mighty Morphin’ Retcon?)

Let me preface by saying that I am almost 31 years old and I am still a fan of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and have been since the day they premiered in America. I’m not ashamed to admit it. Notice I said the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, not just Power Rangers. I prefer the originals (US originals, I haven’t [...]

Read more ›
Who Doesn’t Love Giant Robots? (or The Awesomeness of Pacific Rim)
by / on May 2, 2013 at 12:00 pm / in Celluloid Cynicism

Who Doesn’t Love Giant Robots? (or The Awesomeness of Pacific Rim)

I’m sure that in the back of everyone’s mind there has always been the question of what the results would be if you made a grown-up version of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers with a cast featuring incredible talents. Well, how about if that film starred Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy), Ron Perlman(Hellboy, Sons of Anarchy), Charlie Day (It’s Always Sunny [...]

Read more ›
Updates from the Realm of Comic Book Films
by / on April 18, 2013 at 12:00 pm / in Celluloid Cynicism

Updates from the Realm of Comic Book Films

This week I thought I’d drop some updates on ya. Fo’ shizzle! Sorry. Didn’t mean to get “gangsta” on you. Anyway, let’s kick this pig. Metaphorically speaking. Man of Steel There was a new trailer released this week, and it is, for lack of a better word, beautiful. It showcases everything that is going to make this film a possible [...]

Read more ›
My Doctor Who Dilemma
by / on April 4, 2013 at 12:00 pm / in Celluloid Cynicism

My Doctor Who Dilemma

I’m at a bit of a crossroad. I love Doctor Who, but I’m seriously considering not watching until he regenerates. I know, I know, it seems extreme. I don’t hate Matt Smith. He’s taken a while to grow on me; I have come to enjoy him as The Doctor, not as much as David Tennant or Christopher Eccleston, but I [...]

Read more ›
The Reality TV Trap (or Why We Can’t Look Away From a Train Wreck)
by / on March 21, 2013 at 12:00 pm / in Celluloid Cynicism

The Reality TV Trap (or Why We Can’t Look Away From a Train Wreck)

Since The Real World first debuted on MTV back in 1992, reality TV has been a rash on the rear end of television that we can never seem to medicate enough to clear up. By this point, it’s become a full on plague that is beyond quarantine in need of some serious cleansing fire. But what is it about this [...]

Read more ›
G.I. Joe: Retaliation: Can The Rock and Bruce Willis Make It Better?
by / on March 14, 2013 at 12:00 pm / in Celluloid Cynicism

G.I. Joe: Retaliation: Can The Rock and Bruce Willis Make It Better?

Seriously, how many movies are The Rock and Bruce Willis in this year? Every time I turn around there’s a new trailer out with one of them is in it. It appears that studios have it in their heads that these two will “spruce up” any movie. And while that might work in some cases (The Rock in Fast Five), [...]

Read more ›
Iron Man 3: Marvel’s Answer to The Dark Knight Rises?
by / on March 7, 2013 at 2:00 pm / in Celluloid Cynicism

Iron Man 3: Marvel’s Answer to The Dark Knight Rises?

I’m sure by now that all of nerdom has seen the newest trailer for Iron Man 3. (If not, shame on you, and it’s at the bottom of this article.) Anyway, the trailer was pretty epic, and it made me even more excited to see it. It also made me a little more confident that Ben Kingsley’s Mandarin won’t be [...]

Read more ›
Marvel Casting Is The Best!
by / on March 1, 2013 at 10:00 am / in Celluloid Cynicism

Marvel Casting Is The Best!

It might seem like I write an awful lot about comic book films, but I don’t care. I just don’t care. I recently stumbled upon a Marvel casting list that someone has graciously compiled on IMDb, and I was surprised and incredibly pleased by what I discovered. First off, Chris Cooper has recently been cast as Norman Osborn/Green Goblin in [...]

Read more ›
The Pros and Cons of Being a Winchester
by / on February 21, 2013 at 10:00 am / in Celluloid Cynicism

The Pros and Cons of Being a Winchester

Recently I’ve been trying to play catch-up on this season of Supernatural. It’s a little difficult to watch it regularly without cable at home, but I’m pretty much caught up and realizing that this season is getting better and better. I was a little iffy about it after last season’s Leviathan nonsense. I feel like last season was a bit [...]

Read more ›
Who’s Coming Back to Music in 2013?
by / on February 14, 2013 at 12:00 pm / in Celluloid Cynicism

Who’s Coming Back to Music in 2013?

I’m not downplaying last year’s comeback albums (Soundgarden, No Doubt) but this year is shaping up to be a great year for them. First off, we have the legendary David Bowie making a return to the music scene after a 10-year break with The Next Day. I’ve been waiting for Bowie to come back for a  while now, and I [...]

Read more ›
Someone Make My Childhood Cartoons Real!
by / on February 8, 2013 at 12:00 pm / in Celluloid Cynicism

Someone Make My Childhood Cartoons Real!

By “real,” I mean “live-action.” Some people really aren’t fans of their favorite childhood cartoons being made into live-action representations, but I’m usually pretty excited by the whole process. Well, that is until I actually watch the film, and then I understand their disgust. Ever since the live-action Ninja Turtles movies, I’ve wanted more and more of my favorite cartoons [...]

Read more ›
The Fate of the Justice League Movie
by / on January 31, 2013 at 12:00 pm / in Celluloid Cynicism

The Fate of the Justice League Movie

According to some online sources [here and here], the fate of the upcoming Justice League film (and by upcoming, I mean a few years from now) depends on the success of the new Superman film, Man of Steel. So any DC fans out there who have been eagerly anticipating a Justice League film to compete with Marvel’s The Avengers, whether [...]

Read more ›
Dear Heath Ledger…You Are Missed.
by / on January 24, 2013 at 10:00 am / in Celluloid Cynicism

Dear Heath Ledger…You Are Missed.

January 22nd of this year marked the five year anniversary of the death of Heath Ledger. It’s hard to believe that it’s been that long. It feels like it was just yesterday the news was breaking on Ledger’s body being found in the SoHo apartment of Mary-Kate Olsen, dead of an apparent overdose. Autopsies would later discover that it was [...]

Read more ›
Celebrities Suck!
by / on January 17, 2013 at 2:00 pm / in Celluloid Cynicism

Celebrities Suck!

Every now and then I feel the need to vent about celebrities, how useless they are, and how much they anger me. This is one of those times. Recently, my girlfriend informed me that Kim Kardashian was pregnant by Kanye West. Ya see, I’m an atheist and I make no bones about it, so I don’t believe in God or [...]

Read more ›
Space Colonization Begins With You! If You Dare…
by / on January 12, 2013 at 5:00 am / in Celluloid Cynicism

Space Colonization Begins With You! If You Dare…

I recently stumbled upon an article from Wired.com thanks to a link posted by Pee-wee Herman on his Facebook page (yes, I follow him) about a group from the Netherlands planning on colonizing Mars in the not-so-distant future. The group, Mars One, is a non-profit organization with the goal of sending “astronauts” to Mars to prepare it for habitation. Whether or [...]

Read more ›
What 2013 Has to Offer on the Big Screen
by / on January 2, 2013 at 6:11 pm / in Celluloid Cynicism

What 2013 Has to Offer on the Big Screen

I thought I’d take a moment this week to briefly look at what’s hitting the box office this year and give a quick prediction on the outcome of each. Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters – January 25th. Premise: Hansel (Jeremy Renner) and Gretel (Gemma Arterton) play the fairy tale brother and sister who are all grown up and have become [...]

Read more ›
It’s a Doctor Who Christmas Special!
by / on December 27, 2012 at 12:00 pm / in Celluloid Cynicism

It’s a Doctor Who Christmas Special!

Possible spoilers! You’ve been warned. Whovians rejoiced on the night (and afternoon, in some parts of the world) of Christmas Day when the BBC debuted the newest Doctor Who Christmas Special, The Snowmen. Since the mid-season finale aired months ago and we were left with the saddening (yet welcome) departure of the Ponds, we have eagerly awaited The Doctor’s triumphant [...]

Read more ›
Is Marvel Trying to “Shock” Their Fans?
by / on December 20, 2012 at 2:00 pm / in Celluloid Cynicism

Is Marvel Trying to “Shock” Their Fans?

I made a pun. Did you get it? If not, you will. Read on. It was recently announced that Oscar winner Jamie Foxx will be playing the role of the villain Electro (get the pun now?) in the as-yet-untitled sequel to The Amazing Spiderman . To some folks, like myself, this is great news. I think Jamie Foxx is an [...]

Read more ›
I’m Anti-Superman, and Even I Want to See Man Of Steel
by / on December 13, 2012 at 12:00 pm / in Celluloid Cynicism

I’m Anti-Superman, and Even I Want to See Man Of Steel

Well, I’m not completely Anti-Superman. When it comes to comic book films, I typically want to give the film a chance even if it looks like it might be completely horrible. But, right from the beginning, I knew Man Of Steel was going to be extremely epic. That’s saying a lot, because I don’t like Superman. I mean, I mostly [...]

Read more ›
Mellon Collie and the Ridiculous Price Tag
by / on December 6, 2012 at 10:00 am / in Movies & Entertainment

Mellon Collie and the Ridiculous Price Tag

I’ve been a fan of The Smashing Pumpkins ever since I first heard “Today” back in like ’95 or  96. I know it was a few years after the song was released, but that’s when I got hooked. So back off! Anyway, I’ve been a pretty die-hard fan since then, even with their new stuff. I do think Billy Corgan [...]

Read more ›