Round 2 of the Greatest Movie Hero Tournament finds Eastwood's Dirty Harry, now victorious over Bronson's Paul Kersey, facing Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator. Julia Roberts' Erin Brockovich crushed Sally Fields' Norma Rae but does she have a shot at beating Sigourney Weaver's Ripley? Now more then ever, your vote decides who qualifies as the ultimate movie hero. So cast your vote, and enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win $5000 for yourself and another $5000 for your favorite charity.

A new round begins each Friday and you can enter the sweeps daily to better your odds of winning. Make sure to check the tournament schedule for the opening and closing dates of each round.

The host of AMC's Cinemania talks about the show, his celebrity status, the future of Tivo and his secret life as an adult film star.

Q: You were on AMC's last movie show, The Movie Club. Did the Cinemania opportunity come out of that experience?

A: It actually had absolutely nothing to do with that. In fact, to be honest with you, I'm not sure if AMC even remembers I was on that show. I had hosted shows in the past, and I told my peeps, my representatives, that if I'm going to host anything in the future it has to be something that I'm enthusiastic about -- not just Celebrity Fit Cook-Off. But they said there was a movie show in development at AMC, and I am a movie buff, so I said definitely.

Q: Cinemania is all about knowing the minutiae of movies. Are you a big trivia buff?

A: Heck yeah. I kick ass. And I try to work that in a little bit. But the thing I have to remember is, I'm talking with the people who made the movie. They already know the answers to these, so they're not really impressed. So when I go, "It must have been really interesting working with the second AD Jack Salinger who also was the special effects coordinator on a little movie that came out in 1982," they're like, "Yeah, Jack's cool, he's a real nice guy." And I'm like, "Aren't you impressed that I knew that?" "No not really." They just figure some producer told me, I just want to raise my hand and go, "NO! NO! I really do love your movie! I really am a dork!"

Continue reading "Q&A - Cinemania Host Regan Burns" »

The Matrix revolutionized special effects, merged Hong Kong-style martial arts with cyberpunk science fiction, and injected video games with classical philosophy. But how well did you absorb the teachings of the Oracle? Take our Ultimate Fan Quiz and see if you're The One... winner. If you're the first to post correct answers to all 15 questions in the comments section below, you'll win this Invasion of the Body Snatchers DVD and be profiled in an upcoming blog entry.

The quiz runs from Friday, May 9 to Friday, May 16 at midnight. The winner will be announced shortly afterward. (Make sure we have a relevant email address in your profile so we can contact you about your prize.)

Hope you took the red pill.

1. According to all the street corner references in The Matrix, in what American city does the film take place?

2. What is the title, and who is the author, of the book Neo hides his disks in?

3. What's playing on the television in the Oracle's waiting room?

Continue reading "Ultimate Fan Quiz - The Matrix" »

There are many reasons to watch Troy: the crisp direction by Wolfgang Peterson; the all-star cast of Orlando Bloom, Eric Bana, and Brian Cox; the re-telling of Homer's The Iliad with action movie tropes. The very best reason, however, is Brad Pitt.

Pitt spent over seven months training his body to almost physical perfection for his role as Achilles. And since scenes were shot out of chronological order, Pitt had to maintain his exact body appearance throughout the filming, which entailed a long, hard exercise regime for the entire length of the shoot. So herewith, we're going to rate Brad Pitt's film roles and decide whether they're hunky, or the "pitts." He's no slouch in the looks department on a regular day, so keep in mind that zero Pitts is still better than 10 Buscemis.

Interview With a Vampire (1994)
This is, arguably, the film that rocketed Pitt to stardom. He plays an undead vampire so beautiful, even Tom Cruise wants to make out with him. In embodying Anne Rice's Louis, Pitt needed no special effects to make himself seem like a supernatural being.

Rating:

Continue reading "Is Troy the Hottest Brad Pitt Role Ever?" »

Which Die Hard scene do you think is the most classic?  Watch this video and then vote for your favorite scene below. 

How well do you know Planet of the Apes?  Take our Cinemania Trivia Challenge to find out.  Leave your answers in the comments below and you'll be entered for a chance to win a Planet of the Apes DVD.  The winner will be chosen randomly so don't worry if you feel like you're playing against an 800 pound gorilla -- everyone has an equal chance to win.  The winner will be chosen after one week and contacted via e-mail to obtain shipping instructions.

1. What is the earth date before Taylor goes to sleep on space ship?

2. What is the earth time before they abandon ship?

3. After they abandon ship, how old does Taylor (Heston) say that Landon is?

4. What was the alternate ending to Planet of the Apes?

5. What is the name of the book and author that the movie is based on?

6. What is the name of the gorilla whose head of the security police?

7. What was Heston's character, "Taylor" originally named?

8. What was Taylor's first comment on the human's they encountered?

Had enough of Obama vs. Clinton? Watch films do battle instead. At Movie Smackdown, two films go toe-to-toe to decide whether the defending champion, a classic, still has what it takes, or if a new release is the one to watch.

"The idea has always been simple," says site creator Bryce Zabel. "Two films, one review, no holds barred." As the Smackdown referee-in-chief, he makes sure every match offers readers more fun, more value, and more suspense than the traditional thumbs up or thumbs down critique. "Most reviews let you know whether the reviewer likes a film in the first paragraph," he says. "In our reviews, there is actual suspense and doubt about which film will win, often going all the way through to the end."

Continue reading "Site of the Week - Movie Smackdown" »

Ultimate John Wayne Fan: Jennifer Klein

Hometown: Gainesville, FL

Age: 21

Profession: Upcoming senior at the University of Florida, majoring in Criminology

For Jennifer Klein, the ideal lazy day -- and she admits she's cut class a few times to have them -- consists of a bowl of popcorn and a John Wayne marathon: "The Shootist, True Grit, North to Alaska," she says. "I like Red River because it was the one time when John Wayne was the villain, and I can't stop watching Without Reservations -- it's such a nice change of pace to just watch him have some fun and have a little romance without having to save the frontier." If nothing else, says the ultimate fan, The Duke and his films can teach us all a lesson in perseverance: "Wayne was headstrong and tough and didn't back down, which proves that anyone can get what they want if they show those qualities too -- minus the gun."

Ultimate John Wayne Fan Quiz Answers:

1. What was John Wayne's birth name?

Marion Michael Morrison

2. Comedic impressions frequently riff on Wayne calling some tenderfoot "Pilgrim," even though he only used the insult repeatedly in one movie. What movie was it?

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

Continue reading "Ultimate Fan Quiz - John Wayne Results" »

Overlooked during its initial release, Striking Distance is notable for three reasons: It's a "boat cop" movie with some solid chase scenes; it's another "macho-tastic" entry in the filmography of director Rowdy "Roadhouse" Herrington; and finally, it's set in Pittsburgh, a vital, but underrated film locale. The cat-and-mouse game between Det. Tom Hardy (Bruce Willis) and the Polish Hill serial murderer is set on the city's "Three Rivers," which was, in fact, the film's original, Pittsburgh-specific title. And though it isn't anywhere near New York City or Los Angeles in terms of film production, Pittsburgh has been the backdrop for a number of distinctive movies.

Continue reading "Hollywood's Infatuation With Gritty Pittsburgh - From Flashdance to Striking Distance" »

• An unintentionally creepy romantic comedy P.S. I Love You is saved by a grounded performance from multiple Oscar-winner Hillary Swank. Her perfect relationship is quite literally destroyed by hubby Gerard Butler's untimely death. Luckily, he's left her letters, recordings and more to help her move past his demise, and find a life all her own. The above average cast also includes Lisa Kudrow, Kathy Bates, and Buffy's James Marsters, in a decidedly less vamp-y role.

• On the opposite end of the spectrum is Over Her Dead Body, featuring desperate housewife Eva Longoria-Parker as a bridezilla who dies on her wedding day, only to return from beyond the grave to make sure her fiancée is never happy again. The film squanders the ample comic talents of Paul Rudd as Longoria Parker's living sweetie; but Rudd still manages to eke out some chemistry with his co-star, Lake Bell, as a psychic who can see Longoria Parker's ghost.

• Who would have thought the best cinematic interpretation of Bob Dylan would be played by Cate Blanchett? Director Todd Haynes took this chance when he cast six different actors as the marble-mouthed musician in I'm Not There. Though not every section is a home run, an all-star cast (which also includes Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Richard Gere) and confident direction make this a must-watch.

Continue reading "On DVD This Week - I'm Not There, Serial Mom and More" »