Digital Popcorn

(Left to right: Matthew McConaughey at the UK premiere of "Fool's Gold"; George Hamilton)

Note to Matthew: When you're more tan than George Hamilton, there's a problem.

— Korin

The world lost a great actor on Saturday.

Charlton Heston’s inimitable voice, manner and epic acting talents are on my mind as I think about his passing at age 83.

In his best roles, as Moses in “The Ten Commandments” or George Taylor in “Planet of the Apes,” he was a commanding and menacing alpha male, barking orders through clenched teeth, with a gleam in his eye. Even in terrible 1970s disaster movies, he was a reliably entertaining movie star.

Maybe his politics deviated wildly from my own. But that would never color my appreciation of his movies.

My cousin and I always loved to do impressions of Heston intoning memorable lines from “Commandments” such as, “Blood makes for poor mortar,” or, “The city is made of bricks. The strong make many, the starving make few, the dead make none. So much for accusations.”

We’ll miss you, Charlton.
— Max

(Left to right: Lindsay Lohan; Ashley Alexandra Dupre)

Lindsay Lohan is about to get her biggest role since "Mean Girls" — and she doesn't even know it.

The troubled actress would be perfect to play Ashley Alexandra Dupre (aka "Kristen") in the movie version of the Spitzer scandal. C'mon — you know the story is going to be turned into a film.

We were originally pulling for Jennifer Garner, but, well, she's too wholesome-looking.

Who do you think should play Ashley on the big screen?

— Korin

(Left to right: Eliot Spitzer, Tom Hanks)

In the wake of Gov. Eliot Spitzer's quasi-admission that he frequented a prostitution ring, it's time to look toward the future.

And the future is ... Eliot Spitzer's scandal, the movie! (Or Lifetime original film.) So, what do you think? Who should play Eliot on the big screen?

My vote's for Tom Hanks.

Thoughts?

— Korin

Ever come across those deliciously amazing movies you loved as a kid? And when you verbally rehash the plots, they seem a little ... awful?

"Short Circuit 2" (I, apparently, never saw the first one) and "Batteries Not Included" were at the top of my Top Ten list when I was a lil' one. They're definitely up there on my Netflix queue now, as an experiment to see if they're still as engaging as I once found them.

Check out the trailer for "Batteries Not Included," above. Think it has ever-lasting awesomeness potential?

(P.S. Did you know this is a Brad Bird film?!)

— Korin

Perhaps I wasn't paying enough attention. Or maybe I'm just, uh ... slow. But I didn't get "Michael Clayton."

In the film, George Clooney plays Michael Clayton, a "fixer" at a powerful law firm who makes problems go away. When seasoned lawyer Arthur Eden goes nutso (for some reason which I never got) and takes off his clothes during a settlement meeting, Michael rushes to the rescue.

But why did Arthur lose it? What's with his relationship with that young woman who's involved in the case?

And why the heck did Michael pull over on the side of the road in the wee hours of the morning to stare at horses while driving home from that guy's place in Connecticut?! (Coincidentally, his car blew up seconds later, but that's beside the point.)

Finally, how did Michael blackmail on Karen Crowder and not lose his day job? Or did he?

Granted I dozed off for five minutes during the movie, but still.

If you plan on watching "Michael Clayton" anytime soon, take my advice: Bring your A-game. (You're going to need it.)

— Korin

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(Left to right: Madonna, Nicole Kidman, Meg Ryan)

Madonna shocked more than a few folks last week when she arrived at a press conference looking very, uh, refreshed. Unnaturally so.

After all, the Material Girl is 49 and you'd be hard pressed to find a wrinkle of any sort on her face. Yeah, that's not natural.

Madge joins the ranks of Hollywood ladies like Nicole Kidman (40) and Meg Ryan (46) who seem to love the Botox.

(It's worth noting that Kidman is pregnant. Mamas-to-be can't get Botox until after they give birth and the effects of the injection wear off after three to four months. We might see her looking a little more au natural in the coming months.)

What do you think? Is this a good look or is there something to be said for looking your age?

Photos: Celebrity plastic surgery gone wrong

— Korin

"How She Move" (left), "Step Up 2 the Streets" (right)

What's with the wave of dancing movies that've hit theatres lately?

"How She Move," the story of a young step dancer who tries to get out of her crime-filled neighborhood (and finds love along the way, naturally) was released in late January.

Now "Step Up 2 the Streets" (out this weekend) follows two dancers from different backgrounds who fall in love at an arts school. Of course, plenty of street dancing ensues.

I'm as much of a fan of "Center Stage" and "Save the Last Dance" as the next girl, but how many times can these story lines be recycled?

- Korin

Remember when Tom Cruise was just a cocky-yet-ambitious fighter pilot, trying to earn his Top Gun trophy while getting over the death of his beloved buddy Goose? On screen, of course.

You know, before his public rants on the merits of Scientology.

I had a nice lil' trip down memory lane this weekend, thanks to a "Top Gun" screening on TBS. And, seriously — I forgot how great that movie is.

Between the soundtrack (ahem, Berlin's "Take My Breath Away" (above) and Kenny Loggins' "Highway to the Danger Zone"), the crazy, yet loveable pilots and amazing fighter plane shots, this is a movie that's still fantastic more than 20 years after its making.

And to think studios first told producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson that no one would want to see a movie about planes. Psh!

— Korin

"Rambo" star Julie Benz (left); amNY.com staffer Lauren Johnston (right)

It's time to settle this.

I was flipping through the "Rambo" press shots today and, whoa! Our very own Lauren Johnston was all muddied up and hanging out next to Rambo himself (and a rock) in one picture.

OK - it's not really her. But don't you think she and Julie Benz could be sisters?

My (obviously visually-challenged) colleagues vote no. Lauren isn't here to defend herself, but what do you think? Should Lauren become Julie Benz's stunt double?

Glue a few extensions on her head, muddy her up and we're in business!

As long as we're on the subject, check out our Stallone trivia quiz here, and the trailer below.

— Korin

Paris Hilton has been busy partying — whoops! — promoting her new flick, "The Hottie and the Nottie," at the Sundance Film Festival these days. Naturally, we had to see what all the self-hyped fuss was all about.

Judging by the trailer, the movie's a little, um, interesting.

Hilton plays a stunner who is the object of a dorky guy's affection (played by Joel Moore). Problem is, she won't date until her very unattractive best gal pal June (Christine Lakin) finds a man of her own. Moore attempts to find a love interest for June and hilarity ensues.

The plot seems interesting enough, but, frankly, it's too hard to get over Lakin's ridiculous get-up, which is designed to turn this attractive actress into a beastly-looking woman.

And, yes. It's really that bad: Fake rotten teeth, hairy legs, huge facial moles, rotten toe nails and all. Seriously, with a friend like Paris Hilton, she'd at least be encouraged to get a wax job.

In all fairness, we haven't seen the film. But, if the trailer is any indication, most of America won't be turning out in droves to see it either.

— Korin

... Remember "The Money Pit"?

The 1986 flick is a classic — or, at least it was to me when I was five.

In case you've never heard of it, "The Money Pit" was filmed when Tom Hanks was still known as "That guy from 'Bosom Buddies'" and Shelley Long was an uptight chick on "Cheers." The twosome play a young couple who buy a big-time fixer-upper and go deeply into debt.

Hank's gasping, honking duck-style laughter when he tries to draw a bath is one of the best parts of the movie (only second to when he tries to cook a turkey in their decrepit kitchen moments before the bird ends up in the bathroom).

Check out a compilation of some of the film's funniest moments above.

— Korin

How would Hollywood cast the Democrat and Republican candidates for president? Check out our photo gallery of the pols, and their silver screen look-a-likes.

amNewYork composite photo

I have to confess: I finally watched "Dreamgirls" this weekend. (And, yes, I'm fully aware I'm waaay behind on the movie-viewing curve.)

Maybe it was all the hype, but I definitely hit the fast forward button more than a few times during the lengthy song/stories (ahem, Jennifer Hudson's "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" sequence. We get the point. You're upset.)

But the (shorter) songs are the most impressive part of the movie. When Beyonce Knowles belts out "Listen" and Jennifer Hudson sings "I Love You I Do," it's easy to get caught up in how truly talented both of them are.

Maybe I'm being too critical of "And I'm Telling You," but maybe not (it's more than five minutes long!). Watch it yourself (above) and let us know what you think.

— Korin

2008 is just around the corner! To celebrate, we're throwing a whole boatload of 2007 movie "Best Ofs" your way.

Check 'em out!

Christmas and Hanukkah are kaput, but we have one more holiday to celebrate — New Year's Eve. Here are a few great NYE movie moments to get you geared up for the big night:

1. "When Harry Met Sally": Harry and Sally finally become an item (for real this time) on New Year's Eve. The "I love you," "I hate you" bit is just so darn fantastic. Check it out above.

2. "About a Boy": Womaner Will Freeman meets the love of his life on New Year's Eve.

3. "Bridget Jones' Diary": Renee Zellweger belts out "All By Myself" while smoking and drinking like crazy. Classic.

— Korin

Having a lil' trouble getting into the holiday spirit?

Check out this compilation of the key scenes from "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer," set to "Feliz Navidad."

It's Christmas in a clip!

— Korin

Jack Nicholson seems to have a perma-motto: Don't leave home without it. His sunglasses, that is. The veteran actor hasn't uncovered his eyes at a public event in ages. And puh-lenty of these gatherings took place after the sun went down.

How can he see?

— Korin

They don't make 'em like they used to — silver screen dance scenes, that is.

Want to reminisce on the best booty shaking sequences from your childhood? Don't sweat, we've got you covered:

1. "Flashdance": Who can forget Jennifer Beals' anxiety-filled audition for the Pittsburgh ballet company (above)? You can do it, Alex! Second time's the charm.

2. "Footloose": No one — I repeat — no one can shake it like Kevin Bacon in that warehouse. Look at that boy move!

3. "Dirty Dancing": Nobody puts baby in the corner! Not even you, Dr. Houseman!

4. "The Breakfast Club": Holy dancing! Apparently, detention causes a serious need to get your groove on.

5. "Karate Kid II": Daniel LaRusso shows off his moves on an Okinawa dance floor.

— Korin

I was fortunate enough to catch a sneak preview of "The Golden Compass" this past weekend.

But more than anything, this gorgeous film made me realize all that’s missing from my reality. Here’s a list of things “Golden Compass” characters have that I don’t (but should):

1. An alethiometer. Lyra would have to teach me how to use the golden compass, but the truth-telling device would be oh-so-useful on dates.

2. A daemon. I want one! I want one! I haven’t decided what animal this portion of my soul should be though. (Just like I haven’t decided what form my patronum should take.)

3. An ice bear companion. Why would I take the N train to work when I can ride an armored bear? Weeeee. I would name him Snuggles.

4. A pack of Eva Green-led airborne witches that have my back.

5. And at least one intimidating gyptian friend complete with mismatched woolen outfit and face tattoo.

— Emily