Is Megan Fox this generation's Sharon Stone? This is the premise we're here today to discuss. The evidence is compelling on both sides. So let's get into it.

Both Megan and Sharon went from little-known to massive in the span of a single movie role. For Sharon it was 1992's Basic Instinct, a film that cleared $350m on a budget of $50m, based on the strength of Stone's sexuality and the controversy created by her wearing a "revealing" skirt in an interrogation room. Sharon was then named one of People magazine's "Most Beautiful People." (Maxim didn't exist until 1999).

For Megan it was Transformers, a mere two years ago, a movie that banked over $700m (on a budget of $150m) due to robots, explosions, Shia LaBeouf, and of course, the stratospheric attractiveness of Megan Fox. She went on to make Maxim's list in 2007 and 2008 and male magazine FHM rated her the "sexiest" of 2008.

However, it recently came out that Megan Fox doesn't want to be a sex symbol. She's quoted in Empire magazine:

"You can't be a sex symbol 24 hours a day. I can't be a professional celebrity or a professional sexpot. I can't do that to myself. I just want to work and make the right choices, and study and develop as an actress. I don't want to be on the cover of every magazine that exists. It's my job to show people something different."

In this Ms. Fox is perfectly correct, and it sounds smart and professional that she's thinking along those lines. However, might I present exhibits B and C:

Clearly Megan's choices have trended towards skimpy outfits and minimal dialogue. Then there's the salient fact that Megan said she didn't want to be a sex symbol in a magazine that has her on the cover in leather pants, and without a top. The facts are obvious: Megan Fox is sexy, alluring, hot, attractive, and all the other adjectives used to describe that feeling people get when they see someone who is all angles and conflict. Hey, I'm not knocking her for being attractive, but I'm wondering, "Is that it?" So category by category, here's Fox vs. Stone, for all the marbles.

Age at Big Break:
Sharon Stone: 34 years old
Megan Fox: 21 years old
Thoughts: Megan has quite the head-start on Sharon Stone. However, in the 15 years from Basic Instinct to Transformers, sexuality got younger. Anyone remember The Olsen Twin Clock (that now seems profoundly screwed up)? Could Miley Cyrus have existed in 1992? It's doubtful, as the top five singles that year came from Madonna, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, Celine Dion, and Vanessa Williams.

Career Choices:
Sharon Stone: Three years after Basic Instinct Stone would win a Golden Globe and an Oscar Nomination for her work in Casino. After that it was Razzie city (except for a decent performance in Bobby).
Megan Fox:
Megan has Jennifer's Body coming out (you may recall the topless photos that hit the Internet from the set) where they've done their best to play up her sexiness. And, of course, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Last year's How to Lose Friends and Alienate People was a flop, even though they had Megan in a pool front and center throughout the marketing campaign (pictured left).
Thoughts: Fox hasn't done herself any favors on the script front, but she's a victim of advertising too. Any film that has her participation will obviously be tempted to play up the fact Megan Fox is in it, ideally without much in the way of clothes. The latest rumor has Megan Fox transforming into Lara Croft. The only way Fox will break this cycle is by working with a real director. Aronofsky, Boyle, the Coen brothers, someone who will put her character ahead of her attractiveness.

Fun with Quotes:
Sharon Stone:
On the benefits of being famous: "I find I get to torture a higher class of men."
"If you don't want my peaches, don't shake my tree."
"We Barbie dolls are not supposed to behave the way I do."

Megan Fox:
On Vanessa Hudgens photos "Someone betrayed Vanessa, but no one's angry at that person. She had to apologize. I hate Disney for making her do that. F*** Disney."
I have the libido of a 15-year-old boy. My sex drive is so high. I'd rather have sex with Brian all the time than leave the house. He doesn't mind.
"I like the way getting a tattoo feels. If I'm depressed, it's nice to get one and deal with the pain."
Thoughts: What can I add to that? They are both entertaining and outspoken, capable of making the news in ten seconds or less.

Final Verdict:
Sharon Stone: Let no one forget that when Basic Instinct came out Sharon Stone was considered the sexiest woman Hollywood. She cleverly parlayed that into Casino, and then 14 years later she cleverly parlayed a $13-million dollar salary out of Basic Instinct 2. Give Sharon Stone this much: She knew what she was working with and how to use it to her advantage.
Megan Fox: I think the verdict is still out on Megan. She hasn't taken a role that shows off whether or not she can act yet. Until she does, we can only speculate.
Thoughts: I'll leave it to you, dear reader. Will Megan Fox ever be nominated? Is she actually more talented than Sharon Stone? Vote early, vote often!

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