LA FILM FESTIVAL PREMIERE OF "TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN"

Optimus Prime is baaaaack! Last night was a big night in Los Angeles as Paramount Pictures' "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" premiered at the LA Film Festival in Westwood. This Michael Bay directed flick, which he also executive produced with Steven Spielberg, will not let action and Transformer-loving audiences down. Sam Witwicky (Shia LeBeouf) struggles with wanting to be a normal college freshman and heeding the call to help the Autobots. After finding a shard of AllSpark, Sam's head is filled with ancients symbols. Together with Jetfire, an old Decepticon who switches to the Autobots, as well as other cronies, they are lead on a journey around the world, including France and Egypt trying to rid the universe of the evil Decepticons. And in true Michael Bay fashion, look for tons of blowups, action sequences, and special effects. And don't forget-a fair amount of (daisy duke and tight shirt wearing) Megan Fox (Mikaela Banes) thrown in for good measure. A nice surprise was comedian Rainn Wilson assuming the role of an eccentric Professor Colan. Celebrities who rolled down the Red Carpet included: Shia Le Beouf, a Grecian goddess looking Megan Fox in a long white dress, an army jacket wearing Emile Hirsch, devilishly handsome Josh Duhamel (sans Fergie who might still be tied up in Toronto due to that Perez Hilton/Black Eyed Peas scuffle), a red tuxedo jacket wearing Tyrese Gibson, singer Ciara, Travis Barker with his 2 kids in tow, musician Deryck Whibley with no Avril Levine in sight, a pregnant Kendra Wilkinson with fiance Hank Baskett, couple Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush, and filmmaker Michael Bay.

The after party was held on a couple of cordoned off city blocks in the middle of Westwood with Paramount Pictures sparing no expense, including a live performance from Linkin Park, who also wrote the music in the film, as well as elaborate food stations catered by Wolfgang Puck and several open bars pouring Rose's Mojito Cocktails. As I made my way to the VIP seating area, many of the stars chatted with one another including Shia LeBeouf, Megan Fox, and Oscar winner and "Tranformers" cast member Jon Voight. Josh Duhamel couldn't have been nicer as we chatted about his performance as Captain Lennox in the movie-does he look good in army fatigues! Tyrese was having a great time speaking with party goers and Emile Hirsch was very modest when given praise about his starring role in "Into the Wild." After the Linkin Park performance which got everybody excited, DJ Bizzy spun his tunes while guests posed for pictures with various Tranformers action figures sprinkled around the perimeter of the soiree. A blowout bash indeed!

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" opens in North American theaters on June 24, 2009.

WORLD PREMIERE OF "PAPER MAN" AT THE LA FILM FESTIVAL

Last night was the start of Film Independent's LA Film Festival in Westwood, kicking off with the world premiere of "Paper Man," starring Jeff Daniels, Lisa Kudrow, Ryan Reynolds and Emma Stone. The story centers around Daniels' character, Richard Dunne, a middle aged writer with writer's block in an unhappy marriage to Kudrow, a surgeon who would rather be 100 miles away from her husband. He befriends a teenager played by Emma Stone and learns about friendship and embracing maturity. Ryan Reynolds takes on the role of Captain Excellent (think ripped muscles in a blue leotard and short, spikey blonde hair-one of the few actors that could actually pull this look off while looking hot and not annoying), a superhero and possibly the only friend Richard Dunne has ever had, until Emma comes along. The acting was well above average, particularly that of Emma Stone whose complicated teenage character is dealing with her own inner demons and a very troubling, out of the ordinary past. A movie worth seeing. Some of the celebrities in attendance were, Christina Ricci, a leather jacket shrouded Christian Slater, Laura Dern, Robert Downey Jr. going low profile in a T-Shirt and shades, and Dermot Mulroney. From there, it was off to the premiere after party at the Napa Valley Grille, where vodka mojitos were served with Rose's Mojito Cocktail Mix and Marani vodka-the perfect drink for summer.