'The Expendables' premiere puts some Stallone-style action back in Hollywood [Updated]

With an uncredited cameo appearance in "The Expendables," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger skipped the red carpet but did attend the Tuesday premiere of the film, which might be 2010's big end-of-summer hit, according to the Big Picture's Patrick Goldstein.

"It sounds as if men everywhere are having what you might call mangasms over the film," Goldstein said recently. And really, what's not to love, with action stars of a certain age -- think Sylvester Stallone, Steve Austin, Dolph Lundgren, Jason Statham and Terry Crews -- showing up to tangle on the big screen, and mingle on the red carpet outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

Also among those on hand for the premiere: Ling Bai; Mickey Rourke with girlfriend Anastasia Makarenko; Rumer Willis with her dad Bruce Willis; Jennifer Flavin with hubby Sly and their three daughters; Christa Campbell; Eric Roberts; and Charisma Carpenter, of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel" fame.

Mickey Rourke discusses his darker side at the 'Iron Man 2' premiere

After capturing the hearts of audiences (and the Academy) for his moving role in "The Wrestler," Mickey Rourke shows a darker side in his new role in "Iron Man 2." As Tony Stark's nemesis, Rourke is Ivan Vanko, a tattooed Russian physicist determined to overpower Robert Downey Jr.'s character.

"It's been OK," he said of the dramatic change in characters. "You know, I wanted to do a different kind of movie after 'The Wrestler,' and this was definitely different -- way different -- so it was a lot of fun to do this."

To prepare for the role, Rourke told us he actually spent time in Russia.

"I was in Russia on other business and it just happened to come at the right time, so I was able to go there and visit the prison," he said. He brought back what he learned there and "laid it out" for director Jon Favreau, who allowed the actor to the freedom to "roll with it."

The result? A totally maniacal character that Rourke made all his own.

-- Amy Kaufman

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