'Super 8' premiere lands with Elle Fanning, Tom Cruise

Aliens and coming-of-age are common movie themes, and a marriage of the two made for quite a show at the "Super 8" premiere Wednesday night at the Village Theater in Westwood.

J.J. Abrams' passion project, produced by Steven Spielberg, lighted up Westwood as supporters Tom Cruise and Chris Pine joined the cast and filmmakers for the red carpet and screening.

"I remember standing in line here, opening weekend of 'Grease,'" Abrams said as he introduced the film in the Broxton Avenue theater. "And 'The Shining.' And that's what this film is, a combination of 'Grease' and 'The< Shining.' "

Jokes aside, Abrams'< young cast members, including Elle Fanning, enjoyed the hoopla — Fanning looking lovely (and tall!) in a flowy white number. The 13-year-old wasn't entirely ahead of her years, however, enthusiastically grabbing a soda and popcorn on her way into the theater.

After the screening, an after-party happened across the street, themed after the small-town '70s vibe of "Super 8." Picnic benches were serviced by waiters passing bags of crispy tater tots, juice bars were constructed for the underage crowd, and cotton candy was distributed by girls on roller skates. Click the pics for more photos from the red carpet.

A Slurpee truck was rolled in courtesy of 7-Eleven, and Fatburger fed stars including Pine, who wandered the bash chowing down on a cheeseburger.

Elle, younger sister of actress Dakota Fanning, was the talk of the fete.

"She was fantastic," said Geoff Stults, who mentioned he'd starred in a short film with the actress when "she was just a baby."

Bill Hader of "Saturday Night Live" was full of compliments too, praising the film's arguable kid lead, Joel Courtney.

Also spotted: "Lost" alums Josh Holloway and Jorge Garcia, and sisters Aly and AJ Michalka.  

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— Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photos: Tom Cruise, top, and Elle Fanning, left, on the "Super 8" red carpet. Credits: Chris Pizzello / Associated Press.

Saoirse Ronan cast in movie version of Stephenie Meyer book 'The Host'

"Hanna" star Saoirse Ronan has been cast in the big-screen adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's adult sci-fi love story "The Host."

Ronan will play Melanie Stryder, a 20-year-old human girl whose mind is invaded by a parasitic alien, MTV reported. Ronan, 17, may have to be aged a bit for the Inferno Entertainment production, which is currently without a director. Former director Susanna White recently pulled out of the project, written by Andrew Niccol of "The Truman Show."

Ronan, who starred in "The Lovely Bones" and was nominated for an Oscar for "Atonement," will have to play a role within a role as her character's body hosts the invading "soul" named Wanderer.

Sorry "Twi-hards" -- no vampires, werewolves or Edward Cullen in this Meyer series, but bookworms say it packs the same heart-melting punch.

The "Twilight" author's "The Host," on bookshelves since 2008, follows Bella-like lead Melanie as the soul probes her thoughts and she fights against it with visions of Jared, the love of her life, one of the few humans in hiding who have not yet been invaded by the parasite. Eventually, Wanderer begins to yearn for Jared, whom she was sent to seek out. A love triangle ensues -- involving only two bodies instead of three -- then host and Wanderer set out to find Jared and ultimately deal with the love they simultaneously feel.

Um, where's Katy Perry's "E.T." when you need it?

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— Nardine Saad
twitter.com/NardineSaad

Photo: Saoirse Ronan. Credit: Peter Kramer / Associated Press

PREACH IT! Heidi Montag has no friends, hence all gossip about her is false

We love celebrity logic. It’s a bit like string theory: When objects reach a certain size, they simply stop making sense. In physics, the nonsensical behavior occurs among quantum particles, which are very small. In Hollywood, it’s the opposite; where giant egos walk the Earth, bizarro thinking follows. But whatever. Admit it: The analogy we just made is way awesome. It has both stars AND physics, without actually veering into astrophysics.

Today’s example of rabbit-hole celebrity thinking: Heidi Montag. In a fresh series of Tweets, she declares two things, neither of which are exaggerated or taken out of context. The first is that she’s never been happier. Really. The whole new-rubber-face thing? Working out great.


The second thing is that she has no friends.

Take it away, Heidi (unedited, in no particular order of Tweet):

“I have never felt sexier, happier, or more amazing in my own skin. I truly look the way I have always dreamed, I love America and freedom!”

(Editor’s note: I know, right?!)