'Pearl Harbor' world premiere brings Hollywood to Hawai'i

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hollywood invaded Hawai'i tonight at the highly anticipated — and highly hyped — world premiere of "Pearl Harbor" aboard the USS John C. Stennis.

Actor Ben Affleck arrives at tonight's star-studded premiere of the movie "Pearl Harbor" aboard the USS John C. Stennis Associated Press

The red carpet welcomed the stylish celeb sect, from rocker Courtney Love in a black lace number to a daper Cary Elwes to an elegant Faith Hill, all of whom couldn't contain their excitement about seeing the $140 million action-drama in what many industry folk are calling an unprecedented movie premiere.

"This is not reality, man," said an awestruck Josh Hartnett, who plays Danny Walker in the film, as he made his way through the persistent media lined along the red carpet. "I just hope everything works and the survivors enjoy the movie."

In typical Hollywood flair, the invited guests strolled down the red carpet, posing for pictures for the dozens of invasive TV cameras and newspaper photographers. Most happily obliged requests from the lucky crewmen and civilians were snagged seats in bleachers alongside the carpet. Alec Baldwin, who plays Col. Jimmy Doolittle, granted nearly every photo request from beckoning fans, even cradling a crewmember's wife for a photo. And despite his cheerful demeanor, he refused to interview with a FOX reporter calling his name. "He doesn't talk to FOX," his publicist snapped. "He's made at you."

Cuba Gooding Jr. made a grand entrance in an olive suit and black shoes. The actor who plays Dorrie Miller greeted every lens with a wide smile. But as he made his way down the press line, one crewmember yelled out, "Forget the press!" Gooding laughed, waved his hands and headed toward the successful fan, who took a slew of photos with the Academy Award-winning actor. "Oh, yeah," Gooding said, waving the shaka.

"I'm on the mood," he told reporters. "This is going to be huge. I don't think people know what we're getting into."

The screams from fans got progressively louder as stars James King, Kate Beckinsale and Ben Affleck rounded out the list of cast members attending the premiere.

King, in a deep orange vintage dress adorned with a simple strand of pearls, giggled with excitement. "I'm trying to be right here, right now," said the model-turned-actress who plays Betty, a nurse in the movie. "This is just so much fun."

Beckinsale was a movie star tonight, in a slinky white Prada gown and stilettos. She radiated in front of the cameras, basking in the flashes. As she posed for photos with her husband, Michael Sheen, a reporter called out for them to "get romantic." The properly spoken Brit actress, who plays nurse Evelyn Johnson, smartly responded with a devilish grin, "I think we'll save that for when we get home."

Right on her stilettos was Affleck, daper in a cream suit and periwinkle shirt. His stature commanded attention, as reporters and fans alike clamored to get a photo, an answer, anything out of Hollywood's fastest rising stars.

After posing for photos with Beckinsale, his arms wrapped neatly around her waist, he stopped to humor some reporters' questions while egging the crewmembers nearby to cheer.

"For me, this is an event to honor a whole generation of Americans," he said seriously about the movie. "What I'm hoping will happen is that, in particular, the survivors of the attack feel, again, that in somewhere they're respected and honored by the movie."

By 7:05 p.m. guests were seated in the outdoor theatre on the deck of the aircraft carrier, the stage bathed in a deep purple light. To the right loomed the Arizona Memorial, an eerie reminder of what happened the morning of December 7, 1941. Armed with buckets of buttered popcorn and Pepsis, eager guests marveled at the F-15 fighter jet missing man salute, introduction of dignitaries, a slew of thank-yous and acknowledgements and a poignant yet powerful rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" by Hill, before the 3-hour film began at 7:47 p.m. Right on schedule.

Disney didn't forget a thing, with food stations set up on the deck and an amazing surround-sound that made the screening feel less like a drive-in experience.

"This is the biggest premiere in movie history," said director/producer Michael Bay. "I just hope it goes off as rehearsed."