America's TOP radio deejays arrived in Hollywood for a screening of Captain America: the First Avenger.
The movie trailer has been out for awhile now, and it looks retro and modern at the same time.
Naturally we were skeptical: could this film possibly be as entertaining as Iron Man and Spider Man had been? Would it look good in 3D? Could Hugo Leaving be as sinister as Red Skull as he'd been playing Agent Smith in the Matrix trilogy? Would Alan Silverstri's soundtrack be as powerful as his stuff for Back to the Future?
Happy to say, Captain America ROCKS, and the guys on our first discussion panel had a lot to do with that. At the center sits director Joe Johnston, who won an Academy Award for his special effects work on Raiders of the Lost Ark while working for George Lucas at Industrial Light and Magic, in addition to directing films like The Rocketeer and Honey I Shrunk the Kids. Also seated, co-writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, plus Marvel executives Kevin Feige and Louis D'Esposito.
The actors give the film its true heart and soul. From left to right, Chris Evans (Captain America himself, previously the Human Torch in the Fantastic 4) Hayley Atwell (a London stage actress who reportedly spent some quality time in Kansas City) and Sebastian Stan (who said he'd originally tried for the roll of Captain America but is thrilled to be a sidekick.) Also in the film but not at our press event: Tommy Lee Jones, Dominic Cooper as Tony Stark's dad pre-Iron Man, and Stan Lee in his best cameo yet.
The "Radio Avengers" during the actor interviews: Dan B, Deongello, Steve-O, Jen, Dan R, and Ivan.
Can't have a superhero film without TOYS. Captain America also has product tie-ins with Dunkin' Donuts and Symantec's Norton AntiVirus software.
Big thanks to Rebecca and the gang from Paramount Pictures, Jennifer from Allied Integrated Marketing, and the cast and crew of Captain America for answering all our silly movie questions. Leaving the Four Seasons Hotel, we randomly ran into actor Jason Bateman and he was totally cool ... so let's thank him too.
P.S. All week there was talk of "car-mageddon" but I'm happy to report it was no sweat to survive the 405.