WASHINGTON – Abraham Lincoln rises from his chair at his memorial to keep the peace among warring characters from history who came to life in the premiere of the film, "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian." It was the first Hollywood premiere ever for the world's largest museum complex, the Smithsonian Institution, which is also the setting for the sequel to 2006's "Night at the Museum." And one of the most popular of its 19 museums, the National Air and Space Museum, rolled out the red carpet for stars of Hollywood and politics alike.

MEXICO CITY – "Ugly Betty" star America Ferrera is hoping her new film will inspire Americans to address the struggles soldiers face after they come home from Iraq or Afghanistan. The 25-year-old is starring and producing "The Dry Land," which follows a young man's difficulties readapting to small town life following a tour of duty. Ferrera says the United States "should have an honest discussion about the effects that war has on our society, on the men who come back, on the families that are broken from it."

LOS ANGELES – Vanessa Hudgens has left "High School Musical" to make a movie about music — at a high school. The key difference: "Bandslam," due in theaters in August, is being released by the new studio behind "Twilight," well outside the tween hit-making machine that made her a star. Now 20, the actress-singer says she's ready for roles that mark a departure from her shy and geeky Gabriella Montez character — and from Disney.