Raphael Tehan alerts us to an article in the LA Times on fan reactions and the midnight screening:

"Two plastic light sabers up.
That's the general reaction among Los Angeles fans who emerged from midnight screenings of "Star Wars: Episode II-- Attack of the Clones" early today, cheering the latest installment of the sci-fi saga.

Critical reaction to the movie has been harsh, but many viewers delighted at the film's action sequences, computerized effects and climactic battle scene between robot forces and a battalion of Jedi knights.

"The last 45 minutes was worth more than the price of admission," said Chad Bates, 27, a computer consultant from Seattle who attended a midnight showing at Universal CityWalk in Los Angeles.

Others praised the film's romantic subplot, and said "Attack of the Clones" was superior to the previous prequel, 1999's "Star Wars: Episode I-- The Phantom Menace."

"What the last one lacked in character, this one definitely made up for it," said Steve Anderson, a 32-year-old television director from Los Angeles. "There was finally some heart in this one."

Theaters across the country were mostly full, but it took longer for them to sell all the seats. The ardor was a little muted this time, partly because "The Phantom Menace" debuted nearly 16 years after 1983's "Return of the Jedi" and there was greater pent-up demand among fans.

The growing use of advance ticket sales over the Internet likely reduced the number of fans who would have waited in line outside theaters, but there was still costume pageantry and tailgate-style line partying at some cinemas.

Outside the historic Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, fans staged mock light saber battles, while others dressed in the armor of Stormtroopers and father-son bounty hunters Jango and Boba Fett."

Hit the link above for more.