USA Today talks about the generally positive reaction to Episode II so far. Looks to be a hit!

"What the last one lacked in character, this one definitely made up for it," said Steve Anderson, 32, a 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 lightsaber battles, while others dressed in the armor of Stormtroopers and father-son bounty hunters Jango and Boba Fett.

In suburban Miami, Michael Lapidus, a commercial real estate broker, came alone to a midnight showing in Sunrise, Fla.

"My wife doesn't like the 'Star Wars' movies. If I had waited for her to come and see this with me, it would already be out on video," said Lapidus, 51. "Star Wars is just a great escape. It's an incredibly well-done saga. I'm not a critic, I'm just here to have fun."