Thanks to Zaphod Beeblebrox, FETT, venny, Doug, and Joe-Bee One Kenobi for alerts!
Karl also sent this report from the Denver premiere:
Yesterday, I was lucky enough to go to the charity screening (for the Kempe Foundation) here in Denver, CO. The event was very well put together and well organized with lots of freebies and some super costumes. The 501st helped to keep the crown in check, but unfortunately did not brief the main emcee for the costume contest enough on titles, as he proceeded to talk about "Star Troopers", "Darth Side-oose" and "Obi Van Kenobi" - obviously the Dutch branch of the Kenobi family!
The movie? Excellent! The Rocky Mountain crowd went nuts when "A long time ago . . .etc. etc. " came on the screen. As far as a few of the characters go, Hayden (though some critics have said he whines a lot in the show) played the part very well. The whining was just enough and the jump between him playing a "it's not fair" teenager and a young man trying to be an adult and a boy clearly in love, was extremely well done. Palpatine's political comments and sly innuendos are entertaining. The audience practically screamed at the screen every time he lied and was elusive. And finally, Yoda. Well, if you go and see this movie and the crowd does NOT go wild when Yoda "teaches his apprentice a lesson", then clearly you are at the screening at your local morgue.
The impressiveness of the effects goes without saying. The sheer numbers of clones and their "individuality" is amazing. The opening scene that shows Amidala's ship flying though the clouds is beautiful and the sound, perfect.
The story - again, George continues to build his characters in this movie and also grows the saga before our eyes while keeping us enthralled in the here-and-now of the events going on. A few more questions are answered (the glimpse of a certain "super-weapon" was well-timed) and even for you who are spoiled with spoilers, there are some surprises!
This IS a love story. This IS an action movie. This IS STAR WARS.