LOS ANGELES — There are now about 1,000 people on the planet who have already seen “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” The World Premiere of the anticipated film took place on Monday afternoon in Los Angeles, where a half-mile long section of Hollywood Boulevard had been closed to traffic in preparation of the event. While all participants were asked not to reveal any plot points through social media, their immediate spoiler-free reactions seem overwhelmingly positive.
Most comments seem to highlight the fact that the “spirit” of the original films has been captured. That was, after all, director J.J. Abrams’ self-declared goal. Actor Rob Lowe was particularly thrilled by John Boyega’s performance.
At the red carpet event that preceded the screenings, the members of the original cast got the biggest cheers, and even George Lucas made an appearance.
Mark Hamill, who plays Luke Skywalker, was also present at the ceremony, even though his character has been absent from all promotional material leading to the release of the film. “It’s like going back to school,” he told CNN’s Isha Sesay.
Daisy Ridley, who plays new star Rey, revealed that she was “Feeling quite sick, but now it’s kinda cool.”
No doubts for John Boyega, who plays Stormtrooper-turned-Rebel Finn: “I feel great! I feel surprisingly relaxed!”
J.J. Abrams did not seem to nervous about the film’s critical reception: “I feel very confident about the work that was done by the actors.”
Finally, the most hilarious comment comes from Harrison Ford. Talking about how much he possibly enjoys red carpet events, he remarked: “I can’t think of anything better to do! I do these in my backyard on Wednesdays.”
