While it's all well and good, engaging in Lively debate for the umpteenth time about the merits of the films, feelings are getting a little bit riled up...

I'll just edit this in here as well:

Okay, lets look at the "crap" statement:

If people were saying that TFA was perfect I could understand all the complaining, but no one does that! People say it is an enjoyable Star Wars movie, nothing less, nothing more. It is not the highlight of the franchise by any strech, but it is decent enough that it makes most people look forward to Episode VIII in a genuinly positive way (unlike with the prequels were people were like "this one is the one, they are going to fix that crap and redeem the PT").

Most Rey and Kylo bashing is really nit picky and far-fetched. Not all of it, but most points that "da haterz" keep bringing up.

In case you didn't realize, that is a paraphrase. Most people I speak to went into the cinema with that feeling at that time, this doesn't equate to me calling the movies crap. You like the prequels, but you can't denie that there are people who didn't enjoy them.

I think your opinion is valid. I also don't agree with it for the most part. I will not engage in this discussion any further and wish you a nice day.

Here's one critic's perspective. I don't see what's so baffling about this.

Because he's managed to ignore an awful lot of sins for a half-baked underlying concept.

Maybe he did. Like me, he probably liked what was good about the film and judged it on the basis of that. Note that I still think it's the weakest, followed by TFA and then RotJ.

Honestly, I find it hard to really pin down why I think the prequels are good, although I can make a pretty long list with positive things. In the end it's just that I keep coming back to them, and was genuinely moved by the tragedy of RotS.

But most of all, I've totally had it with the communis opinio, which legitimises itself only by its repetition and hyperbole.

Admiral Deathrain, Im surprised you haven't pointed out how different what you said is from what Lingula said.

Lingula, there is a world of difference from what AD said and what you said. AD stated his opinion on the movie. That was his right and it is a valid opinion. He also recognized your opinion as a valid one, even though he disagreed with it. However, what you did was attack his opinion, not state an opinion of your own. What you said was inflammatory and served no purpose. What he said was an opinion on the subject. You can disagree with his opinion all you want, but that does not mean his opinion is any less valid than yours.

so... what Lingula said was vastly different from what AD said and Lingula, you sullied the convo with mud flinging while AD did not.

Please learn to be respectful of others opinions. I also thought the prequels were very good. I enjoyed them immensely. However, when my best friend told me he thought they were worse than crap and they should not exist I did not attack his opinion. Rather, I asked him why he felt that and after listening I told him I thought it was too bad he didnt enjoy the movies as much as I did. But I still respected his opinon. He wasnt alone either. If you cant deal with the fact that there are a lot of people that truly felt the PT were trash then maybe you shouldnt be on the internet. Also, it doesnt have to do with being a Star Wars fan or not. Just because I love something doesnt mean I love all aspects of it. I could even hate some parts of it. That doesnt mean that I am not a fan.

Plus to say that this is a forum for "star wars fans" may be misstating it. I have a couple friends who love xwing and come here from time to time to read articles and strategies but they dont like the star wars franchise at all. Its not for them They are here for the great game system, not for the flavor. Your assumption may in most cases line up with reality but it is not technically a correct statement. If you want a forum for "star wars fans" you should look to forums specifically for the fandom but even there you will find a fair number of people who share AD's opinion.