Brian, though I'm not entirely at the "collect only OT" point since I'm still a 4" completist with everything, I have scaled back most of my other Star Wars collecting subsets to only OT - like Legos, Action Fleet/Micro Machines, and several others. Still sticking with the Prequel 4"ers though, despite a few times when I considered giving them the axe too.
I haven't quite "jumped ship" yet either on the prequel 4" figures, and I doubt that I will when it actually comes down to it. Actually with what we have seen coming for 2004, it probably won't be much of an issue as it looks to be a strong OT year anyways (which is fine with me).
I have really enjoyed reading everyone's opinions on this LOTR vs. SW (PT or OT) debate. Although, when it comes down to it, they are different movies...they are still the same in many ways too. I think the comparisons are obviously drawn because LOTR is the kind of magical trilogy that we had in our youth with the OT. The Star Wars OT will always be first with me, but LOTR has gained ground, and will probably always be right behind it in my favorite movies. I kind of agree with the thought that the PT is good for providing backstory, etc. To be honest, I don't know if I would have noticed some of the shortcomings of the PT so far if it wasn't for Lord of the Rings. I'm not the biggest Phantom of the Menace fan, but I was all about Attack of the Clones when it first came out. I thought it was one of the best Star Wars movies at first, and continued to go back to see it in the theatre. Then the year went on, and eventually I got to the Two Towers. That made me realize how much AOTC was really lacking, after seeing a movie like TT. I still enjoy AOTC, but to be honest, I don't watch the DVD all that much. If anything, I'm sticking in OT VHS tapes, or obviously, the LOTR movies as well.
I am glad to see others feel the same way as I do. At first, when I saw the Two Towers, I almost felt "bad" as a Star Wars fan thinking or saying that I have been enjoying the Lord of the Rings movies better than the Prequel Trilogy. I know that might sound silly, but for some reason I felt like I should like Star Wars more...because I'm a Star Wars fan. I realize now that the magic, for me, truly lies in the Original Trilogy, and in the present day, with the LOTR trilogy. Don't get me wrong, I'm still really looking forward to Episode III, and I'll be there opening day, but no matter how good it is, I still don't think it will help the whole Prequel Trilogy live up to what we were looking for. Sometimes I think that the media influences people's thoughts that "Star Wars sucks" as it seems we have heard more often with the PT, but the fact that they don't compare to the OT, or to their competition of today (LOTR). Sometimes you can almost see that people are longing for the OT-style, as it seems more people like the prequels as more OT characters are glimpsed or introduced. Obi-Wan, Yoda, the droids, and soon to be Chewbacca....I think remind us of the "good ole days".
Anyways...I'm rambling now...but it has been nice reading some of your thoughts on this, and I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who feels this way. I guess we probably shouldn't compare the movies, but it is hard not to sometimes. I'm still glad we've got another Star Wars film on the way, but almost equally I'm said that the LOTR trilogy is over. But, I guess we're lucky to have lived in the time to catch both classics....Star Wars and Lord of the Rings
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