I watched TPM twice at the Zeigfeild in Manhattan. The first time I was just happy to see some Star Wars. The second time I was just OK with it, and by the time the VHS came out, I realized there were only 2 sequences I liked. The podrace and the lightsaber duel. Overall, it killed my dwindling interest in Star Wars to near nothing, because my usual hunger for SW was not being satiated by new star wars literature and technical guides about a movie I wasn't so keen on.
I watched AOTC once in theaters (i walked to the theater after a hard day, and i was surprised it wasnt crowded), opening day after school. It wad fun for me because I hadn't seen Star Wars in years, but for some reason I never made it back. I rented it once and Natalie Portman's nipples were missing, and I was devastated and I don't even think I finished watching it. (I'm only kidding... maybe)
My roommate in college (a regular on this board) had all his DVD's at my fingertips, and he let me watch the Balance of the Force, and Clone Wars and in a way that just made me resent the Prequels more. I do enjoy MagFan's work though, and plan to follow it.
I watched ROTS (the tuesday after it came out, coincidentally another hard day), and sat back as this movie somehow made me grieve for the prequel characters i never even cared for, and ripped my heart out watching them being killed, defeated, and decieved by an evil politician. It was like reliving 9/11, except I knew everyone. I cried a WHOLE LOT. I know somebody else must have experienced something close to what I felt watching ROTS.
When I got home, my interest in Star Wars was rekindled. I forgave George Lucas, I forgave the first 2 prequel movies, and I can definately say that it actually enhanced my opinion of episode 4 (though I now think williams' interpretation of the imperial theme needs an update to match the rest of the movies). As a younger fan, I had a hard time watching A New Hope all the way through. I found it to be a bit predictable, but considering its placement after Episode 3, its a rush of good natured hero vs. villain action cinema.
Recently, I watched the original Episode 4, four times in a row. I mean, I watched it three times in a row one night, went to bed, and watched it again. I would have gone on if I didn't have other things I had to do, but in a way, ROTS made me rejoyce every time the Death Star blew up, and revel in the magic of the End Credit music more than I ever did when I was 8.
So I'd have to reccomend ROTS to anyone who really LOVES Star Wars to the point you SMILE every time Luke does, and get the giggles every time R2 makes a insulting remark at C3PO. It's a hard movie to watch once everything's set in motion, but I think it makes episode 4 feel even better than it used to.
Sorry if you don't like endless rants about my sad devotion to an ancient religion.
PS: I started reading the EU stuff again and this time I'm old enough to know it's completely unhealthy, but it isn't really? Right?
PPS: What's this list you speak of, Hardcore Legend?