I too had the mixed emotions experiences with the PT. Its funny I actually had lost faith in TPM just before if was released and hadn't bought tickets to the first show or anything but then kinda freaked at the last minute because I had see all of the OT on opening day, in the theater at the first showing (an evening show for SW, a matinee for ESB and ROTJ- no midnight shows in my neck of the woods in those days). I lucked out that the theater close to me had opened another midnight screen for TPM and I got same day tickets. I had a couple of brewskis, hung out with a friend and saw a Star Wars film by gum! And despite my opinions of it I *still* went to see opening night shows of all the others. Even coming out of the theater complaining its still worth the experience.
But to weave animation back into it, another of my favorite PT moments was watching the 'Clone Wars' episodes and realizing that there were still some creative people out there who cared about the universe in which they were creating stories.