CO, I do not believe that you need to worry about future generations. Though, as you say, it seems likely that George Lucas' six-episode "saga" will be the way that most people see these movies in the future, they will not stand the test of time in terms of popularity. The original trilogy, in the way it once was, easily had that capability; they were amazing films in their time, in terms of what they technically accomplished and in terms of their artistic beauty. However the "saga" which we have now seeks to completely overlook and ignore much (if not most) of those amazing qualities. The focus and the context of all of the movies is now radically changed and cheapened. Future generations will look at the Star Wars saga films in the same way they will see "Hellsing" or "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" or many of the other hollow films which catered to obtuse tastes during the last few years.

In other words, we don't have much to worry about. If George's intended context and ordering of the films becomes dominant, they will no longer be popular. Today's children will move on to better things as they grow older, and the children of the future will have new eye candy to wow their minds. Star Wars in its originally intended brilliance—a film translating mythological themes from tradition using fast storytelling techniques and science fiction—will therefore be what is mostly remembered in this version of the future. I can see a legion of loyal nerds keeping alive what pop-culture has left behind.

Originally posted by: auximenies

I can't say that I ever enjoyed the PT, but prior to seeing TPM I was VERY excited about a new SW movie. There was no reason for me to decide ahead of time that I wouldn't like it. SW defined my youth, and the fact that Episode I was actually being made was like a dream come true.

The only thing that my dislike for the PT has to do with my love for the OT is this: I like good movies. The OT were good movies. The PT were not. These opinions were formed AFTER seeing the films, not prior to.

Yeah, perhaps you came at the films in a more unbaised position. The vast majority of people did I would assume. Most people who went to see the prequels were fans of good movies in general and were simply hoping to be entertained. They didn't live and breath Star Wars like some of us fans did. When they saw the films they found them to be inferior movies in general sense. They took their kids to see the films, but, other than that, they had no great desire to see them. The prequels are as laughable to this crowd as a crappy, kiddie cartoon from the 80s.

Anyways, despite the fact that I suppose there were some hardcore-Star-Wars fans that disliked the prequels because they weren't like the original Star Wars movies, I simply wanted to say that I had the exact opposite reaction. I would believe most fans were loyal enough to have the same reaction I did. They were wowed by the fact that they could see new Star Wars films after many long years and came in with the bias of actually wanting to enjoy them.