I am liking this thread. It is nice to get behind the ideas of the fans and critics and see where they come from.

I don't know if I am middle ground anymore, but I can still see it from here. I used to a PT defender, but after a while, I moved away from that after...

1. I could still consider myself a fan if I actually didn't think the prequels were that good. I didn't need to pretend everything was still OK in the SW universe. While parts of the prequels were entertaining, I still could face the reality that the new movies had problems.

2. I realized that just because the prequels dealt in archetypes and some of the same mythic themes as the classic trilogy, it doesn't overcome flat acting, dialogue and bad decisions from the directors chair.

and

3. Lastly, I felt like I could 'grow up' a lot as a fan. It was a chance for me to put away the SW tshirts and toys (mostly) and stop reading the comics and EU novels. Not that I was a big EU fan anyway... But it was a way to move away from the stereotypical 'dresses up in costumes for the big con' and the 'still lives in Mom's basement' type of fan. Apologies to any costume makers out there.

So now I enjoy the classic trilogy as great sci-fi/fantasy/space opera movies. I love reading and researching the production of the first three films. And, most importantly, it is like Bill Moyers once said "It is a lot of fun to watch Star Wars."

Star Wars is a fun place to visit, I just don't need to live there.