SilverWook said:
It's been a love hate thing with me over the decades. Ewoks could have been more vicious in battle, (they may have been tamed in the editing process) but I don't loathe them as much as Gungans.

The heart of the movie is still the Luke/Vader/Emperor conflict. Luke going temporarily darkside crazy and wailing on Vader is still more interesting than Super Mario Jedi in ROTS. ;)

There were never SW happy meals. The only major fast food tie ins were the Burger King glasses. Something the new Star Trek movie actually brought back!

OK, happy meal theory... DENIED! Luke/Vader/Emperor I would still have enjoyed too.

timdiggerm said:
You know, I thought I hated it, but I watched it last night (DJ's GOUT V3 if you care, though I really do like the SE/2004 ending music and interplanetary party), and I was amazed at how much I liked it, post-Jabba. The Jabba stuff...needs work.

It was overly long and needlessly complicated. But the sheer presence of Jabba and the wealth of REAL creatures in the form of puppets and latex/makeup was just exhilarating at that age. I take it most of you regulars have seen docos like Star Wars to Jedi? I am still amazed at the complexity and effectiveness of that giant three-man puppet Hutt. And even if you don't like Lapti Nek (I think everyone hates Jedi Rocks don't they?) Phil Tippett dancing the Sy Snootles "reverse" puppet from under the stage is still absolutely brilliant. I definitely enjoy the Luke/Vader/Emperor side to the story as I corrected above too, but the second Death Star battle and planet of the teddy bears is lame.

Strangely though you guys are confirming my theory so far. I think sometimes I should hate it. I have actively tried to hate it. I never do. Maybe it's just impossible to hate. There MUST have been fans that saw it at age fifteen or so and thought "What the F!@# was that? Ewoks? Star Wars is ruined! But I've never met one.