Anchorhead said:
In Star Wars we had burned bodies, mass murder (Alderaan), torture, severed arms lying on the floor, untrustworthy hired pilot, etc. Those elements were either castrated or g-rated as the series progressed and I think that hurt the OT overall. There was real danger in Star Wars. The lack of of any real danger in Return made me want to walk out of the theater in 1983.
For me, the change didn't work. For a most others, it worked well and still does.
Even though I understand what you mean, when you're describing Star Wars, it starting to sound like a serious heavy drama, quite much overkill IMO. This is pulp and fantasy material afterall. Don't try to pretend it's something different than it is, it's a very well made fantasy film for kids, and when I say kids, I mean 7-18 year olds, (yes, a kid can be 18) don't be ashamed for liking a good film primarily directed towards kids. Just because it showed burned bodies in one scene doesn't directly make the film only made for mature audiences. Good fairytales have always had dark material embedded in their stories throughout history, it should have. Jedi is just a bad kid-film IMO. And who can really blame them, it was the third film out in the franchise, the legendary bad sequel-nr, I challenge you to name a good third, (don't mention Return of the King, as it's not a sequel in that sense, IMO it's not even that great.)
Although, in these days when I am seeing bad hollywood films, I am seeing Return of the Jedi as the blueprint, not Star Wars as it is often accused for. That legendary film is still something very unique, it's horribly sad that it cannot be enjoyed like it should anymore. It's pure magic and new generations are not allowed to see it... madness.
Anyway, I think I am one of those fans you're looking for doubleKO, as Anchorhead, I have disconnected myself, but just from Jedi the last 15 - 20 years. When I feel the urge to watch them, it's just SW and Empire, that universe is much more interesting to me, the ambiguity of it all, doesn't matter to me one bit that everything isn't wrapped up at the end or not, I like it that way much better than I was presented with in '83. I guess it also depends on how much you want to get a formulated congratulation-card conclusion to stories in film all the time. I think both films compliment each other perfectly. It ends on a downer yes, but it's beautiful!