ReggaeDuncan said:

First time poster, so take it easy on me(?).

Your story closely mirrors mine (except for the Navy part) in how we grew up and watched the OT. Born in '77, obsessed with SW as a kid. Dad took me to ROTJ, but didn't see ESB until much later in life. Bought the "faces" VHS set as a teen and saw the first two "Special Editions" in the theater.

I disliked TPM right from the start, but kind of forced myself to try and like it over time because I kept telling myself "it is Star Wars" and because I saw an advanced screening with a Kenner employee (parents' neighbor). Saw AOTC on vacation in Destin and thought it was OK. Went to see ROTS (which got great reviews) and things just started to sour for me. I know it's supposed to be the best of the PT (and it is), but ROTS is the movie that helped me realize that I only cared because "Star Wars" was in the title, and not because these were entertaining films. Since then, the PT has been absolutely dreadful for me. I've watched some fanedits that are better, but all three moves are not salvageable.

I did enjoy most of the TCW animated show though. So at least something decent came out of the prequels.