They are both fantastic series. I grew up with the original Star Wars trilogy (I'm in my late 20's now) and think there is so much magic in those films, especially considering the chemistry of the cast. I watched the AFI Tribute to George Lucas last week and it was a treat seeing Mark, Carrie and Harrison together again. I am glad that they have all remained friends over the years.
Peter Jackson's LOTR trilogy is the first set of movies to capture my imagination and make me fall in love with characters as much as the original SW trilogy. Since LOTR's movies were shot simultaneously, there is a consistency of tone obviously missing from Star Wars. (I also feel that The Empire Strikes Back is far superior to the other two installments, A New Hope and Return of the Jedi.) The LOTR trilogy is, in my mind, nearly flawless. A perfect example of commercial success and critical acclaim. I love everything about those films and applaud Peter Jackson.
To some degree, the Star Wars prequels tainted my view of the Star Wars saga. I like the actors, particularly, Ewan, Hayden and Natalie, but overall the prequels leave much to be desired. Fortunately, I liked ROTS a lot, but Attack of the Clones and The Phantom Menace are weak films.
So, in essence--I love Star Wars OT b/c it holds up so beautifully even now, thanks to memorable characters and good special effects--and because they keep me connected to my childhood. I love LOTR for those same reasons--great characters and excellent storytelling and acting.
Judy :cat: