I think ROTS smacks ANH as well, and much like you I like the PT better.
But I can surely understand why most people will always favor the OT. Alot of these members spent most of their lives growing up on the OT, as you and I grown up on the more recent editions. I think that definitely has alot to do with it.
'k...bottom line...
Bottom line is...critics and moviegoing audiences alike thought the PT movies pretty much sucked (not totally for EPIII)...Most poeple don't care or haven't ever cared about these new Star Wars movies! TPM ruined it for them. After that, nobody cared. WE care about these new Star Wars movies...but look at what we do in our spare time.
Back in the day, pretty much everybody admired the Star Wars films...they were just great films.
But really, not a lot of people outside this forum admire the new Star Wars movies...that's cause SURPRISE, SURPRISE, they're just bad movies.
It's LOTR turn to take the crown this generation.
Now if you like the PT movies I don't blame you...I'd probably like it if Lucas threw his street garbage on screen and called it Ep. VII...but I wouldn't say that what I'm looking at classifies as a good film...and the same goes for the PT fillms.
They're junk...and I love them...but junk nonetheless.
IMHO:
1. Empire Strikes Back
Why: Dark and razor sharp. Darth Vader is just plain scary in this one, creeping around the shadows hunting Luke, choking incompetent officers, torturing Han (without asking questions), etc. He was super sadistic. That was great.
2. Revenge of the Sith
Why: Also dark and to the point. Darth Sidious steals the show by far. Anakin is great slashing Viceroy Gunray. I only wish that Lucas would have a) Made it a little more difficult for Anakin to turn to the dark side b) showed Anakin killing everybody at the Jedi Temple c) Focused the fight on Mace vs. Anakin d)deleted the line where Obi Wan tells Anakin "Chancellor Palpatine is evil!" Duh...
3. A New Hope
Why: Good lines, I thought. Han Solo is a stone-cold jerk in this one. Luke really comes across as a backworld bumpkin. Fight between Obi Wan and Vader sucked though.
4. Attack of the Clones
Why: This one had a lot of irritating aspects ("Representative Binks," "death sticks" Dexter Jettster), but it had a lot of action, so that made up for its downfalls. This party's over...
5. Return of the Jedi
Why: The whole Jabba the Hut arc was irritating as hell. Alien soul bands suck. I usually fast forward it to the part where Luke knocks Boba off of the barge. Also, the Ewoks were just plain annoying. Lando looks like a dork dancing at the end of the movie. Even the part with the Emperor,Vader, and Luke can't save this one from being one of my least favorites.
6. You guessed it...
Why: Darth Maul should have escaped with his life and lived to fight against Kenobi and Anakin in Part II. The pod-race is the most odious part of the entire saga. I have to fast-forward past it every time I watch TPM.
IMO you couldn't be more wrong about TPM. The pod race was the most imaginative, innovative, thrilling SF cinema scene of the '90s. It's one of my favorite parts of the film. Everything's there, Jabba, sand people, weird aliens, and of course, the life blood of Star Wars, speed. It's classic Star Wars.
Darth Maul was a gloating fool. He "should" not have lived, even though it's not my place to say what "should" be done in a SW film. He was a fine villain, but he got beat because of his pride.
About Jedi, I can't stand the SE band part either, the original is fine by me. But I love the whole Jabba arc. Jabba is a awesome villain, unique and very imaginative. The sail barge battle was just fantastic. I'm not a huge fan of the Ewoks, but they're for kids, and as the soul of the film is Vader's redemption, I can stand the teddy bear people.
I like the ewoks...I was young when ROTJ came out so that might have a bit to do with it...plus they were written into the story well and we got to get an all-round feel for them and their world (unlike the gungans or wookies)...darn cute too.
I actually don't mind Jar Jar or the gungans either...(but the part where Lucas had him accidentaly shooting all those enemy droids with the blaster tied to his leg really annoyed me)...as a character though he didn't bother me.