> Most overrated movie? I'd have to say the Star Wars series. It has such a clichéd plot, extraneous characters who are more often than not extremely irritating, and some unexcusable bad acting, particularly from Mark Hamill and Jake Lloyd. They are not the cinematic masterpieces everyone makes them out to be. Yes, they had special effects that were Astounding for the time, and yeah, they changed the way many movies were made, but influential does not mean good. I'm sick of hearing about these festering cakes of insidious badness and how wonderful people think they are.
>
> -eric "Bah." sleator
> Thu 10 Aug A.D. 2000

Okay, okay, wait a second! I'll take everything -- irritating extraneous characters, bad acting, etc. -- but not the clichéd plot. That is so not fair. ALL SF/F is just the same clichés rearranged in different ways. The only thing of any value is how a particular book or movie does so. Star Wars is not just another tale of empires and warriors in outer space. It's a story of coming-of-age, and a dang good one at that. Think about Luke: he starts out saying, "No, I'm just Luke," is sick of his planet, and wants to get away. Then he has to come to grips with the reality of what that means, including the confrontation with the father figure. Look at it; it's classic!!! We spent two weeks of Bible class watching it as a representation of the road to adulthood, so I've got plenty more evidences of its brilliance to throw at you.

Not only that, but what about its value in terms of mass consciousness? People who might never otherwise communicate can be found vehemently arguing over the hyperspace facilities of the Millenium Falcon. As a nation, not much unites us any more but Hollywood. Don't sneer at the source of so much cameraderie, love, and friendship.

Jes"I'm exaggerating but too bad; Star Wars rocks"sica

p.s. Episode I, on the other hand, was a disappointment unlike anything else I can think of. It was absolutely pathetic. Whatever worldview and ideas Lucas was expressing in the trilogy are completely nonexistent. I'm not sure he was even trying to say anything worthwhile.