This generation's Star Wars

[Lord]

^^ The prequels weren't out yet when I saw the original trilogy. I, for one, thought Phantom Menace was decent when it came out. Not great, but decent. The final battle was incredible.

For me it's main redemption was Darth Maul

 

[8wid]

^ Stand alone, I think The Phantom Menace was the best of all the prequels.

 

[Timstuff]

Is your love for the prequels the same people had when the originals were released?

The fandom has transitioned into the current generation, so it doesn't matter if the prequels are as good as the originals or not. People are just as obsessed with Star Wars today as they were 25 years ago, which tells me that Star Wars is still Star Wars. As big as Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter are, Star Wars is its own beast, and will be for a very long time. Just look at how many Star Wars T-shirts you see people wearing and try telling me if you've seen more people wearing Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings shirts. How many kids have you seen waving plastic wands around in comparison to kids playing with lightsabers?

Star Wars is Star Wars. To me, the question of this thread is moot.

 

[redhawk23]

actually here on a college campus, I see harry potter shirts all the time, and to memory not a single star wars shirt, other than one I myself wear.

When harry potter 7 came out our Student Activities board rented out the theater across the street and hundreds of us students went and saw it for "free." (they say its free but we pay $100 dollar activities fee at the beginning of the year)

they later showed it on campus at an another event.

Other colleges have quidditch teams.

If we're talking about "this generation" I'd say harry potter definitely rates.

also, yes lightsabers are a popular toy, but are also simply more marketable than wands, no matter how popular harry potter would ever be.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

For me it's main redemption was Darth Maul

The greatness of this speaks for itself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCTjZ-xNRTo&playnext=1&list=PLC449BA0F7F515EA1

 

[Erzengel]

I just started watching 30 Rock on Netflix.

1st episode, had Tracy Morgan running down the street screaming, "I'm a Jedi."

Again, staying power.

 

[Matt]

Harry Potter is the only series to have the same cultural impact as Star Wars. Keep in mind, LOTR is nearly 60 years old. Its not this generation's Star Wars if it helped influence Star Wars. Potter has built its own universe, mythology, and most importantly brand. None of the other choices can say that.

 

[Infinity9999x]

Harry Potter is the only series to have the same cultural impact as Star Wars. Keep in mind, LOTR is nearly 60 years old. Its not this generation's Star Wars if it helped influence Star Wars. Potter has built its own universe, mythology, and most importantly brand. None of the other choices can say that.

Agreed on both counts. I've been saying for a while that I find it odd that LOTR is included on this poll...because without LOTR Star Wars wouldn't be the same as it is today. LOTR was cited as a big influence. Let's be honest, LOTR has influenced nearly every major fantasy novel/movie that's come after it's inception.

 

[redhawk23]

Muggle is in the Oxford English Dictionary, defined as

In the fiction of J. K. Rowling: a person who possesses no magical powers. Hence in allusive and extended uses: a person who lacks a particular skill or skills, or who is regarded as inferior in some way.


Jedi is nowhere to be found.

 

[chaseter]

The question posed is 'what is this generation's Star Wars'? That means what franchise has as big of an impact on people currently 13-34ish that Star Wars had on people now 35-50ish+

I didn't see Star Wars in theaters...I wasn't even a glimmer in the eye of either parent. I didn't experience any of the mania Star Wars created. However, I grew up with Potter books and was 16ish when the first movie came out. Harry Potter is huge. It isn't as big as Star Wars yet but I think it will get there. As the Star Wars generation gets older and older then some of the hype will die off and the Pottheads will replace them only if JK keeps expanding her universe and brand like Lucas has. If she doesn't, then Star Wars will remain king forever.

 

[Erzengel]

Did she ever say she wanted to expand HP? She said she wanted to continue writing stories for children but not necessarily HP. She was on Oprah once and they both didn't want to do what Michael Jackson and did and try and chase Thriller.

That being said, it's not like she has her own Studio, or her own Company, she's just an author right now. If she plans to expand her universe, it's not anytime soon.

 

[redhawk23]

Did she ever say she wanted to expand HP? She said she wanted to continue writing stories for children but not necessarily HP. She was on Oprah once and they both didn't want to do what Michael Jackson and did and try and chase Thriller.

That being said, it's not like she has her own Studio, or her own Company, she's just an author right now. If she plans to expand her universe, it's not anytime soon.

Is "expanding the universe" really necessary for it's staying power though?

While star wars does have comics and books coming out monthly, the hundreds of Star Wars books have not sold even half the number of copies of just the 7 Harry Potter books.

 

[SoulManX]

Is "expanding the universe" really necessary for it's staying power though?

While star wars does have comics and books coming out monthly, the hundreds of Star Wars books have not sold even half the number of copies of just the 7 Harry Potter books.

True...but what about the video games and tv series from the Star Wars Universe?

 

[Erzengel]

Star Wars continues to be prevalent because there is constant additions to the franchise, whether it be books, comics, video games, or a TV show.

Back in the mid-late 80s there was a lull in Star Wars, I mean it still was engrained in our popular culture but who knows if there wasn't books, comics, video games, TV shows and the Prequels if Star Wars wouldn't have had as much of an impact on this generation.

As popular as the books are and with the movies, who's to say that the mid-late 80s of no additional expanding to the Star Wars universe wouldn't happen to Harry Potter?

 

[Doctor Jones]

The fandom has transitioned into the current generation, so it doesn't matter if the prequels are as good as the originals or not. People are just as obsessed with Star Wars today as they were 25 years ago, which tells me that Star Wars is still Star Wars. As big as Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter are, Star Wars is its own beast, and will be for a very long time. Just look at how many Star Wars T-shirts you see people wearing and try telling me if you've seen more people wearing Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings shirts. How many kids have you seen waving plastic wands around in comparison to kids playing with lightsabers?

Star Wars is Star Wars. To me, the question of this thread is moot.

Well said. It really doesn't matter anymore (nor it should) of what is better. Because we have two or three generations of SW fans now. The "Prequels suck!" is only just an opinion of OT lovers. I'm an OT lover myself, and I do love the prequels, but it's going to be a mix. And it's going to be even more mixed in the future. The OT should stay alive and we should teach the next generation about the OT because it started it all, but really, SW has always been this parasitic thing that goes beyond a singular opinion. It depends on when we were born. We should always have a respect for the original, but it should go beyond that. Let the next generations form their own opinions. We shouldn't force anything on them. We can't brainwash them into thinking the originals are the best and the prequels suck or vice versa, it's up to them.

Now HP is a beast itself. Literary and film. SW has one up on merchandise but these films and books are spectacularly popular.

LOTR is also a literary phenomanon. It's the second most read book to the Bible even. The movies have more attention now, but look at the fantasy section in your bookstore. They're pretty much all LOTR esque in some way or another. The Hobbit is going to be huge because it's going to be nearly ten years since the last film and it will have picked up ALOT more fans.

 

[SuperSoldier985]

I think it's easily a toss-up between the Harry Potter movies and LOTR films.

I'm thinking it's the latter.

 

[BattleCat]

Never seen any of the star wars, but I chose The Matrix trilogy.

 

[BattleCat]

As of right now, it's twilight and harry. I'm not sure on how people will look at twilight 10 years from now, though.

 

[Erzengel]

Never seen any of the star wars, but I chose The Matrix trilogy.

Hahahahaha.

I chose "D" because I didn't know what the question was about.

 

[BattleCat]

Don't be silly. I know what the question is about.

Hahahahaha.

I chose "D" because I didn't know what the question was about.

 

[Doc Ock]

Harry Potter is the only series to have the same cultural impact as Star Wars. Keep in mind, LOTR is nearly 60 years old. Its not this generation's Star Wars if it helped influence Star Wars. Potter has built its own universe, mythology, and most importantly brand. None of the other choices can say that.

Yup yup! *high fives*

 

[nocomics]

I don't think there is 'this generations' version of Star Wars really. There will be ones who out perform at the box office,but none so far that have had that cultural impact.

 

[Eggyman]

I don't think there is 'this generations' version of Star Wars really. There will be ones who out perform at the box office,but none so far that have had that cultural impact.

I agree. I understand the thinking about Potter, due to popularity/money it's made, but I don't think this question is all about money. Star Wars was a game changer, it set the bar to a new, previously unseen level. It was visionary and of its time--it wouldn't have worked at any other time as well as it did. It was undeniable even if you were in the minority of not liking it. There's been nothing like it. Not even close.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

I think it's safe to say that Harry potter as well LOTR has not been able to even compare to Star Wars in terms of popularity. It's become a life of it's own, especially these days.

 

[Eggyman]

I think even the Star Wars prequels have shown just how big Star Wars is. Even the franchise's own films can't compete. It is, simply, of its time and can never be recreated again. Even if new good films are made, they stand no chance.