USA Today has the article based on the survey I mentioned the other day comparing Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. Despite being sent a follow-up e-mail, I wasn’t actually quoted, and that’s probably just as well, since it’s kind of goofy.
The author clearly is trying to provoke a dispute, and manages to get a few fanboyish comments to sprinkle about (“We will never be dethroned — especially by a movie that has a midget with furry feet as the hero”).
By and large, though, the author seems to come in with a thesis that sci-fi is out, fantasy is in. To that end, the waning enthusiasm over SW is not seen as the fading of a particular franchise, but as indicative of the whole downfall of a genre. (The other example given to prove the thesis is the lousy showing of Star Trek X — no, no franchise fatigue there.) Love of fantasy, on the other hand, is seen as part of the zeitgeist of these war-torn, buffeted-by-events days.
It may very well be there is such a sea change going on, but this particular article is anything but convincing about it.
Apples and oranges!
Reminds me of the ever-annoying Star Trek vs Star Wars debate. It’s possible to love ’em both! Why do we persist in trying to force one to be declared better than the other?
BTW, Star Trek: Nemesis was entertaining, but it was a complete rip-off of ST2:TWoK!
I’ve always thought Star Wars was fantasy with SF/pulp trappings. Maybe “Science Fantasy”.
Yup, that’s a pretty lame article. In retrospect I’m glad they didn’t use my offering, especially since I mentioned See-threepio when I really meant R2D2. Oiks!