I believe my statement that "my preference would go to Tolkien any day, because I'm a sucker for history, eloquence & dialogue!" did state that I prefer the books, because I haven't read all the Star Wars books, so would not be able to debate any merits that they may or not have.
My preference is well, um MY Preference, which is pretty much self explanatory. I have little interest to read all the Star Wars books (too many books oh so little time). Within the pages of the Lord of the Rings trilogy I can experience middle earth. The battles that occur (for example, Helms Deep " traditional-style siege of a single fortress" ) have played out before countless times within our history (albeit, minus the orcs, elves, troll, hobbits....).
The eloquence & dialogue of Tolkien's LOTR trilogy in my opinion has translated well into film, if you judge this passage from the Return of the King 'The Ride of the Rohirrim' with the movie clip I included in my earlier post.
"Now is the hour come, Riders of the Mark, sons of Eorl! Foes and fire are before you, and your homes far behind. Yet, though you fight upon an alien field, the glory that you reap there shall be your own for ever. Oaths ye have taken: now fulfill them all, to lord and land and league of friendship!"
The City was now nearer. A smell of burning was in the air and a very shadow of death. The horses were uneasy. But the king upon Snowmane, motionless, gazing upon the agony of Minas Tirith, as if stricken suddenly be anguish, or by dread. He seemed to shrink down, cowed by age. Merry himself felt as if a great weight of horror and doubt had settled on him. His heart beat slowly. Time seemed poised in uncertainty. They were too late! Too late was worse than never! Perhaps Theoden would quail, bow his old head, turn, slink away to hide in the hills.
Then suddenly Merry felt it at last, beyond doubt: a change. Wind was in his face! Light was glimmering. Far, far away, in the South the clouds could be dimly seen as remote grey shapes, rolling up, drifting: morning lay beyond them.
But at that same moment there was a flash, as if lightning had sprung from the earth beneath the City. For a searing second it stood dazzling far off in black and white, its topmost tower like a glittering needle; and then as the darkness closed again there came rolling over the fields a great boom.
At that sound the bent shape of the king sprang suddenly erect. Tall and proud he seemed again: and rising in his stirrups he cried in a loud voice, more clear that any there had ever heard a mortal man achieve before:
"Arise, arise, Riders of Theoden!
Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter!
spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered!,
a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!
Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!"
"Hey don't get me wrong I love Star Wars" I was six years old sitting in a movie theatre back in 1977 when I first traveled to a galaxy far far away.........
Whole new worlds were opened to me upon the big screen. I was enthralled. Perhaps because I have read the Hobbit when I was 10 & the LOTR trilogy at 11, and did not read any Star Wars books (other that the picture movie tie in books), LOTR is 'real' to me. I ate Tolkien's words up like lembas and it nourished me. The battle for Middle Earth played out in my mind as I was growing up. The characters within those books are old childhood friends of mine.
For me there are relatable grey areas in LOTR. Boromir wants to use the One Ring to wield against Mordor, and he is very nearly overcome by the power of the ring, but in the end he is redeemed by his heroic sacrifice. Lady Galadriel "All shall love me and despair!" passes the temptation test when Frodo freely offers her the ring,and she refuses it "I will diminish, and go into the West and remain Galadriel." Smeagol was a hobbit like creature that over time became the lovable twisted Gollum (in the movies is wonderfully played out with his struggles between good Gollum vs bad Gollum). Frodo who takes this great burden to destroy the Ring in the fires of Mount Doom freely, only to succumb to it's power at the end. He is only 'saved' from becoming evil, by Gollum and a little help from Sam.
My love of LOTR (both books & movies) comes from the noble heroism that despite all obstacles and overwhelming odds set against the hero to fail, they still go forth a ride out to face them! But the most important theme that gets me is that of love. Frodo's love of the Shire, to protect his home & way of life from the evil that approaches. And Sam, the true hero in my eyes! He is steady and loyal, true and unwaivering in his love for Frodo (they're not gay, they're Hobbits!!!). A faithful companion that supports and carries Frodo all throughout, and lends Frodo strength even 'at the end of all things'.
Star Wars has furry overgrown hamsters that fling pooh & say yub yub! (I am not even going to mention Jar Jar Binks)