As "Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith" hits screens, fans of George Lucas' six-part opus will again clash over which films rule: the original hits of the 1970s and '80s or the prequels that began six years ago.

Conventional wisdom has the original films — 1977's "A New Hope," 1980's "The Empire Strikes Back" and 1983's "The Return of the Jedi" — winning hands down. Fans of the early movies tout the breakthrough technology, the story lines and the debuts of such unforgettable characters as Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Yoda and the suave Han Solo.

But fans younger than 25 — many of whom had their first "Star Wars" theater experience with 1999's "The Phantom Menace" or 2002's "Attack of the Clones" —sometimes have a different perspective. They may find the old films slow, the dialogue corny and the special effects crude.

The dispute can get downright testy.

Elayne Rapping, a professor of American Studies at the University at Buffalo, says each trilogy represents a seminal moment for its audience.

"Whether it's the 1970s or the 1990s, George Lucas has always known what kids want," Rapping says. And it's natural, she says, that each generation would favor the movies it grew up with.

Dave Myatt, 32, an editor at the fan site rebelscum.com, has his doubts whether "Sith" can bring about peace in the Lucas galaxy. "This one is going to please more people than the last two. But each group feels so strongly about their trilogy that I don't think they'll ever really agree."

So who has the edge? We compare key characters from both trilogies in a tale of the galactic tape:

THE YOUNG HERO

Luke Skywalker vs. Anakin Skywalker

• Strengths: A farm boy with no clue as to who's his daddy, Luke yearns for a life beyond the planet Tatooine, where he can take his skills with a land speeder and use them as a fighter pilot for rebel forces. He's gifted with a lightsaber and fearless in the face of danger. Born a slave on Tatooine, Anakin displays an unrivaled grasp of the Force, both the light and dark side. He is passionate, mechanically skilled, a quick learner and has a strong sense of justice.

• Weaknesses: Luke is impatient and quick to fight. He doesn't want to wait for his Uncle Owen's permission to leave home, nor for Yoda to finish training him as a Jedi. Anakin has a temper he can't control. He occasionally prefers choking someone to diplomacy.

• The winner: Luke Skywalker, for his pure heart. "Luke was a boy we were all rooting for, which made the story so powerful," Rapping says.

THE PLUCKY HEROINE

Princess Leia vs. Padmé Amidala

• Strengths: The daughter of Padmé, Leia is beautiful, defiant and skilled with a laser gun. Even under torture by Darth Vader (who later turns out to be her father), she refuses to give up the rebel bases. Padmé, queen of Naboo, is beautiful, kind and fierce in the defense of democracy. She's unafraid to fall in love — even when it's a forbidden romance with a Jedi knight.

• Weaknesses: Leia is too quick to judge, branding Han Solo incompetent. Plus she wears her hair in goofy buns and — unaware they're related — kisses her brother, Luke, on the mouth. Padmé overlooks husband Anakin's flaws, even when he's cutting down enemies and longing to rule the galaxy.

• The winner: Leia. "Every time someone came to rescue her, she wound up saving the day," says director and fan Kevin Smith.

THE SIDEKICK

• Contenders: Old Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) vs. young Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor)

• Strengths: When we meet Kenobi in "A New Hope," he's old and frail. But he still knows how to wield a lightsaber and counsel young Luke on the ways of the Force. The younger Kenobi is an up-and-comer in the Jedi Council. He's a deft pilot and is unafraid to confront villains such as Darth Maul and General Grievous, even when badly outnumbered.

• Weaknesses: Old Obi-Wan's body ain't what it used to be, and he's no match for Darth Vader in their second battle. Young Kenobi is a touch incompetent. By his own count, his padawan Anakin has saved his hide nine times. And he can't seem to teach his pupil that murder is not cool.

• The winner: Old Obi-Wan, for his earnestness.

Guinness, who died in 2000, said he regretted taking the role because it came to define his career. "Ewan was great, but you look into Alec's face and you believe he's lived through the fall of the galaxy," says Phillip Wise, editor of theforce.net fan site.

THE VILLAIN

• Contenders: Grand Moff Tarkin (Peter Cushing) vs. Senator Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid)

• Strengths: As commander of the Death Star, Tarkin is ruthlessly effective in running the galaxy's deadliest weapon. To pressure the captive Leia to reveal the location of the rebel outpost, he blows up her planet, Alderaan. Palpatine is much more insidious. He consolidates his power in the Senate by instilling fear of attacks and rebellions. And he knows way too much about the dark side of the Force.

• Weaknesses: Tarkin is too cocky. When facing a final assault by rebel forces in "A New Hope," Tarkin doesn't put up as much as a screen window over the hatch that allows rebels to blow up his spaceship. Palpatine doesn't think twice about having friends killed, which may come back to burn him.

• The winner: Palpatine, for his brilliant villainy. While Tarkin seems content to fly around the galaxy, crushing isolated uprisings, Palpatine fancies upward mobility on the job. Maybe even immortality.

THE WISE MENTOR

Jedi master Yoda is computer-generated in "Revenge of the Sith." The original trilogy used a puppet. Lucasfilm Ltd.

• Strengths: When he makes his debut in "The Empire Strikes Back," this pint-sized rubber puppet has much to teach Luke. He's patient, powerful and can commune with the dead. By the time he goes digital in "Clones," Yoda is a lot more limber, able to parry with a lightsaber twice his size.

• Weaknesses: Puppet Yoda is a little crotchety, accusing Luke of being untrainable. Digital Yoda, for all his prescience, doesn't see that the latest inductee into the Jedi council might not be a good addition. And would it kill either one of these guys to use a simple declarative sentence?

• The winner: CGI Yoda, for his dexterity. His battle with Count Dooku is the action highlight of "Clones," and puppet Yoda was risky for the franchise, Lucas says. "He was the hardest thing to shoot. If he had looked like Kermit the Frog flapping around, 'Star Wars' wouldn't be what it is."

THE COMIC RELIEF

• Contenders: Ewoks vs. Jar Jar Binks

• Strengths: Ewoks may be little, but they are pretty inventive when it comes to battle. With little more than sticks and wires, they help topple the Empire. Jar Jar's asset is diplomacy. He speaks for Padmé in front of the galactic Senate.

• Weaknesses: Ewoks are too cute to be taken seriously as warriors. And their chirping dialect made them sound like tribbles on steroids. Besides having an annoying accent, Jar Jar is a coward.

• The winner: Jar Jar, by a nose. Sure, half the film galaxy loathes him, but he's the third-most-popular toy, behind Yoda and R2-D2, according to Lucasfilm. "Jar Jar represents innocence," says rebelscum.com's Myatt. "The movies have always had those hokey characters. That's why we all loved them when we were young. It's the people who have changed over time. Not 'Star Wars.' "