It's not about the way they were made or how they differ in terms of the backrounds of creating the story. It's just about which entertains/entertained you the most meaning "which one do you prefer" like the op said.You can't compare these great movies with the idea "which is the best".
Everyone has their own taste and the fact how much their creators differ from each other.
Example, Tolkien spent his entire life to LoTR. It was his life's work.
Lucas, made his story in to a movie after couple of years or so and was there himself, to direct his own story.
The Godfather, well it can all be "copied" from real life basically.
But this is just all in a nutshell, I just can't understand how these can be even compared in such manner as "this sux SABERS BEFORE SWURDS" or something similar.
SW isnt even good, the quality is bad (well bcz its old but still ...), the story is not even that good (the force concept is good but everything else is ...) ...Wait what?