people are mostly defending themselves and their own personal reasons why enjoy the movies for what they are- more to the point, defending themselves from a bevy of personal attacks on their intellect.

i really don't see much defending of the movies.
in fact, everyone pretty much acknowledges the faults present across the board. the people who enjoyed the movies largely see the same faults the people who hate it see; the divide comes from the fact that the people who enjoy it are able to enjoy it despite it's faults. somehow, the assumption in here is that if something is fundamentally flawed, even deeply flawed, then somehow that means that you cannot- and should not still enjoy it.

personally, i'd like to see what you see that amounts to an actual defense of the franchise, as opposed to a defense of their own personal reasons for not hating it so bad they want the forced sterilization of anyone who doesn't. there is a very real distinction between enjoying something for what it is while recognizing it's faults, and *defending* those faults.