Generally, people who actually like sci fi movies don't argue that they're just dumb, meaningless special effects reels.
Nah, man. I'm just in it to sit and be happy for a bit. There are enough real things in life that demand my anxiety and angst. An $8 movie can be something that I enjoy for what it is.
Want to know how far my willingness to smell the roses and accept movies for what they are will go? I liked all the Transformer movies!
Dude, the 8 year old me that imagined all those giant transforming robot battles while playing with an Optimus Prime (missing an arm) in my bedroom (not a euphemism) LOVED that stuff! Nothing dumb about it. Transformer toys were never meant to be high art, and the movie played out about like my kid brain. Plot? Who cares. Lasers? PEW PEW! Optimus missing an arm?!!? EXACTLY LIKE MINE!!!
Star Wars could only be made better if all of the actors were forced to only articulate their bodies at the shoulder and hip as they moved around. You know, and add lasers and a plot my 8 year old brain can enjoy and I'm going to have a good time. Horses on a Star Destroyer? I can get behind that. When all you have is a Playskool horse and a Luke Skywalker with his retractable lightsaber broken off so it looks like he is holding a flashlight, you just make it work as a kid. It's fun, you roll with it. Movies don't need to be more than that. Have fun, push the "I believe" button, gaze in wonder as real life takes a back seat for a bit.