I'm fascinated by the 'Star Wars' phenomenon! Recall seeing the 'original' at 'the pictures' and enjoying it immensely. But, as someone even more ancient than Mr Kermode, that was as far as it went....
Having said that, the recent furore over this latest episode in the franchise did cause me to revisit the original trilogy....and again, much enjoyment was had, but the whole fan-thing still passes me by!
Maybe it is something to do with age and gender...and the fact that the film which first left me with an abiding sense of Hollywood magic was 'The Maltese Falcon'....rather than the Millennium variety!