For me part of the problem with episodes 1-3 (apart from poor scripts and acting) is that the originals are consired such classics (partly because its popular to like them IMO) that the new ones would never have been able to live up to some peoples expectations.

Also the fact you know how its going to end can't help either. Taken purely as a set of films (ignoring the original ones) i feel they are ok, not great but ok. That said i hated the third one, it was nowhere near as good as i hoped it would be.