Re: Star Wars Episode VII
Hang on. in fairness, I think that Episode 1 stands alone in its visual design. The look of it was all swoopy and flowing curves, rather than the more angular, functional look of the OT. But the two later PT films looked a lot closer to the OT in terms of ship design. The problem, I think, was that they were just a little too far from the OT design.
The other thing that I think REALLY hurt how well the PT connected visually was simply the CGI aspect. I've said it before and I'll likely say it again, but CGI never looks like it's been lit properly. It doesn't catch shadows the way physical models do. Going "all digital" is probably a big part of why the latter two films didn't feel more "used." I don't think the issue is "used" as much as "actually there." It's the bright, sub-surface-lit cartoony quality of the CGI that most detracts, I think. Try to imagine a Republic cruiser from the opening of ROTS, but as an actual physical model. It'd be darker, the light would play on its surface differently, it'd look more "there."
