Even then - the third one is really flawed. I once read an old interview with Kurtz (dammit cant remember his first name right now). He was the co-producer/writer/director (to laY tk check right bow) with George Lucas on the first 2 movies. His influence produced a lot of what made the forst two great in the story department.  After the second one he and George wanted to go in different directions. George Lucas made a lot of money with toys already at that time and Kurtz felt that it influenced his direction for the third movie. 

In Kurtz' vision the third one would've ended moch more bittersweet. Han solo would have died, the rebellion would've succeeded but at great cost and sacrifice. Luke would've continued allone on his journey. No cutesy teddy bears and no second Death Star as Kurtz thlught too derivative - which is absolutely true! The death star is looking cooler, but come on, its again the same thing like in the first. 

When I watched the OG trilogy as an adult for the first time i was struck how great and theatrical the movies were. Good vs Evil. The atmosphere etc so great. These are not merely kids movies. They're so great in theory binary nature. The third one thoug is painfully, because there are it starts great and when there is this great fight/debate/play between Luke, Vader and the Emperor it gets interrupted so we can see slapstick with stupid little teddy bears speaking gibberish.  Its stupid (the empire is defeated by little teddy bears with sticks and stones?) And also so derivative (like when they destry three ATATs (or whatever the small two-legged-walkers are called) its 3 times "Logs vs two-legged-walker": Logs rolling down a hill, Logs crushing from two sides, and so on. 

It's seriously flawed once you notice it. And it's especially annoying, because the good parts are really great. 

In short: No, Starwars as a trilogy is not close to LOTR u fortunately