link?
He obviously loves the old movies more, but I remember reading his reaction when Sith came out (around the same time as Star Trek I think) and he mentioned how much he loved it, it was noted because he said he also thought the previous one was underrated. Deliberately not commenting on Episode I.
I'm at work but quickly did find:
Peter: What were your thoughts about the Star Wars prequels? What did you like and what didn’t you like? What lessons did you take from those films for Episode VII?
J.J. Abrams: All I’ll say about the prequels is if you ask someone around the age I was when the original trilogy came out, “Whats your favorite Star Wars movie?” they will tell you one of the original trilogy. If you ask someone around that age when the prequels came out, they will say one of the prequels. And it’s scientifically proven and undeniable. The original trilogy was for me what Star Wars felt like. And it was what Star Wars was. The prequels had a different but apparently equally powerful draw for so many people, and in some cases a more powerful draw. What I loved about the original trilogy is how real it felt..
JJ Abrams Interview: Abandoning Lucas' Treatments & Star Wars Prequels.