Star Wars Viewing

[korme]

If you were to show someone who had never seen any Star Wars movies, what order would you make them watch them in? From Ep. 1-6, or chronologically as they were released?

[Vince, Pt. II]

4 - 5 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 6

Suggested Viewing Order - this one eliminates episode 1 entirely, but explains the reasoning behind the order in the first place.

[mckerney]

4-6 and then Red Letter Media of 1-3.

[BillJasper]

4-6

[General Mike]

4-6, then stop.

[NobodyHere]

Am I the only one that liked episode 3?

[General Mike]

It's alright. You could probably start with 3 for a viewing series and tell the whole story.

[britrock88]

3-6.

[Abe Sargent]

Why doesn't this order include the Clone Wars stuff?

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Suggested Viewing Order - this one eliminates episode 1 entirely, but explains the reasoning behind the order in the first place.

I like this suggestion.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

4 - 5 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 6

Suggested Viewing Order - this one eliminates episode 1 entirely, but explains the reasoning behind the order in the first place.

This was great and something I'd not considered before. Makes sense.

[larrymcg421]

Are we assuming the person isn't spoiled on the story at all? If so, then you have to start with 4 or you give away too much info before you get to 4-6.

[PurdueBrad]

Start with the Trilogy (4, 5, 6) and then, if one must, the Travesty (1, 2, 3).

[EagleFan]

4-6; don't waste your time on the other crap.

[sterlingice]

One of the side effects of Episodes 1-3 is that you hardly ever hear someone giving RotJ the grief it used to get

SI

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

4 - 5 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 6

Suggested Viewing Order - this one eliminates episode 1 entirely, but explains the reasoning behind the order in the first place.

Definitely my vote.

[EagleFan]

Funny thing is that if they actually tried starting with 'episode 1' the entire franchise would have died on the vine right there.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

4 - 5 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 6

Suggested Viewing Order - this one eliminates episode 1 entirely, but explains the reasoning behind the order in the first place.

Huh? Don't agree with this reasoning at all. One awkward shot is not worth having to sit through 1,2, and 3 (or even 2 and 3). And it doesn't take a genius to figure out that the random person must be Anakin at a younger age.

[mrtourette]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Funny thing is that if they actually tried starting with 'episode 1' the entire franchise would have died on the vine right there.

That's probably why he made them in the order that he did. He's no idiot.

[frnk55]

4-6. And like some other guys said...STOP!

[Desnudo]

4-5-closing credits of 6

[corbes]

I like the 4-5-2-3-6 suggestion

[Marc Vaughan]

Episodes 1-3 don't exist so watch 4, 5 and 6 ... then go and read some of the books ....

[Draft Dodger]

although I like the logic of the machete order from a plot sense, from a viewing experience level I don't know you could enjoy the 1980s special effects of ROTJ after watching the slick(ish) digital effects of the prequels.

we watched them in the order released and, sad as it may be, I honestly don't think the kids would have enjoyed the originals* as much after they had seen the prequels. It would be like watching the old Clash of the Titans after watching the newer one.

*of course they aren't the true originals, because George Lucas has no common sense

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by General Mike

4-6, then stop.

Correct. That's how I'm bringing up my kids. No prequels. Not on my watch.

[ISiddiqui]

Definitely Machete order - also eliminating Ep1 and started with Ep2 as the first prequel helps with the narrative a lot and makes Ep2 far better (you don't have to ask questions regarding stuff in Ep1, like isn't this 'relationship' the same as the Jake Lloyd and Natalie Portman in Ep1?).

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Am I the only one that liked episode 3?

Nope. I though Ep3 was quite good actually.

[saldana]

ironically, i am in the course of doing this exact thing with my daughters (9 and 7 years old)...we started at one because i wanted them to be able to follow the story easily

[Kodos]

It's always nice to see a woman's perspective on the board.

[Autumn]

Originally Posted by Abe Sargent

Why doesn't this order include the Clone Wars stuff?

Because everyone around here is an old fart.

[Blackadar]

4-6 then 3.

1 and 2 never happened.

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Nope. I though Ep3 was quite good actually.

My main problem with the prequels isn't the acting or story lines (although both are lacking especially in Ep 1.) ....

It's the fact that the Jedi are shown to be heartless warriors with no interest in light or dark, just in retaining their cruel grasp on society.

(the fact they're frequently called 'generals' also amuses me - at no point are any of the Jedi shown being trained in tactical decisions or similar as such their tactics of sending clones out to get slaughtered continually reminds me of WW1 generals sitting miles from the front line sipping tea)

They raise an army of intelligent beings (clones) who they then promptly send out to die without batting an eyelid, they're disposed of and sent into battle without any concern at all for their well being and frequently hundreds of them are sent in to die to save a single Jedi ... doesn't sound very 'good' to me

(am I the only one who thought that Order 66 seemed like a good idea from the Clone Troopers perspective? )

PS - This view of the Jedi gets even worse in the 'Clone Wars' cartoon film/series ... which is why to me neither those or episodes 1-3 exist thank you very much

[ISiddiqui]

What is so wrong about that? It allows for the "bring balance to the force" to make sense on many different levels. The Jedi are corrupt bastards, not living up to their own ideals on many levels.

[Sun Tzu]

Episode III on it's own merits is a damn fine Sci-Fi flick. In fact, I'd go so far as to put it above IV and VI in intensity and viewing engagement.

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

Episodes 1-3 don't exist so watch 4, 5 and 6 ... then go and read some of the books ....

And also play KotOR 2.

[mrtourette]

I think the scripts for all three new ones are bloody terrible, just so bloated and unnecessary. Any scenes involving grown up Anakin and Padme are just painful to watch.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Sun Tzu

Episode III on it's own merits is a damn fine Sci-Fi flick. In fact, I'd go so far as to put it above IV and VI in intensity and viewing engagement.

[ISiddiqui]

Definitely above VI.

[Karlifornia]

I don't even love the Star Wars saga, but I thought III was a fine film.

[flere-imsaho]

The thing I have never gotten over with the prequels is how wooden the acting is, especially from actors (Portman & Neeson especially, but even Christensen has done good work elsewhere) who we know can act. McGregor seems to be the only one who's managing to inject any life into his performance.

[Kodos]

McGregor is the only saving grace in the prequels.

[ISiddiqui]

You cut Ian McDiarmid deep.

[stevew]

I thought Count Dooku was pretty entertaining.

The prequels were a bunch of individual elements that sorta worked individually but as a whole there was way too much going on. I think Lucas overestimated how much story minutiae people wanted to see. He should have just made kick ass films.

people talk about Jar Jar ruining episode 1, but I feel like Watto and the trade federation guys were pretty insensitive at best, and racist at worst.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

The thing I have never gotten over with the prequels is how wooden the acting is, especially from actors (Portman & Neeson especially, but even Christensen has done good work elsewhere) who we know can act. McGregor seems to be the only one who's managing to inject any life into his performance.

the bad acting from good actors truly is amazing. But, to me it's the mind-numbingly bad story. Holy hell, what a convoluted mess. 15 years and that's the best story you can come up with?

[flere-imsaho]

Yeah, good point in that Ian McDiarmid was also pretty good. I actually thought Christopher Lee as Dooku was very underwhelming. Yes, he had pretty much nothing to work with, but he did very little with it. Ray Park (Darth Maul) was much, much more menacing and he had what, no lines?

Agree with stevew - Lucas tried to stuff too much detail and exposition in, and no one was willing to do what Ford & Irving Kershner apocryphally did, which was to tell him they weren't saying / directing those BS lines.

When you're giving roles as poorly written & thought out as they were, your best bet is to do what McGregor did and try to hit just the right amount of camp with it.

[mrtourette]

The last few posts are absolutely right, the script and directing were poor (leading to wooden acting) and Lucas had achieved such a status by the time he made the prequels that nobody was willing/able to tell him how bad what he was doing was (like had happened originally).

[Sun Tzu]

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

Yeah, good point in that Ian McDiarmid was also pretty good.

[Sun Tzu]

Dola, little known nerd fact...

Dennis Lawson, who played Wedge in the original trilogy, has a nephew that played a part in the prequels some 20 years later.

His nephew's name?

Ewan McGregor.

[mrtourette]

I don't think that's a little known fact.

[korme]

I didn't know that fact.