Which Star Wars movies to watch first for a first time viewer?
- Thread starter GotNoRice
- Start date
This. Just because everyone and their mother saw the PT movies when they came out doesn't mean they'll stay culturally relevant. In 20 years or so, the general public will still remember and watch the OT, but I've got a feeling that the PT will slip away, like the Roger Moore 007s, the Jaws and Dirty Harry sequels, etc. Which is fine, because in my mind, the PT isn't canon anyway.
That sounds awfully like an opinion to me...
If you genuinely want to believe obviously false crap (imho) like Vader built 3PO, more power and bad PT movies to ya. But I'll never believe it myself, GL and everyone who says otherwise notwithstanding.
this order actually seems to work
and it makes return of the jedi look that much better.
It makes Jedi hella better.
And if you feel the need to squeeze anything about the Clone Wars in there, I'd squeeze the first animated series in between Eps 2 and 3. Both series are well worth a viewing, but Genndy's is only two hours long and easier to fit in with a mega viewing like this.
That sounds awfully like an opinion to me...
If you genuinely want to believe obviously false crap (imho) like Vader built 3PO, more power and bad PT movies to ya. But I'll never believe it myself, GL and everyone who says otherwise notwithstanding.
It's a matter of what the word 'canon' means, not a matter of opinion.
To say 'That's not canon for me,' makes as much sense, linguistically speaking, as '2+2=5'.
You're welcome to believe that elements of SW didn't occur, but unless and until you're one of the driving forces behind the franchise, you lack the authority to define what SW canon entails. Until then, the fact that it was onscreen means, by the SW canon's definition, that it is canon.
Nardpuncher
Rear Admiral
That sounds awfully like an opinion to me...
If you genuinely want to believe obviously false crap (imho) like Vader built 3PO, more power and bad PT movies to ya. But I'll never believe it myself, GL and everyone who says otherwise notwithstanding.
It's a matter of what the word 'canon' means, not a matter of opinion.
To say 'That's not canon for me,' makes as much sense, linguistically speaking, as '2+2=5'.
You're welcome to believe that elements of SW didn't occur, but unless and until you're one of the driving forces behind the franchise, you lack the authority to define what SW canon entails. Until then, the fact that it was onscreen means, by the SW canon's definition, that it is canon.
The thing is Star wars and Trek and other things don't really have canon.
I mean they really don't.
Watch Star Wars - it's the only one that really matters. If you like it, watch The Empire Strikes Back. After that, whatever floats your boat.
The original Star Wars is the one to show a first-time viewer. The prequel trilogy will likely bore them silly, because it really wasn't a prequel because it required knowledge of the last 3 films to really "get". A New Hope was the film that made generations fall in love with Star Wars. As someone said above, that's the only one that matters. Empire Strikes Back is a good follow-up. As far as I'm concerned, the rest are as optional as the Star Wars Holiday Special.
Just when you do show the original Star Wars, and assuming it's the special edition version, make sure you tell them what REALLY happened in the "Greedo Shoots First" scene!
So in your opinion does anything have canon, so are you of the school of thought that canon doesn't exist?
Personally, although I don't agree with everything Lucas has done (see "Greedo shoots first", above), the fact is Star Wars is his creation, and his baby. If I'd created a fictional universe, say if my name was George Lucas or JK Rowling - not so much Roddenberry as he let Star Trek get taken over by other people - and someone turned around and said "well, such and such never happened as far as I'm concerned" I'd feel perfectly comfortable telling them to piss off.
Alex
Just when you do show the original Star Wars, and assuming it's the special edition version, make sure you tell them what REALLY happened in the "Greedo Shoots First" scene!
So in your opinion does anything have canon, so are you of the school of thought that canon doesn't exist?
Personally, although I don't agree with everything Lucas has done (see "Greedo shoots first", above), the fact is Star Wars is his creation, and his baby. If I'd created a fictional universe, say if my name was George Lucas or JK Rowling - not so much Roddenberry as he let Star Trek get taken over by other people - and someone turned around and said "well, such and such never happened as far as I'm concerned" I'd feel perfectly comfortable telling them to piss off.
Alex
I say you should go Ep. I - VI. It's the way the story unfolds. It also means you get the worst film (AOTC) out of the way fairly quickly.
Nardpuncher
Rear Admiral
I still enjoy the PT in spite of itself, but I do believe there were a lot of missed opportunities and not to sound like a grandpa, but sometimes there were just too many CG elements on screen at one time. It got a little messy.
The funny thing is when I watch Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars and in Return of the Jedi where he mentions Anakin and the time before the empire and all that, I still have my own (as I think many of us do) version or idea of the time before Star Wars in my mind's eye that is different from the PT we really got.
I mean I formed those nebulous images in my head in the 80s watching the original movies on VHS and it's hard to change them just because the "official" version came along later.
The funny thing is when I watch Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars and in Return of the Jedi where he mentions Anakin and the time before the empire and all that, I still have my own (as I think many of us do) version or idea of the time before Star Wars in my mind's eye that is different from the PT we really got.
I mean I formed those nebulous images in my head in the 80s watching the original movies on VHS and it's hard to change them just because the "official" version came along later.
I am greatly amused by this notion of preserving the reveal that Vader is Luke's father. I am sure there is only a very small number of people who do not know that. Even among those who have never seen the films. There is this attitude that presumes that Star Wars should only be perceived as was done by those who saw each new film during their first run. Which is not only impossible but absurd.
AOTC is the worst movie for me. TPM had fantastic vistas and productions values and I really dig the pace and ROTS was just epic moment after epic moment, but AOTC just stumbles around a lot. And needed more Chris Lee.
Usually, I'd say watch in order, 1-6, but if you want to give your friend a sense of suspense, then 4-6, 1-3 is the best, as long as 4-6 are the original edits, not the special editions. That way, the whole "We must defeat the Emporer, he wants Luke" deal maintains that suspense. For years, until the PT came out, I never understood why any of that was. The revelation that Palpatine was a Sith layed out the entire story for me.
On the other hand, watching the PT first gets Phantom Menace out of the way. Easily the WORST of the six movies.
On the other hand, watching the PT first gets Phantom Menace out of the way. Easily the WORST of the six movies.
if a person had NO knowledge of the films i would show it in order (prequels then the originals). despite the fact that i dont like the prequels, i do think that they have a fair amount of surprise if you have no idea what is going to happen in the end.
would a new viewer really jump to the conclusion that the jedi are all going to get wiped out? or that the scrappy kid will grow up and kill a bunch of kids, strangle his wife, get his legs chopped off and left to die near a river of lava? or that the chancellor is going to end up ruling a galactic empire? those are not insignificant surprises. but they dont work if you know how it all ends.
if they do know something about star wars (vader is luke's dad) then just start with the OT, then follow up with the PT.
would a new viewer really jump to the conclusion that the jedi are all going to get wiped out? or that the scrappy kid will grow up and kill a bunch of kids, strangle his wife, get his legs chopped off and left to die near a river of lava? or that the chancellor is going to end up ruling a galactic empire? those are not insignificant surprises. but they dont work if you know how it all ends.
if they do know something about star wars (vader is luke's dad) then just start with the OT, then follow up with the PT.
If the viewer had no knowledge of the original trilogy's major twist - and I don't know how that is possible in 2010 - then it would probably be best to watch the original trilogy first, then the prequels. Losing out on experiencing that for the first time would be a huge shame for the five people left in the universe who don't know.
However, as an overall story, I'd watch Episode One first and go from there.
However, as an overall story, I'd watch Episode One first and go from there.
OT first, for the simple fact that it explains what the Force is. The PT doesn't. It assumes you already know, and proceeds from that assumption by showing characters doing all sorts of superhuman things and arguing about the Dark Side, whatever that is. I don't seen how a first-time viewer could make anything of that. "Why do these Judy Knight guys all have telekinesis?"
And then there's the midichlorians.
And then there's the midichlorians.
People always say this, and yet, that ignores how much watching the sequel trilogy first spoils things. Things like Palpatine's identity as the Sith Lord, the transformation of the Clone Troopers into the Stormtroopers, the betrayal and slaughter of the Jedi Knights, the downfall of the Republic and creation of the Empire, the death of Padme and the fall of Anakin... All of that is "spoiled" by watching the original trilogy first.
By contrast, the only thing spoiled by watching the prequels first are Yoda's identity, Vader as Luke's father, and Leia as Luke's sister. The first is still funny, even if you know who Yoda is, the second is still powerful without the shock of it, and the third will always be awkward no matter what order you watch the films in.
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