Viewing Order
- Thread starter Captrek
- Start date
When I watch them, it's episode order.
But for a newcomer, I think that augmented machete order is the best. It preserves the Luke/Vader twist in V, adds a Luke/Leia twist at the end of III (much more shocking than the way it was revealed in VI), fills out Vader's backstory so his turn back to the light feels more meaningful, introduces the Emperor as a significant villain prior to his defeat, and allows the saga to finish with a happy ending. That final point is negated a bit by Episode VII, I suppose.
But for a newcomer, I think that augmented machete order is the best. It preserves the Luke/Vader twist in V, adds a Luke/Leia twist at the end of III (much more shocking than the way it was revealed in VI), fills out Vader's backstory so his turn back to the light feels more meaningful, introduces the Emperor as a significant villain prior to his defeat, and allows the saga to finish with a happy ending. That final point is negated a bit by Episode VII, I suppose.
Release order
For someone who's seen them before, I'd say Episode order is fine. But for a newtime viewer, I'd say release order. I always felt that seeing Empire and knowing the Big Thing, takes away the impact. Having said that, it's pretty hard for anyone that has never seen Star Wars, to not know that Vader is Luke's father.
But sure, episode order works just fine.
But sure, episode order works just fine.
For a first timer, I would recommend release order. Partly because they might not make it to episode four if they have to sit through episodes 1 2 & 3 first. But mainly, as to preserve the surprise at the "I am your father" moment.
For a rewatch, I would go in episode order.
For a rewatch, I would go in episode order.
Well, they're being born every day....
Star Wars -> Empire strikes back -> Return of the Jedi -> The Force awakens.
Seems pretty straight-forward to me since there only these 4 movies, right?
Right!
Seems pretty straight-forward to me since there only these 4 movies, right?
Right!
Hmm...
Not counting "other" votes, we have:
4-5-1-2-3-6 is the only order that has all these characteristics, so I'm calling it the winner with its 3 out of 31 votes.
Code:
4-5-6-1-2-3 12
1-2-3-4-5-6 8
4-5-2-3-6 1
4-5-1-2-3-6 3
4-5-6 7Not counting "other" votes, we have:
23 of 31 (74%) vote to include all six films
23 of 31 (74%) vote to start with 4-5-
19 of 31 (61%) vote to end with -6
23 of 31 (74%) vote to start with 4-5-
19 of 31 (61%) vote to end with -6
4-5-1-2-3-6 is the only order that has all these characteristics, so I'm calling it the winner with its 3 out of 31 votes.
Well, that's not strictly true.
When I saw TPM, I knew that the boy would be Darth Vader one day. I have no idea from where - it's even possible that the mother reading the subtitles to her kid next to me told him. So when I was watching ANH straight after that I was pretty confused when Obi-Wan said that Darth Vader killed Anakin Skywalker, and by the end of the film I assumed what I knew wasn't true. So when I watched ESB, I was still shocked at the reveal, even though I was supposed to have known.
Aside from that, I also had no idea that the kid was named Anakin Skywalker before his name was mentioned on screen, so I had no idea Darth Vader was Luke's father, so had I seen ANH/ESB first, I wouldn't have suspected. Not to mention that while I knew who Darth Vader was, Luke Skywalker was just some mysterious name of some mysterious guy I would have shrugged off if I hadn't seen any of the films, so I wouldn't remember knowing it.
LOL, Ken M is that you?
I prefer 4-5-1-2-3-6. Although I'm not a fan of the prequels (hate is too strong, missed opportunity is amore apt description of my feelings) the completist in me cant help but include them. My dilemma will be what to do when I have kids and want to show them the Star Wars. I figure the viewing order will be 4-5-6, and the prequels will be more for when they are old enough to understand disappointment.
But they're less likely to be disappointed when they're younger.
I've wanted to try 4-5-1-2-3-6 for a while so I vote that.
I've wanted to try 4-5-1-2-3-6 for a while so I vote that.
But they are also more likely to like them when they are younger. Maybe more than the originals!
My comments are mostly tongue and cheek. I don't want to shape my child to only like what I like. Ok maybe just a little.
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