Why do people recommend watching Star Wars in different orders?

DarkShadow · 23 Aug 2008 at 02:13

As per thread title, I plan on catching up on Star Wars as I've never seen a full movie (shocking, I know) but many people recommend watching it in various orders.

If I'm watching this over a span of a week or two, does it really matter?

Zefan · 23 Aug 2008 at 02:14

I'd watch them in the order they were made, as they're written with that in mind.

The whole "Yeah but the story goes from 1-6..." just doesn't fly, it may be that way chronologically but that's just not how it flows best. It's the same with films like Kill Bill and Pulp Fiction, if you watched the chapters in chronologically orrect order it just wouldn't be the same.

:Edit: You say various orders... I can only really think of 2 viable ways to watch it. 1-6 or 4-6 followed by 1-3 (that's the order in which they were released). Anything other than those two would just be silly.

MikeHunt79 · 23 Aug 2008 at 02:19

What about just doing ep 123456?

Zefan · 23 Aug 2008 at 02:21

MikeHunt79 said:
What about just doing ep 123456?

I'd only do that after you've watched them all. I really think they flow best if watched in their released order.

fini · 23 Aug 2008 at 02:22

I suggest 264312 because I'm an idiot.

wedgie · 23 Aug 2008 at 02:52

Zefan said:
I'd watch them in the order they were made, as they're written with that in mind.

The whole "Yeah but the story goes from 1-6..." just doesn't fly, it may be that way chronologically but that's just not how it flows best. It's the same with films like Kill Bill and Pulp Fiction, if you watched the chapters in chronologically orrect order it just wouldn't be the same.

:Edit: You say various orders... I can only really think of 2 viable ways to watch it. 1-6 or 4-6 followed by 1-3 (that's the order in which they were released). Anything other than those two would just be silly.

Agree totally with this.

I also agree with the person yet to post Star Wars is ****.

Visionary · 23 Aug 2008 at 02:55

Star Wars is ****

Curio · 23 Aug 2008 at 06:32

Just watch 3,4,5,6 and pretend 1 and 2 never happened

I really don't know actually - there are pro's and cons either way. Just be prepared for the fact that, whichever order you watch them, the originals look dated (yes, yes they do...) and the new ones (esp 1 & 2) look like a cartoon.

It will be interesting to see which of the trilogies you prefer - let us know

Richiev4 · 23 Aug 2008 at 07:01

I'd watch them 1-6 that's how the story goes, plus you save the best till last.

Rich

Squark · 23 Aug 2008 at 16:13

Richiev4 said:
I'd watch them 1-6 that's how the story goes, plus you save the best till last.

Rich

But Empire is clearly the best.

Watch in order of release, but which versions of 4-6? My vote goes for the '97 theatrical release. They feel the best to me, without too much Lucas meddling with the story and no blooming Hayden in Jedi. That was an abomination.

Hudzy · 23 Aug 2008 at 16:32

Makes more sense with Hayden than some random guy who doesn't appear anywhere else. Han definately shot first though

Sweetloaf · 23 Aug 2008 at 16:32

Squark said:
But Empire is clearly the best.

If you haven't seen them before, watch the original trilogy first otherwise the big revelations will be ruined.

blix · 23 Aug 2008 at 16:46

Watch 456, don't watch the rest at all.

Moley · 23 Aug 2008 at 16:47

Anyone watched the new cartoon film? Any good?

OzZie · 23 Aug 2008 at 17:06

Watch 4,5,6.

Then'll youll want to know the answers to all the questions you will have thought about, so you can then watch 1,2,3 to get them.

Otherwise you'll not know what all the fuss is about in regards to 4,5,6 as they look very different in comparison, as they cant match 1,2,3 for visuals.

5punk3monk3y · 23 Aug 2008 at 18:53

Moley said:
Anyone watched the new cartoon film? Any good?

my mate saw it and he is a big SW fan his words were
"I was ready to walk out in the first ten minutes"
followed by
"The Ewoks cartoon series was better than that pap"

Meridian · 23 Aug 2008 at 19:29

Squark said:
But Empire is clearly the best.

Close, but "least worst" is probably more accurate. Interestingly (or not), it's the only one where the original script was actually written by a science fiction writer, as opposed to a Hollywood hack or under-skilled producer.

M

Squark · 23 Aug 2008 at 20:29

Hudzy said:
Makes more sense with Hayden than some random guy who doesn't appear anywhere else. Han definately shot first though

It makes no sense with him in it, why would his ghost be young and the rest old?

As Luke rescues him, he says that he has redeemed him, i.e. he has returned to the light. Therefore his ghost should be a 'good version' of how he was. Plus he does appear somewhere else, when his mask is removed on the second Death Star it's the same guy.

It makes perfect sense that he should be like that at the end of the film.

Hayden was horribly added just to try and tie in with the new 3. When I first saw the edit I was watching with friends and we all cried out in disgust and surprise at his addition.

Like I said the theatre re-release is my favourite, though Han should definitely shoot first.

"andy" · 23 Aug 2008 at 20:40

as someone whos never watched star wars which one would/should i watch first ?

z0mbi3 · 23 Aug 2008 at 20:47

I'm of the opinion that anyone who hasn't seen any of the Star Wars films before should watch 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 in that order. It's arguably the correct order (at least in terms of story progression) and definitley goes from crap to excelent (obviously with empire and return being the exception, although they're both great).