Want to catch up on Star Wars Movies

[SamIAm21]

I enjoyed Star Wars as a kid, (I'm 50 now) but I can only remember seeing the first two original movies. Pete once mentioned a specific order in which the movies should be watched for maximum understanding. I would like to take the time to watch them over the next few months before the new Star Wars hits the theaters.

Can anyone recommend a good order in which to watch the movies

 

[sunshinemelody]

I've never watched them and find no interest them at all (Harry Potter is my only love), however, my boyfriend is a Star Wars fan and I know that this would be exciting for him, so, I'm going to jump on this bandwagon, grin and bear it. I'd love that order as well.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I enjoyed Star Wars as a kid, but I can only remember seeing the first two original movies. Pete once mentioned a specific order in which the movies should be watched for maximum understanding. I would like to take the time to watch them over the next few months before the new Star Wars hits the theaters.

Can anyone recommend a good order in which to watch the movies

The watching order is different to the release order.

Chronological Story Watching Order

1. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
2. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
3. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
4. Star Wars
5. The Empire Strikes Back
6. Return of the Jedi

Watching the films in that order, you get the full story, the backstory of Darth Vader, who he was and why he became Darth Vader and why Luke and Princess Leia did know each other

 

[DisDadDVC]

I recommend the "Machete Order":

IV, V, II, III, VI

http://www.nomachetejuggling.com/2011/11/11/the-star-wars-saga-suggested-viewing-order/

 

[SamIAm21]

I recommend the "Machete Order":

IV, V, II, III, VI

http://www.nomachetejuggling.com/2011/11/11/the-star-wars-saga-suggested-viewing-order/

Where does 1 fall in there?

 

[DisDadDVC]

Where does 1 fall in there?

It doesn't. For good reason...

"Why Skip Episode I?

Look, I'm not going to sit here and bag on how bad Episode I is. I'm not even going to try and act like Episode II is better or tell you Episode I ruined my childhood or anything like that. It didn't, it's just a movie that isn't very good.

The reason to skip Episode I isn't that it's bad, it's that it's irrelevant. If you accept my suggestion that Star Wars, the saga, is really about Luke's journey and his decision to accept his hero's burden by saving not only the galaxy from the Empire, but his father from the dark side as well, then you'll find that everything that happens in Episode I is a distraction from that story.

Seriously, think about it for a minute. Name as many things as you can that happen in Episode I and actually help flesh out the story in any subsequent episode. I can only think of one thing, which I'll mention later.

Every character established in Episode I is either killed or removed before it ends (Darth Maul, Qui-Gon, Chancellor Valorum), unimportant (Nute Gunray, Watto), or established better in a later episode (Mace Windu, Darth Sidious). Does it ever matter that Palpatine had an apprentice before Count Dooku? Nope, Darth Maul is killed by the end of Episode I and never referenced again. You may as well just start with the assumption that Dooku was the only apprentice. Does it ever matter that Obi-Wan was being trained by Qui-Gon? Nope, Obi-Wan is well into training Anakin at the start of Episode II, Qui-Gon is completely irrelevant.

Search your feelings, you know it to be true! Episode I doesn't matter at all. You can start the prequels with Episode II and miss absolutely nothing. The opening crawl of Episode II establishes everything you need to know about the prequels: a bunch of systems want to leave the Republic, they are led by Count Dooku, and Senator Amidala is a senator who is going to vote on whether the Republic is going to create an army. Natalie Portman is called Senator Amidala twice in the first 4 minutes of the movie, so there's no question of who's who."

 

[SamIAm21]

It doesn't. For good reason...

"Why Skip Episode I?

Look, I'm not going to sit here and bag on how bad Episode I is. I'm not even going to try and act like Episode II is better or tell you Episode I ruined my childhood or anything like that. It didn't, it's just a movie that isn't very good.

The reason to skip Episode I isn't that it's bad, it's that it's irrelevant. If you accept my suggestion that Star Wars, the saga, is really about Luke's journey and his decision to accept his hero's burden by saving not only the galaxy from the Empire, but his father from the dark side as well, then you'll find that everything that happens in Episode I is a distraction from that story.

Seriously, think about it for a minute. Name as many things as you can that happen in Episode I and actually help flesh out the story in any subsequent episode. I can only think of one thing, which I'll mention later.

Every character established in Episode I is either killed or removed before it ends (Darth Maul, Qui-Gon, Chancellor Valorum), unimportant (Nute Gunray, Watto), or established better in a later episode (Mace Windu, Darth Sidious). Does it ever matter that Palpatine had an apprentice before Count Dooku? Nope, Darth Maul is killed by the end of Episode I and never referenced again. You may as well just start with the assumption that Dooku was the only apprentice. Does it ever matter that Obi-Wan was being trained by Qui-Gon? Nope, Obi-Wan is well into training Anakin at the start of Episode II, Qui-Gon is completely irrelevant.

Search your feelings, you know it to be true! Episode I doesn't matter at all. You can start the prequels with Episode II and miss absolutely nothing. The opening crawl of Episode II establishes everything you need to know about the prequels: a bunch of systems want to leave the Republic, they are led by Count Dooku, and Senator Amidala is a senator who is going to vote on whether the Republic is going to create an army. Natalie Portman is called Senator Amidala twice in the first 4 minutes of the movie, so there's no question of who's who."

Well given that I haven't seen any of these movies since I was about 13, and I am 50 now, I don't think any of this even makes sense to me. I will have to comment again once I've watched them all.

 

[BadPinkTink]

@SamIAm21
the above from @DisDadDVC is basically a Star Wars Geeks view and assumes knowledge of the story.
Like everything Star Wars has its fanatics and geeks who endlessly dissect and analyse every aspect of the films.

As you are someone who just wants to catch up and know the story, my first post above , with the chronological story watching order, is what you need. It is actaully the way George Lucas intends the films to be watched

 

[KingLlama]

I've been wrestling with this too, since I want to introduce my kids to the saga before the new one comes out. I can completely see why someone would start with II, and I absolutely loathed Episode I. The only reason I might include Episode I anyway is because my girls are young, and might appreciate/enjoy the "young Anakin" story much moreso than I ever did.

But yeah, it was pretty terrible.

 

[KingLlama]

I've been wrestling with this too, since I want to introduce my kids to the saga before the new one comes out. I can completely see why someone would start with II, and I absolutely loathed Episode I. The only reason I might include Episode I anyway is because my girls are young, and might appreciate/enjoy the "young Anakin" story much moreso than I ever did.

But yeah, it was pretty terrible.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I've been wrestling with this too, since I want to introduce my kids to the saga before the new one comes out. I can completely see why someone would start with II, and I absolutely loathed Episode I. The only reason I might include Episode I anyway is because my girls are young, and might appreciate/enjoy the "young Anakin" story much moreso than I ever did.

But yeah, it was pretty terrible.

I would say let them see them in the story order and include Episode 1. Let them make their own minds up about the film, let them see the story of the child Anakin, as there are parts, like his mother etc which are revisited in the following films. How can you explain him going back for his mother, if you dont understand why he left???

Dont let your feelings about the QUALITY of the film cloud the fact that it is the first part of the story

 

[Princess Jes]

Personally, I'm going to watch them in release order.

I'm sure I've seen the original 2 when I was young, but don't remember a thing about them other than the big fat blob dude, and I know I saw episode I at some point, probably when it was released in cinemas.
But I think I want to appreciate them in the order that they came out.

Then one day I'll watch them in episode order.

Also... Is there somewhere I can stream them online?
They aren't on Netflix (not the Australian one anyway) and I have no idea about any other streaming service

 

[MeeskaMooska13]

Totally agree with machete order! But if not, definitely watch 4 first! It's the one that got everyone hooked to begin with!

 

[Angel Ariel]

I recommend the "Machete Order":

IV, V, II, III, VI

http://www.nomachetejuggling.com/2011/11/11/the-star-wars-saga-suggested-viewing-order/

I also highly recommend the machete order. This is the order we'll introduce our DD to SW when she's old enough

 

[Angel Ariel]

Well given that I haven't seen any of these movies since I was about 13, and I am 50 now, I don't think any of this even makes sense to me. I will have to comment again once I've watched them all.

You can insert 1 in before 2 in machete order if you want to. The basic idea is start with Episode 4 and 5, then do the flashback to Episodes 1-3 (or 2-3), then end with 6.

 

[DisDadDVC]

You can insert 1 in before 2 in machete order if you want to. The basic idea is start with Episode 4, then do the flashback to Episodes 1-3 (or 2-3), then continue with 5 and 6.

Actually, you watch 4,5,2,3,6 for machete. The only problem is if you include 1 you are doing 4,5,1,2,3,6. Watching 1 after 5 will be a HUGE letdown...

 

[Angel Ariel]

Actually, you watch 4,5,2,3,6 for machete. The only problem is if you include 1 you are doing 4,5,1,2,3,6. Watching 1 after 5 will be a HUGE letdown...

For my husband and I, yes it would be. For someone who is truly interested in seeing all 6 movies, and has no preconceptions of what episode 1 is, then I think it's a valid way to watch it. My DH hates Episode 1 with a passion. I actually don't mind it at all. I get the reasons to skip it and why DH doesn't like it, and I do agree, but I still enjoy the movie on its surface.

I like the premise of keeping the surprise factor of watching 4, then 5...then going into the flashback (and I wrote that wrong earlier, and I"ll fix my post), then finishing with 6. The poster seems interested in watching all 6, so I responded to that.

 

[Hunterr]

Not sure what the general opinion is, but only do this:

Watch the flawless original trilogy FIRST (episodes 4, 5, and 6).
Then the prequel trilogy.

 

[Princess Jes]

Not sure what the general opinion is, but only do this:

Watch the flawless original trilogy FIRST (episodes 4, 5, and 6).
Then the prequel trilogy.

This is definitely my plan of attack

 

[Hunterr]

And don't skip episode 1.
Yes, it's awful, but that's more so why it must be seen.
You should see the result of all the hype and hysteria that was when that came out.

The pod racer scene...holy hell was that a complete waste of time.
Though, I was never anti Jar Jar to be honest. I didn't mind him.