What order should noobs watch the films in now?

[mazz0 2,910]

With Ep VII out what order would you recommend to a noob to watch in?  How do you see it changing once Rogue One is out?

 

I'm thinking 4, 5, 6, 7, 1, 2, 3 and I dunno where to put Rogue One.  I think Ep4 has to be first, cos it's the introduction.

[incinerator950 387]

For posterity, OT-NT-PT. 

For sequence, just say **** it and 1-7.  RO is an addition and not required watching.

[WingedSpider 1,266]

Release order. Often a newer Star Wars movie will take the audience's familiarity with a concept introduced in a previous Star Wars movie for granted.

 

For example, the concepts of the Force, lightsabers, and Jedi are introduced in A New Hope in a clear and obvious manner through Obi-Wan's talk with Luke. If you watch The Phantom Menace, the opening scene uses the Force, lightsabers, and Jedi, but takes the audience's knowledge of these concepts for granted and doesn't really explain them. That's because it's a prequel; it's meant to be watched after the work it precedes to flesh out concepts and backstories already introduced by the original. 

Edited August 22, 2016 by WingedSpider

[Cubanboy 6,534]

I would tell you to watch them 4/5/6 then1/2/3 last 7. (the order in which they were released)

 

The thing is a lot is spoiled within 1/2/3 which should be enjoyed within 4/5/6. The reason I would tell you to watch 7 last is the same deal stuff from 1/2/3 is spoiled within 7, and putting 7 last gives the Story a high note with hope to end on.

 

Personally I love 7 and I just enjoyed it again for something like my 11th time and would tell you wait to enjoy it. Also each set of movies has its own feel to them. 7 is the odd one out because its only 1 part of 3 movies where we are missing so much yet.

 

Watch Rogue 1 after the others.

Edited August 22, 2016 by Cubanboy

[mazz0 2,910]

For posterity, OT-NT-PT. 

For sequence, just say **** it and 1-7.  RO is an addition and not required watching.

 

They're all required watching!

[SabineKey 6,348]

The one I kind of favor is 4,5,1,2,3,6,7.

You get the originals done, and the bomb at the end of 5 is (possibly) unspoiled. Then you go back, see how we got to this point, see how Anakin fell, then see the conclusion in 6. Then you move on to 7 and so on.

Not sure how view order is gonna go when the anthology films, like Rogue One, come out.

[EastCoast 1,349]

Star Wars (I refuse to call it episode 4)

Empire Strikes Back

Return of the Jedi

 

Then if the mood strikes you, The Force Awakens.

 

/waves hand "There are no prequels"

[Forgottenlore 9,838]

The machete order is the best way to watch them.

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

A friend of mine and I recently did a marathon using that order and it really does enhance the story, and even improves the (2) prequels. It's a really long post about it, but interesting and definitely the way to go.

I also recomend Adawyn's "Star Wars Revisited" version of "a new hope" as the ideal edit of the original movie. (And man do I wish he would get empire done).

Edited August 22, 2016 by Forgottenlore

[theninthguardian 157]

^See above. Machete order is really good, and it does make the prequels more tolerable.

[heychadwick 11,357]

My son and I recently watched all there is to watch for Star Wars.  That includes The Clone Wars tv show.  We have also found a fan edit called "Fall of the Jedi" that makes the prequels much much much much better to watch than the originals.  I asked my son about his opinion about what order to watch it all in since he's now seen it all.  He's 11 and his opinion was to watch them in chronological order, but make sure to watch the fan edit version and The Clone Wars cartoon.

 

The reasoning?  If you watch all the prequel stuff first, you get to see all sorts of stuff like who Grand Moff Tarkin is and what is the Senate and what the heck does it mean for all those little details that just sounded cool when you didn't know.  I kind of agree with him.  It would be interesting to take someone who doesn't know anything about Star Wars and take them through it chronologically.

 

I have to stress again the Fall of the Jedi version.  Not the one on YouTube, but the movie files.  It really does a good job of improving the movies.  

[Forgottenlore 9,838]

My son and I recently watched all there is to watch for Star Wars.

ALL??

The holiday special?, the ewok movies? The ewok cartoons? The droids cartoon?

Not unless you paid me a lot of money.

Joking around, of course.

Seriously though, I haven't been able to find the "Fall of the Jedi" cuts. Do you have a link or anything?

[mazz0 2,910]

I have to say, I don't like the idea of missing any film that has Natalie Portman in it.

Maybe:

• New Hope

• Empire Strikes Back

• Black Swan

• Attack of the Clones

• Revenge of the Sith

• Return of the Jedi

• Force Awakens

I'd allow Leon in place of Black Swan,

[Hawkstrike 5,410]

Machete.

(Rogue 1) 4, 5, 2, 3, 6, 7.

[markcsoul 2,135]

Rogue one remains to be seen how much info it gives away.

 

If you watch the films for the first time in release order (4-5-6-1-2-3-7), then rogue one could possibly be watched as soon as after 4.  MAYBE could go first, but only if you don't mind someone getting their first viewing of vader/death star/etc from rogue one.

 

If you watch in chronological order on the other hand (1-2-3-4-5-6-7), then watching between 3 and 4 should be fine.  You'll know about vader and the death star already.  Plus seeing bail organa after just seeing the prequels will fit in nicely.

 

I prefer chronological myself, it makes the most sense and it's what Lucas intended.  Yea you lose vader is father, leia is sister, but the first at least is so ingrained in culture most sw virigins probably know that aspect already.  You get different surprises instead like Anakin becoming vader, palpatine being sidious, etc.

 

And please never omit any of the movies just because you don't like them for someone watching for the first time, let them make their own decisions, if they don't like certain films, they don't have to watch them again.

[Shadow345 640]

Release Order

[mazz0 2,910]

Yea you lose vader is father, leia is sister, but the first at least is so ingrained in culture most sw virigins probably know that aspect already.  You get different surprises instead like Anakin becoming vader, palpatine being sidious, etc.

Is Palpatine being Sidious a surprise? Obviously I already knew, but it seemed to me they'd been making it obvious throughout the trilogy. Not sure Anakin's becoming Vader is very impactful either, when you don't know who Vader is.

[Richard_Thomas_ 326]

Release order. Definitely, 100%, no question about it.

 

Each film was made at a point in time when somethings were assumed to be known by the audience and other things were assumed not to be known. To mess with this is to completely mess with the film makers intent for each one.

 

Once you've seen them all then fine, watch them in whatever order you fancy, but if you've got any respect for the film makers vision then the first time should be in order of release.

[Hobojebus 11,341]

Rouge 1(if it's good) 4,5,6,7.

[Mr Tough Guy 397]

Forgottenlore, on 22 Aug 2016 - 7:56 PM, said:

I also recomend Adawyn's "Star Wars Revisited" version of "a new hope" as the ideal edit of the original movie. (And man do I wish he would get empire done).

 

First time I heard about this, interesting do you think this is better then the Harmy despecialized editions, which at the moment is my preferred cut, will have to see if I can find this version

[FTS Gecko 24,135]

Personally I'd go

A New Hope

Empire Strikes Back

Return of the Jedi

The Force Awakens

Once Rogue One comes out, hopefully we can add it to the start of the list.

[heychadwick 11,357]

 

My son and I recently watched all there is to watch for Star Wars.

ALL??

The holiday special?, the ewok movies? The ewok cartoons? The droids cartoon?

Not unless you paid me a lot of money.

 

 

Well, we started the Xmas Special and I think that was enough to scar the whole family into not watching anything else.  I warned them that they didn't want to go there, but they insisted.  I think we got about halfway through it.

 

If you watch in chronological order on the other hand (1-2-3-4-5-6-7), then watching between 3 and 4 should be fine.  You'll know about vader and the death star already.  Plus seeing bail organa after just seeing the prequels will fit in nicely.

 

I prefer chronological myself, it makes the most sense and it's what Lucas intended.  Yea you lose vader is father, leia is sister, but the first at least is so ingrained in culture most sw virigins probably know that aspect already.  You get different surprises instead like Anakin becoming vader, palpatine being sidious, etc.

 

Yes, I agree.  You do lose a few surprises, but it's still good story to watch.  How does Luke take it when he finds out?  That sort of thing.  Also, there are a lot of little things all along that kind of add up.  Different characters that have more meaning as you know about it.   I mentioned Tarkin and I think he's a great example.  He starts off as a Col. in the Clone Wars.  He does well in Rebels and moves up the food chain.  You see him in A New Hope and he's awesome at that point.  He's not just some old officer that you don't know who he is.  When he dies, it's better.  Or....you can see all the times the Death Star gets talked about before it's actually built.  The bug people design it during the Clone Wars.  It eventually gets built.  Or....Boba Fett as a kid who grows up to be the awesome Boba Fett in Empire Strikes Back.  I dunno....I think one can appreciate the layering of meaning as one watches it in chronological order.

[mazz0 2,910]

My son and I recently watched all there is to watch for Star Wars.

ALL??

The holiday special?, the ewok movies? The ewok cartoons? The droids cartoon?

Not unless you paid me a lot of money.

 

Well, we started the Xmas Special and I think that was enough to scar the whole family into not watching anything else.  I warned them that they didn't want to go there, but they insisted.  I think we got about halfway through it.

 

If you watch in chronological order on the other hand (1-2-3-4-5-6-7), then watching between 3 and 4 should be fine.  You'll know about vader and the death star already.  Plus seeing bail organa after just seeing the prequels will fit in nicely.

 

I prefer chronological myself, it makes the most sense and it's what Lucas intended.  Yea you lose vader is father, leia is sister, but the first at least is so ingrained in culture most sw virigins probably know that aspect already.  You get different surprises instead like Anakin becoming vader, palpatine being sidious, etc.

 

Yes, I agree.  You do lose a few surprises, but it's still good story to watch.  How does Luke take it when he finds out?  That sort of thing.  Also, there are a lot of little things all along that kind of add up.  Different characters that have more meaning as you know about it.   I mentioned Tarkin and I think he's a great example.  He starts off as a Col. in the Clone Wars.  He does well in Rebels and moves up the food chain.  You see him in A New Hope and he's awesome at that point.  He's not just some old officer that you don't know who he is.  When he dies, it's better.  Or....you can see all the times the Death Star gets talked about before it's actually built.  The bug people design it during the Clone Wars.  It eventually gets built.  Or....Boba Fett as a kid who grows up to be the awesome Boba Fett in Empire Strikes Back.  I dunno....I think one can appreciate the layering of meaning as one watches it in chronological order.

What was so awesome about Boba Fett in Empire? All he does is stand around and whine about Vader being a bit rough with his prize.

[Forgottenlore 9,838]

I also recomend Adawyn's "Star Wars Revisited" version of "a new hope" as the ideal edit of the original movie. (And man do I wish he would get empire done).

 

First time I heard about this, interesting do you think this is better then the Harmy despecialized editions, which at the moment is my preferred cut, will have to see if I can find this version

Here's the link.

https://swrevisited.wordpress.com/

I've not actually seen the despecialized editions, but as I understand it they were basically trying to remove EVERYTHING that was modified in the special editions and reset the movies back to the theatrical release. The thing is, a lot of the stuff the SEs did in the background was actually really good, it was just all the messing around with the foreground that ruined them. That's what SW Revisited is trying to do, fix the crap but leave the stuff that was actually good. It bills itself as "what the special editions should have been".

[heychadwick 11,357]

 

What was so awesome about Boba Fett in Empire? All he does is stand around and whine about Vader being a bit rough with his prize.

 

 

OK....he just looked awesome.  He really didn't do much, but he always looked really cool.  

[mazz0 2,910]

What was so awesome about Boba Fett in Empire? All he does is stand around and whine about Vader being a bit rough with his prize.

 

OK....he just looked awesome.  He really didn't do much, but he always looked really cool.

He looked pretty cool, granted, but more importantly his ship looked kickarse.