JIF

...which order would you play? EPISODE IV to EPISODE III or EPISODE I to EPISODE VI? Please explain your answer.


My girlfriend hadn't seen STAR WARS, but that didn't stop her from going to see EPISODE I to III with me. Afterwards, I introduced her to EPISODE IV and then I suddenly realized something. When Darth Vader first approached Leia at the start of the film, before he even began to speak, my girlfriend said "so that's his daughter right?" Suddenly, all the revelations and surprises that made the original trilogy special were out of the bag. She could never enjoy EPISODES IV to VI the same way that I did when I was a kid.

Therefore, I've come to the decision that when I eventually introduce STAR WARS to my little nephew (who's only 2 now), I'm going to play EPISODE IV to EPISODE III. Otherwise, he just may consider STAR WARS to be another ordinary Sci-Fi series.

hindolio

interesting question.

im no star wars fanatic, but, prolly like yourself, i grew up with it. i think that is the key difference between "our" experience with the star wars saga and anyone who will watch it now.

you can argue that watching episode 1 on makes sense because that is true to the timeline. yeah, it would probably not have the impact that "we" had. then your little nephew may think its average. maybe the harry potter saga is the thing. maybe there will be an alien vs predator saga. whatever and so on.

you can argue that episode 4 on is the way to go. and theres many reasons that thats how "we" enjoyed it. however, i think even if your nephew (or anyone else today) watches the star wars saga from episode 4 on, he wont get the same thing that "we" got out of it. its that thing to do with growing up during the 1970s and 1980s.

star wars is better now to me than it was when i watched it. hope im making sense!


that said, i would start with episode 4

coli

You have to start with Episode IV, because every movie after that had different special effects and faster lightsaber battles, and looks and feels differently.

If you watch Episode IV as the #4 movie, the movie will come off very jarring to the viewer, as they will start to compare the way the movies look from the Prequels and will forget it is the only SW movie that was made as a standalone movie of good vs evil, and doesn't have the saga context that the other 5 movies have.

By watching Episode IV first, they can just enjoy it without worrying about whether it is Darth Vaders story yet, and many other things when watching it 1-6 now. And 99% of the SW fans saw it 4-6, 1-3, if it aint broke, why fix it?

nemein

Really more of a movie question than a DVD question. Also double check that forum, I think they might have had this conversation before...

Jackskeleton

go in the order they were released. no other answer needed

grundle

This is the order that I saw them in. It worked for me.

IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV IV

V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V

VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI VI

IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI

I

II

III

IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI IV V VI

toddly6666

you show it in the original order -4, 5, 6, 1, 2, and 3....

If you show someone these movies in chronilogical order, then there is a good chance of the person losing interest in them and not even reaching the original masterpieces, especially after The Phantom Menace...

The prequels were more or less crap in comparison to the original ones. What's the purpose of showing the prequels first then if it's going to make a person lose interest?

Doughboy

Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi

And if at all possible, show them the original versions. Then if they're a glutton for punishment, show them I, II, III, IV(DVD version), V(DVD version), and VI(DVD version).

Terrell

Start with the originals for obvious reasons.

Spiderbite

You should have just told her that Leia is not Darth Vader's daughter...at least he wasn't when both Star Wars and Empire came out. Then if she made it to Return of the Jedi, say oops...like Lucas did.

I just try to ignore the whole Luke/Leia brother/sister thing completely when viewing the OT.

Egon's Ghost

Exactly my sentimonies.

Anubis2005X

Show her IV through VI, then I-VI...

resinrats

1-6 in that order. That is how the story goes. Just because they were made out of order doesn't mean they should be viewed out of order. When watching LOTR, you don't start with Two Towers first and later go back to Fellowship.

As stated above, the 'surprise' of ESB is so over used, that it is a joke now. Even people that have never seen the movies know Darth is Luke's dad. I'm sure Luke/Leias relationship is well known as well.

Showing ANH first because of the effects is essentially saying "Here watch the crappy one first since they others all have better production quality."

Dr. Henry Jones, Jr.

have them watch IV-VI, and then IV-VI.

coli

Quote:

Originally Posted by resinrats

1-6 in that order. That is how the story goes. Just because they were made out of order doesn't mean they should be viewed out of order. When watching LOTR, you don't start with Two Towers first and later go back to Fellowship.

It is not totally about effects, it has to do with a huge difference in trilogies when going from Episode III to IV. With the PT, you are watching a story solely on Anakin. When you get to Episode IV, that movie was not written at all about his story, let alone him being Lukes father, so the viewer will totally miss the point of what makes it great. They will be looking for Yoda, Palpatine, and the inner struggles of Darth Vader, and none of that was there in 1977.

Watch ANH first, just for a classic good vs evil story. Then if they are interested, tell them there are two more movies that deal with rebels vs empire. And then if they are still interested, tell them there is a whole backstory on how Darth Vader came to be.

1-6 is not a linear story, if it was, Darth Vader would be more prominent in ANH, and he would be the protagonist, not the antagonist for 4,5,6. The OT is the story of Luke, and the PT is the story of Anakin.

I think many fans get sucked into this 'Tragedy of Darth Vader' revisionism by Lucas. The last time I checked, if it was Darth Vaders story, he would have more than 15 minutes of screentime in ANH.

OldBoy

i've said it before and i'll say it again...
II, VI, IV, III, V, I

any other way is simply not in keeping with the "Star Wars" lore.

Draven

I've always thought it's the droids' story, actually...if you look at the whole series. They are there for most of the pivotal scenes.

I think it would be interesting to watch them in order for the first time. I have a feeling it might hold up better than we think it will. It's not a big stretch for me to see that 1-3 is Anakin's story and 4-6 is Luke's, and they both tie together at the end. Works for me.

Phod

grundle's post rules.

Anyhow, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the temporary fad way of watching them: IV, V, I, II, III, VI.

You get the goodness of starting with the best two. You get some questions posed in V and one hell of a cliffhanger. Then you watch I, II, III to see if those questions have answers. Then back to VI for the resolution. Luke vs. Darth in VI is pretty sweet after III.

But then again, you're watching the best two followed by the worst two. That might be too much for some ppl

TylerDurden_73

I'm another one who says start with ep's 4,5,6. Then 1,2,3. I too saw them in that order and that's how I will show my son. When I saw Darth Vader walk onto the screen In episode 4, I was in awe of who this Bad Ass was.

CPA-ESQ.

Explain more?

BassDude

This is what I came in here to post.

Damfino

IV - V - I - II - III - VI

here's why: You must preserve the impact of the ending of The Empire Strikes Back. Even after all these years I can still remember the stunned reaction of the audience.

Following V with I-II-III provides all of the back story and VI brings everything to a satisfying ending.

Joseph B

The proper way to view Star Wars for a neophyte is:

Episode IV - Sets up the Jedi Mythos; hints a little about Luke's father.
Episode V - The "Big Revelation" : "I am your Father!"
Now ... A three episode "Flashback" to see how this could be so :
Episode I
Episode II
Episode III

After viewing Episode III, then it's time to "Flash Forward" again for the Resolution:
Episode VI

This is the only way a Star Wars "Newbie" should ever view the Saga!

EDIT: Ooops! I see that "Damfino" and "Phod" above beat me to it!

OldBoy

oh great! ever hear of spoiler tags?? sheesh!

milo bloom

Even if they've heard about the big surprise, there's still a difference in tone in the different trilogies that makes IV a better introduction. I'd also stress the importance of watching the two discs of Clone Wars between II and III. They do so much to improve the friendship of Anakin and Obi Wan, plus provide more foreshadowing for Anakin in his fight with Ventress and his spirit quest on the ice planet.

So IV - V - I - II - CW - III - VI