I’d call V better than IV. I really do like IV, but even with the non-special edition, I feel like it can really drag at points. Granted, V has the flaw that it doesn’t really work without VI since it’s pretty obviously a set up, but I personally think V is far superior.
Oh, I agree that judged just on its technical merits V is better than IV. But IV did such an amazing job of creating both a universe and a set of iconic moments that I’m willing to overlook its occasional draggy bits.
Another vote for Machete order. If you like/want to get to know the star wars universe there is no way to skip the prequels. They are not as good as some of the others, but I’m sure you’ll have seen worse.
Like any other series (Narnia, I’m looking at you), you should watch them in the same order they were released, just like the people who were there at the time. Watch 4, 5 and 6, and then 1, 2 and 3, but bear in mind that the latter three aren’t as good as the first (although they get progressively better, IMHO).
I agree with this. One example: the technology of the films changed as computer-imaging became possible. Thus, the light saber duels in Episodes 1, 2, and 3 are FAR more dramatic (with more special effects) than the duels in the earlier 4, 5, 6. The cities are more complex and amazing in 1, 2, and 3 (because of CGI) and will seems sparse in 4, 5, 6. In short, watch in the order they were released.
I agree that there is some logic to “machete order”: 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6. Basically, 1, 2, and 3 are “background” explanations of the reveals in 5, so it makes sense to watch them later. You wouldn’t want to read the last chapter of an Agatha Christie before you read the first chapters.
Whatever you do, pace yourself. Three movies in a day is a lot. Six is tough. Watching 5 or 6 movies in a day can drain the fun right out of the flicks. IMP a lot of what makes “Episode IV” a great flick is how much fun it is. It’s a Saturday morning serial done right: good budget, good effects, good acting and directing - the ultimate popcorn flick. IMNAAHO a lot of what makes the prequel trilogy bad is that they only improve on the visual effects of the old Saturday serials. Lucas hired great actors, and had them be stiff, wooden, and unrelatable. That’s bad directing there, George.
Not only that, but the plot of the prequels is essentially CSPAN with lightsabers. Which isn’t nearly as fun as it sounds.
I recently finished reading The Secret History of Star Wars (highly recommended) which talks about this a bit. After the first movie came out, Darth Vader, due to his distinctive look, became something of a pop-cultural icon, so Lucas wanted to capitalize on this by making him a more important character who featured more prominently in the story. So he goes from being “one of the bad guys” to “THE bad guy.”
On the topic of the prequels, one reason I don’t like them is because the ages of the characters don’t line up. I know, out of all the faults of the prequels, this is the one that really bugs me. Anakin is in his twenties and Obi-Wan is apparently in his late 30s/early 40s by the end of “Revenge of the Sith.” Yet in “A New Hope,” (less than 20 years later?) Obi-Wan is now elderly (even referred to as “this old fossil.”) When we see Vader unmasked in “Return of the Jedi,” he is played by a 70-ish actor. Drives me nuts.
The book gets into that too. Originally Lucas imagined Obi-Wan and Anakin to be older during the prequels. But then he somehow fixated on the idea that he had to show Anakin as a young boy, being taken away from his mother, because that was somehow the most important point in his turn to the dark side. So that in turn made Obi-Wan younger too. Which is why “The Phantom Menace” has so much padding, because the entire purpose of the movie was just to show the one scene of young Anakin leaving his mother.
Personally, I’d be happy to never watch the prequels again, pretend they never existed, and just enjoy the original trilogy.
Wait, is there some controversy over the order in which the Narnia movies should be watched? They haven’t even filmed the books yet which are usually misordered when bundled together; the 3 filmed so far are strictly in chronological order of each other. Why would there be any question of which order to watch them?
Machete order - 45(1)236 - is the best way to watch them dramatically and thematically. It also lets you start off with the best movies in the series and end on a high note. Watching Ep I is voluntary – my recommendation is to skip it the first time through and then go back and watch it later.
Alec Guinness was, what, in his early 60s – thirty-seven years older than Mark Hamill – when he played Obi-Wan in that one? So (a) “early 40s” plus “20 years later” would be perfect, and (b) just figure living in the desert for most of two decades ages a weather-beaten hermit Kenobi just a bit, to miss it as close as you need for Luke to be a teen.
The Narnia films (and don’t get me started on what a travesty those were*) were, at least, filmed in the right order and started at the right point. The more recent editions of the book series, however, have screwed up the proper order (the order in which they were published).
*Mercifully I don’t think any more movies are planned.
Yeah, I was referring to the books.
Watch Episode IV, then I. Whichever one you enjoy more watch the rest of that trilogy first. (Minor spoiler: Your opinion of young Anakin should not be a factor as he’s only in Ep. I)
My prediction:
Agent Foxtrot will find the prequels not as awful as everyone makes them out to be. And he will find IV-VI not as great as everyone makes them out to be.
This is a good bet. It happens very frequently with people who haven’t spent decades revering the original films. This always confuses the hell out of the internet collective mind because clearly the prequels are the worst thing to ever happen ever.
This is ESPECIALLY true of children, it’s very hard to find a kid these days who prefers the original trilogy over the new one. Although it’s easy to use this fact as another attack against the prequels by saying they are childish or whatever, I think it is an important indicator in a series that’s best enjoyed as a kids Saturday morning cartoon anyway.
I think the more interesting experiment would be to watch them in release order, ie. 4 5 6 1 2 3. There is a fair bit of argument as to whether the widespread negativity towards the prequels is reasonable. In short, and not attempting to hash out all of the various permutations:
The majority view appears to be that the prequels are just bad movies and particularly disappointing because they followed the good original movies.
Some claim that all of the movies are good and that many fans are being unrealistically critical of the prequels, possibly due to the long wait and unmet expectations.
Others claim that all of the movies are bad and the fans good opinions of the originals are rooted in having watched them at a young, impressionable, uncritical age.
This is a great opportunity to get an opinion from someone who is not infuenced by nostalgia and interminable waiting. It would be even better if the OP was completely unspoiled as to the plot, but that is probably impossible.
You did know you were walking into a minefield right Agent Foxtrot?
I think we are all anxiously awaiting your decision.
Not exactly a controlled study, but I saw the original (Star Wars, with no bloomin’ episode number) in a theater recently, and there were some kids sitting behind me. I certainly heard plenty of "ooh"s and "aah"s from them. More so than I hear in any contemporary movies, though to be fair I haven’t heard those particular kids in the Star Wars prequels specifically.
ETA: Spoilers!