Because, you know, nothing gets the kids goin’ these days like trade disputes. :rolleyes:
I’m another for 4-5-6 and never mind the rest. There’s an argument to be made for “Machete order”; the argument against, however, is that Machete order includes the prequels. Though, yet another argument in its favor: If you stick the prequels between 5 and 6, your kids probably wont be in this weird group of people who hate on RotJ so much that they somehow think any of the prequels were better than it. But, on yet a fourth hand, after 1-2-3, they may never want to see a Star Wars movie again, so they may never get the chance to enjoy RotJ!
I’m going to be brave and go against the grain here-- a couple years ago when my son was 9 he wanted to watch the Star Wars series with me. I strongly recommended watching them in order of release, but he insisted on chronological 1-6 order. I actually found the story arc to be better than I expected watching that way. Plus it gets the worst movies out of the way so the better ones will be what they remember best.
Maybe at least skip #1 and start at 2. The first one is deadly boring.
I saw Star Wars at the movies when it first came out. Though I enjoyed it a lot I felt no desire to watch any sequels because I didn’t much like the characters so I have never seen the next two. When the second batch came out I had kids who were desperate to see them so I took them and saw those. They aren’t very good.
I watched star wars in Machete order (machete order means leaving out #1 entirely) with my then-boyfriend who had never seen any of the Star Wars movies, had no idea about any of the relationships, etc. He enjoyed the order a lot and thought it was a great way to watch them. And he didn’t care at all about missing out on Episode 1 if I remember correctly.
That being said, you really cannot just watch 4 and 5 and end it there. You kind of have to watch RotJ even though it’s not even as good as episode 3 (the only decent one of the prequels). I would go so far as to say that episode 3 actually approaches being a good movie on its own. But if you are going to watch episode 3, you pretty much have to watch episode 2 or none of it will really make any sense.
So I recommend 4, 5, 2, 3, 6. It’s a good way to watch 'em. If you do a little searching, you can find an old thread I made a while ago where I reviewed them in this order and posted my bf’s responses as well.
The best part about watching 2 & 3 before 6 is that it actually makes 6 a better movie. It makes the dynamic between luke, darth vader, and the emperor more meaningful and poignant. And it makes vader’s return to being good more meaningful as well, amazingly. RotJ is improved by having seen 2 & 3, amazingly.
The thing about people that like telling others not to see “The Phantom Menace” is they’ve happily sat through scores of movies like “The Blob,” “Rocketship X-M” and “Plan 9 From Outer Space.” In fact you could ask how many they have seen “Plan 9 From Outer Space,” this year?
Let me just say something.
"The Ice Pirates"
It’s not a exactly what you would call a good movie, but now that it’s been mentioned I expect most of those people that said not to watch “The Phantom Menace” are kind of thinking they want to see “The Ice Pirates” sometime soon.
I think Machete Order (dropping #1) is perfect for an adult new to the series.
I happen to have a 5 year old who this very week is watching them for the first time and for him we’re just watching 1 through 6. (He had already watched a lot of the cartoons including the clone wars and Lego Yoda Chronicles). He’s a lot less discerning than your typical adult and enjoys everything in the movies, even the stuff that didn’t particularly appeal to me.
I’m ready to accept that these are movies for kids, and that fact that some of it happens to appeal to adults as well is a bonus.
Part of the magic of watching Star Wars is being completely underwhelmed by the Phantom Menace. In doing them a service, you’re doing them the disservice.
Also, I watched the Christmas Special some time around 2002. It was floating around on Napster/Kazaa. There is zero redemptive merits of that. None. Not masochistic, not hipster/campy, nothing.
There’s a lot of hate for the Prequels in this thread, and not unjustly, but these are kids who haven’t seen Star Wars before. For older people who either saw the movies in theaters, or grew up watching them, the Prequels are disappointing; however, as I understand, a lot of the younger generations either quite enjoy them and, in fact, I’ve met many who enjoy them more than the originals. For a 7 or 10 year-old, they’ll get the general story, but they’re not going to have 20 years to dwell on that and nit-pick it. Also, considering that the prequels are aimed at a somewhat younger audience, not unlike started in RotJ, there’s plenty there for kids to enjoy. So, frankly, despite that I think they’re strictly inferior to the originals in virtually every way, that’s no reason to pretend like they didn’t happen, especially if any of the plot points are relevant in the upcoming Episode 7.
So, that all said, I’d probably most recommend Release Order. While I understand the logic behind the Machete Order, I’d rather each story arc completed on it’s own, and I think seeing RotJ last will feel a bit anti-climatic, particularly to a younger audience where the special effects and choreography will be more impactful. But, I suppose I can’t fault someone too much if they do that, but perhaps leave it up to the kids to decide if they want to see that conclusion or they want to see Darth Vader’s origin. I would definitely avoid Chronological order simply because the Darth Vader reveal is just too important. I think the overall story arc works fine, perhaps even better, in chronological order, but only if you’re okay with missing out on what is generally considered one of the greatest twists in cinematic history. Plus, the only redeeming quality of the prequels is precisely that we already have a vested interest in the Darth Vader character, knowing he was once good, turned evil, but ultimately got his redemption. Otherwise, he’s just a horrible child actor and then an angsty adolescent.
I agree that the best order is IV-V, so that the big reveal is a surprise (and kids like it.) Then I’d do I - II - III to catch them up on the backstory, and the VI so that it ends on a happy note. Much more satisfactory. And the merit/value of the prequels aren’t at issue, kids usually have little to no discernment and will probably like them.
I agree, release order or just 1-6. Look, we’re not talking Star wars fans who loved and worshipped the older three, then were disappointed by the prequels. Yes, I get it- having been there on day 1 of Epi VI, the Prequels were not what I wanted. They were aimed not at me, a then 40-something mature fan, but at a fan base even younger than I was when I saw Epi VI.
But if you have never seen Epis 4-5-6, then 1,2,3 are not going to be a letdown. You’ll have no expectations. * In fact you’ll see the films grow in maturity and plot as you do. *
And honestly the OP asked what order the SIX films. Saying 4-6 then skip the 1st three is not being helpful at all. We get it. You were disappointed (justifyably)and now you’re bitter. That has no bearing on the Op’s question, and you’re not helping.
Go start another thread in which to be bitter over 'the betrayal". I’ll even join you.
But, on yet a fourth hand, after 1-2-3, they may never want to see a Star Wars movie again, so they may never get the chance to enjoy RotJ!