Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[Hardback247]

One problem I'm having is that I want to introduce my mom to Star Wars, but I don't know which versions of the OT to show her. Actually, I know I want to show her The Empire Strikes Back: Revisited, but I don't know if I want to show her A New Hope Revisited, because I know a newer version of that is being made right now.

[Gold Ranger]

Play them in this order:
The phantom menace
Attack of the clones
Clone wars 3d
Clone wars 2d
Revenge of the sith
Solo
Rogue one
A new hope
The empire strikes back

Return of the Jedi (not the Blu-ray)
Caravan of courage

And I forget the name of the other week movie...

[Hardback247]

Originally Posted by Gold Ranger

Play them in this order:
The phantom menace
Attack of the clones
Clone wars 3d
Clone wars 2d
Revenge of the sith
Solo
Rogue one
A new hope
The empire strikes back

Return of the Jedi (not the Blu-ray)
Caravan of courage

And I forget the name of the other week movie...

Which versions of the OT are the most recommendable?

[Magicman38]

The worst change for me is the wierd sound in Episode IV that Obi-Wan makes to scare the Sand People. Every time I hear it I cringe.

[bobbyh64]

Originally Posted by Hardback247

Which versions of the OT are the most recommendable?

How about show her the Despecialized Editions? If she likes them, then the prequels. I’m perfectly fine with that order myself.

[Salamurai]

I feel everyone should start with Episode IV. It's "the first step into a larger world", and the only movie that didn't have a ton of expectations when it was made.

[Gold Ranger]

Originally Posted by Hardback247

Which versions of the OT are the most recommendable?

A new hope: Blu-ray or VHS
Empire : VHS or DVD

Jedi DVD or VHS







The Blu-ray for each pretty much suck.

Black crush, 720p picture quality.



Never go with bootleg versions

[Takeshi666]

I might consider buying the old pre-THX Laserdisc releases, but I'm torn between the shrinking aspect ratio vs Japanese subtitles. The old JP Special Collection discs probably won't come cheap tho.

[Yojimbo68]

Honestly, for someone new to the Star Wars saga I would watch them in this order. It's the best way to avoid spoilers...

Star Wars: A New Hope
The Empire Strikes Back
Attack Of The Clones
Revenge Of The Sith
Return Of The Jedi
The Force Awakens
The Last Jedi

If after that you like what you're seeing, I would then check out The Phantom Menace, Rouge One and Solo.

[Donl1282]

Originally Posted by Yojimbo68

Honestly, for someone new to the Star Wars saga I would watch them in this order. It's the best way to avoid spoilers...

Star Wars: A New Hope
The Empire Strikes Back
Attack Of The Clones
Revenge Of The Sith
Return Of The Jedi
The Force Awakens
The Last Jedi

If after that you like what you're seeing, I would then check out The Phantom Menace, Rouge One and Solo.

Why would you watch the two prequel films before Return of the Jedi? How would you understand what’s going on in Attack of the Clones without watching Phantom Menace?

[Nailwraps]

Originally Posted by Donl1282

Why would you watch the two prequel films before Return of the Jedi? How would you understand what’s going on in Attack of the Clones without watching Phantom Menace?

I've heard about this order. It was listed in a magazine but I forget the name of the order.

[rexcrk]

Originally Posted by Donl1282

Why would you watch the two prequel films before Return of the Jedi? How would you understand what’s going on in Attack of the Clones without watching Phantom Menace?

Yeah that order is pretty stupid. Just do release order and call it a day. Much simpler that way.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Nailwraps

I've heard about this order. It was listed in a magazine but I forget the name of the order.

It's called the Machete order.

[Hardback247]

I wouldn't recommend removing The Phantom Menace in a Star Wars marathon for these reasons:

There are narrative points in The Phantom Menace that serve a purpose. The film sews the seeds of Senator (then Chancellor) Palpatine’s ascension to power through his maneuvering to displace Chancellor Valorum and assume the premiership. Similarly, while widely loathed, Jar Jar is a narratively pivotal character as is he who is ultimately tricked (in Episode II) into proposing a motion to grant emergency powers to the Chancellor, paving the way for Palpatine to assume the mantle of Emperor. Without any character foundation, or understanding of his relationship with Amidala, Jar Jar’s role in the Empire’s formation loses weight.

Without Phantom, the prophecy that Anakin will bring balance to The Force is mentioned but never explained, and Anakin’s return to Tatooine in Attack Of The Clones is rendered baffling as we have no knowledge of him being a slave, who Watto is or why his mother has ‘been sold’. C-3PO’s origins also become murky but that’s hardly a major drawback.

Finally, the excision of Episode I derails Anakin’s prequel character arc entirely. Never seen as an innocent, we are introduced to him as a surly, sulking teenager with more than a touch of the Dark Side about him. Without the altruistic (if infinitely irritating) boy we first meet in Watto’s junk shop, Anakin’s rise to the mantle of Sith Lord is as unsurprising as it is undramatic. For a true redemption of the character, he needs to come full circle, so The Phantom Menace, however flawed, must remain on the menu.

[Takeshi666]

Originally Posted by Yojimbo68

Honestly, for someone new to the Star Wars saga I would watch them in this order. It's the best way to avoid spoilers...

Star Wars: A New Hope
The Empire Strikes Back
Attack Of The Clones
Revenge Of The Sith
Return Of The Jedi
The Force Awakens
The Last Jedi

If after that you like what you're seeing, I would then check out The Phantom Menace, Rouge One and Solo.

What I would do is place TPM between ANH and ESB, ditch the sequel trilogy entirely and just read the f***ing Thrawn trilogy instead.

[Gold Ranger]

Originally Posted by Takeshi666

What I would do is place TPM between ANH and ESB, ditch the sequel trilogy entirely and just read the f***ing Thrawn trilogy instead.

What sequel trilogy / duology?

[octagon]

Finally, the excision of Episode I derails Anakin’s prequel character arc entirely. Never seen as an innocent, we are introduced to him as a surly, sulking teenager with more than a touch of the Dark Side about him. Without the altruistic (if infinitely irritating) boy we first meet in Watto’s junk shop, Anakin’s rise to the mantle of Sith Lord is as unsurprising as it is undramatic. For a true redemption of the character, he needs to come full circle, so The Phantom Menace, however flawed, must remain on the menu.

I don't know who wrote this but come on.

A) Do we really need to see Hitler's baby pictures or home movies of his eighth birthday party to know that Hitler wasn't always a genocidal monomaniac?

B) Anakin's rise to the mantle of Sith Lord was always going to be unsurprising because - spoiler alert - we already knew he was Vader.

The relevant bits of The Phantom Menace could have easily fit into the crawl of a different version of Episode I and 'Vader wasn't a murdering douchebag when he was eight' is not one of those relevant bits.

[Hardback247]

Originally Posted by octagon

I don't know who wrote this but come on.

A) Do we really need to see Hitler's baby pictures or home movies of his eighth birthday party to know that Hitler wasn't always a genocidal monomaniac?

B) Anakin's rise to the mantle of Sith Lord was always going to be unsurprising because - spoiler alert - we already knew he was Vader.

The relevant bits of The Phantom Menace could have easily fit into the crawl of a different version of Episode I and 'Vader wasn't a murdering douchebag when he was eight' is not one of those relevant bits.

Just because we already know where it’s going doesn’t mean that part of his past can’t be explored.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Hardback247

Just because we already know where it’s going doesn’t mean that part of his past can’t be explored.

Yes but it does mean that the deck is pretty heavily stacked against Anakin's rise to the mantle of Sith Lord ever being surprising.

Cause, you know...

[bobbyh64]

Come on guys, don’t suggest that Hardback’s mom watch the different Clone Wars series, the Ewok movies, Solo and Rogue One before the originals, and read random novels. All of that can come later if she turns into an uber Star Wars nerd. I think the best suggestion is to first watch the Despecialized Editions. This is pretty much the only acceptable way to see the films how they originally were. If she likes them, then show the prequels next. Some would argue for episode order, but I think for a first-time viewing unaltered release order is the best.