Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[Mister_Kidd]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

I still haven't decided what the best order for watching these flicks is... and I've tried 'em all, believe you me.

STAR WARS '77 is clearly the best entree into the universe. But then what the hell do you do with ROGUE ONE, which I love and would miss if it were absent? ROGUE ONE doesn't work as a flashback -- like the prequels do -- since the ending just leaves ya hangin'. And you can't START with ROGUE ONE 'cuz it doesn't do enough "universe building" (IMHO).

The Saga order (starting with Episode I) is clearly the best for feeling the whole sweep of galactic "history"... but Episode I is a terrible place to start. Oh the things that keep me awake at night.

I go with release order. The only draw back is that you watch the best two movies first and you finish with (arguably) the worst one.

I've also done the 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6 way which is fun and is the best way to have no spoilers.

Personally, I think episode order is the worst way to do it.

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

I actually think Episode 1 is a better entry into the universe than Episode 4. Both movies just kind of throw you into the action right at the start without a whole lot of context, aside from the opening crawl. But where Episode 1 excels and Episode 4 is weak, mostly because it is the fourth chapter and you should know it all by now, is that in Episode 1 you get so much context into how the galaxy works from a political and social perspective that you really need for later on. Who are the Sith and the Jedi and how do they operate? How does Palpatine put the plans in motion to become Emperor and the Republic a dictatorship? Etc. Etc. It makes the rest of the saga so much more vibrant and fully realized.

We'll have to agree to disagree on this. STAR WARS '77 is the only stand-alone movie of the entire Saga, and doesn't need a single other piece of information. The two back-to-back scenes of Luke and Obi-wan in Obi-Wan's hut and the boardroom on the Death Star contain literally all the seeds for what became the prequels: the definition of the Force (which isn't covered at all in Episode 1!!!!), the background of the Jedi and the Old Republic, the Clone Wars, the Emperor and the Galactic Senate... literally everything. Plus, it served as the "beginning of the saga" for 22 years before Episode 1 came out, and we all did just fine, in terms of understanding everything.

[BladeRunner2007]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

We'll have to agree to disagree on this. STAR WARS '77 is the only stand-alone movie of the entire Saga, and doesn't need a single other piece of information. The two back-to-back scenes of Luke and Obi-wan in Obi-Wan's hut and the boardroom on the Death Star contain literally all the seeds for what became the prequels: the definition of the Force (which isn't covered at all in Episode 1!!!!), the background of the Jedi and the Old Republic, the Clone Wars, the Emperor and the Galactic Senate... literally everything. Plus, it served as the "beginning of the saga" for 22 years before Episode 1 came out, and we all did just fine, in terms of understanding everything.

Amen brother!

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by Mister_Kidd

I go with release order. The only draw back is that you watch the best two movies first and you finish with (arguably) the worst one.

I've also done the 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6 way which is fun and is the best way to have no spoilers.

Personally, I think episode order is the worst way to do it.

Yeah, I think I agree with you... but then I don't know where to put ROGUE ONE -- which is my fourth fave STAR WARS flick of 'em all. There's no way I'm watching it first; it would be a terrible beginning. And I do like the feels I get when I've watched it in episode order, then arrive at STAR WARS and hear Obi-Wan say stuff like "now that's a name I haven't heard in a long time", and hear Leia call him "General Kenobi", etc.

[Ernest Rister]

The New Rister Order: 8, 6, 7, 5, 3, 0, 9

The Jenny Variant

[ImBlu_DaBaDee]

I’ve been slowly watching the saga with friends in their late teens/20s who have never watched any of the films and know little about them. I showed them Rogue One first because it’s a great flick, it’s modern to ease them in gently, it has no characters they need to remember, and what an introduction to Darth Vader! It also ends like 5 minutes before the beginning of Star Wars and left them with questions about what the Force is. We watched Star Wars ‘77 and they learned all the major players and listened to Obi-Wan explain the Force and the backstory of Anakin/Vader. When I realized that they believed his story, I was giddy! We watched Empire a few days ago and they really are starting to get hooked in the story now and loved the Vader reveal, and they think the Emperor is scary. So now we’re going to go back and watch the prequels to draw out the suspense of Empire’s cliffhanger and let them experience the shock of Senator Palpatine becoming the Emperor unspoiled (I’ve never breathed his name even once), then we’ll move on to Jedi and see how all the Anakin, Luke, and Palpatine threads collide and play out. i’ve never watched them in this order before but I’m really loving it and experiencing it with people who have never seen the films gives me fresh perspective and has made it my favorite rewatch ever. Can’t wait to finish it with Rise of Skywalker next month!

[bobbyh64]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

I actually think Episode 1 is a better entry into the universe than Episode 4. Both movies just kind of throw you into the action right at the start without a whole lot of context, aside from the opening crawl. But where Episode 1 excels and Episode 4 is weak, mostly because it is the fourth chapter and you should know it all by now, is that in Episode 1 you get so much context into how the galaxy works from a political and social perspective that you really need for later on. Who are the Sith and the Jedi and how do they operate? How does Palpatine put the plans in motion to become Emperor and the Republic a dictatorship? Etc. Etc. It makes the rest of the saga so much more vibrant and fully realized.

Completely disagree. The original Star Wars is the perfect entry because it’s the first movie and gives the audience all they need to know in order to appreciate the story that’s being told. Just because it was called Episode IV later on doesn’t mean it needs three previous chapters to understand or enjoy it. And I’d argue that the lack of lots of context for how the galaxy works isn’t a weakness at all. That’s not the story that’s being told and we’re given sufficient information to get it anyway.

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

We'll have to agree to disagree on this. STAR WARS '77 is the only stand-alone movie of the entire Saga, and doesn't need a single other piece of information. The two back-to-back scenes of Luke and Obi-wan in Obi-Wan's hut and the boardroom on the Death Star contain literally all the seeds for what became the prequels: the definition of the Force (which isn't covered at all in Episode 1!!!!), the background of the Jedi and the Old Republic, the Clone Wars, the Emperor and the Galactic Senate... literally everything. Plus, it served as the "beginning of the saga" for 22 years before Episode 1 came out, and we all did just fine, in terms of understanding everything.

Completely agree. It’s a self-contained story that’s satisfying from start to finish. It didn’t actually start as the fourth chapter in a saga. It was originally just called Star Wars; no episode number and no subtitle. It doesn’t need anything else to be able to appreciate it. Sure, some of the other movies might make someone enjoy it more, but as it is, it’s a single story. I enjoy both Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back about the same but I put Star Wars above it due to the fact that it’s a complete story that doesn’t need a sequel. And some of my favorite scenes are in the original: Ben’s hut where we get some info about Vader and the Force. It’s a small amount but it’s so effective. I also love the shot of Luke looking at the twin suns while we hear the Force/Ben’s theme music playing. I really like the pacing and somewhat slow build-up of the original Star Wars.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by ImBlu_DaBaDee

I’ve been slowly watching the saga with friends in their late teens/20s who have never watched any of the films and know little about them. I showed them Rogue One first because it’s a great flick, it’s modern to ease them in gently, it has no characters they need to remember, and what an introduction to Darth Vader! It also ends like 5 minutes before the beginning of Star Wars and left them with questions about what the Force is. We watched Star Wars ‘77 and they learned all the major players and listened to Obi-Wan explain the Force and the backstory of Anakin/Vader. When I realized that they believed his story, I was giddy! We watched Empire a few days ago and they really are starting to get hooked in the story now and loved the Vader reveal, and they think the Emperor is scary. So now we’re going to go back and watch the prequels to draw out the suspense of Empire’s cliffhanger and let them experience the shock of Senator Palpatine becoming the Emperor unspoiled (I’ve never breathed his name even once), then we’ll move on to Jedi and see how all the Anakin, Luke, and Palpatine threads collide and play out. i’ve never watched them in this order before but I’m really loving it and experiencing it with people who have never seen the films gives me fresh perspective and has made it my favorite rewatch ever. Can’t wait to finish it with Rise of Skywalker next month!

I'm glad your friends are enjoying this thus far

[motorheadache95]

How about this order:

1) Prequel character films: The Phantom Menace, Solo, Rogue One.
2) Episode Machete Order: A New Hope, Empire, Clones, Sith, Jedi.
3) Whatever else goes after (Mandalorian, new trilogy, etc.


Although for first-time viewers I'd just show everything in release order.

[BluBonnet]

For first time viewers, actually, the December marathon ought to be just perfect. It will be the first time in history that the 9 main episodes are screened from 1 to 9....

[Fnord Prefect]

Preferred watching order? Yeah episode 1 is a poor place to start but we all know these films inside out so why worry. As such I'd go with episodes 1 and 2, Clone Wars film (optional), episode 3, Rogue One then episodes 4 thru 7 (episode 7 optional) while ignoring the existence of Solo and episodes 8 & 9.

[Alan_Grant]

Originally Posted by BladeRunner2007

That's not wonderful. That's creepy.

No, Reylo is creepy. Wanting to bone your sister is creepy. Anakin is a kid who spent the first 10 years of his life as a slave, and then another 10 in a buddhist monk temple, whose number #1 rule is to suppress emotions. The dialogue is bad, but I still find it endearing with that young dumb love level of charm.

[bobbyh64]

I’m gonna start watching Star Wars movies leading up to Ep. IX, as well. I’ll just watch Rogue one and 4-8. Just signed up for a week-long trial on FuboTV since they’re streaming Rogue One. I’ll see if my low opinion of this movie changes for the better.

[veritas]

I suppose people could watch the movies from worst to best 8, solo , 2 , 1,7,rogue one,6,3,4,5.

Or flip it and watch from best to worst I'm not sure which would be more difficult to finish watching the worst movies back to back or watching the best ones and knowing its all down hill with each movie.

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

We'll have to agree to disagree on this. STAR WARS '77 is the only stand-alone movie of the entire Saga, and doesn't need a single other piece of information. The two back-to-back scenes of Luke and Obi-wan in Obi-Wan's hut and the boardroom on the Death Star contain literally all the seeds for what became the prequels: the definition of the Force (which isn't covered at all in Episode 1!!!!), the background of the Jedi and the Old Republic, the Clone Wars, the Emperor and the Galactic Senate... literally everything. Plus, it served as the "beginning of the saga" for 22 years before Episode 1 came out, and we all did just fine, in terms of understanding everything.

But it's not the beginning. It's the fourth chapter. Simply put, to put everything into proper context, the landscape of the galaxy in Episode IV makes a lot more sense and is more fulfilling when you have the background presented in Episode I-III. When Obi-Wan reminisces in Episode IV, it's more meaningful because you've seen that relationship between he and Anakin and the failure of Obi-Wan that you can hear in Alec Guinness' voice is even more powerful.

Like it or not, this is a six film saga and it's been designed as such. To start in the middle, purely out of nostalgic reasons, is fruitless.

[koberulz]

It wasn't designed as such in 1977 though.

[Martoto]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear;17036521

Like it or not, this is a six film saga [U

and it's been designed as such.[/U]

Not really.

[Lutz]

If you watch it in release order knowing nothing about the movies you won’t be spoiled for either the Vader reveal or the Palpatine reveal. You don’t get that watching them in episode order and arguably they’re the biggest dramatic points in the movies.

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by koberulz

It wasn't designed as such in 1977 though.

It's not 1977.

[BladeRunner2007]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

But it's not the beginning. It's the fourth chapter. Simply put, to put everything into proper context, the landscape of the galaxy in Episode IV makes a lot more sense and is more fulfilling when you have the background presented in Episode I-III. When Obi-Wan reminisces in Episode IV, it's more meaningful because you've seen that relationship between he and Anakin and the failure of Obi-Wan that you can hear in Alec Guinness' voice is even more powerful.

Like it or not, this is a six film saga and it's been designed as such. To start in the middle, purely out of nostalgic reasons, is fruitless.