If you knew someone who had never seen any of the star wars movies and didn't know any of the stories, would you recommend that they watch episode 1 first or watch them in the order they were filmed?
I think not already knowing what happens to Anakin would make episodes 1-3 a lot better. At the same time, finding out that Luke and Leia are his children takes away from the surprise of episodes 4-6.
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Favorite Answer
the way that they were originally filmed is probably the best.
the first 3 episodes are called the prequels for a reason, and then you won't get bored with the non-modern special effects and stuff in the first 3 because you watched the gratuitously special effected 3rd episode.
Jedi Dude 28
It is profoundly sad that some people think that the 5 words spoken by Darth Vader to Luke Skywalker in ep V "don't matter" anymore. YES THEY DO !!!! That scene was voted the # 4 most shocking revelation in the entire history of film by SAG a few years ago ... the importance of that scene MUST be respected. It is that scene that makes this story "personal" ... it isn't just a "good VS evil" story after that scene ... it is father against son and that adds tremendously to the story line.
Another great point is made in one of the other answers ... episodes 1 - 3 were called PREQUELS for a reason ... it's the back story of the OT, episodes 4 - 6, how is the back story of a story supposed to make any sense if you don't know the story.
That being said I used to be a strict 4 - 6 THEN 1 - 3 supporter but given the fact that at least 60% of the population of this planet has heard the "No ... I am your father" line I've begun to embrace a different way to watch them ... it's called the "Flashback Method". In this method you watch them in this order: 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6. In that order you still save the "big shocker" in the telling of the story so it has the impact it needs to have and then you go back and find out the events that got them to that point. Then you end with the "happy ending" of ep 6 to close out the story.
In end either way works but the Flashback Method allows the story to flow a little more smoothly and mean more when it's supposed to. The only thing I can say with 100% certainty, IMHO anyways, is that watching them 1 - 6 the first time is the absolute most horrid way of watching the Star Wars movies.
May The Force Be With You ...
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I would have said start with 4-6 if only for the suspense, but let's face it, even if you haven't seen the Star Wars movies ever, you still know who's Luke's father. So I'm not sure it matters that much anymore which trilogy you watch first. Start with 4-6 just to be a purist.
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I think they should be watched in the order they were released.
That way, the terrible acting and script from Anakin's character in the 2nd won't turn your friend off of watching the other great movies in the series.
Zac
I would say they should probably watch them in the order the story takes place it might make more sence to them