Poll: Is it actually a good idea to recommend someone to watch Starwars?

[Nami nom noms]

Having literally just finished watching the original trilogy with a friend of a friend who had never seen them either, I can safely say that watching star wars is a great thing to do for someone who has never seen them before.

BUT (and this is crucial)... START WITH THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY.

Reasons:

1. It's as good as star wars ever gets; if they don't like episodes 4-6 they will hate 1-3.

2. It's the order most people fell in love with in the first place... Don't you wonder WHY people love star wars so much? It's in those movies.

3. It makes more sense. This might sound strange when the logical order is chronological, but episodes 4-6 do a much better job of explaining the world of Star Wars in a competant manner. You get to see aliens, planets, the idea of the republic/rebels and the empire, and also what a jedi actually is and what that means.

4. Spoilers. Suddenly, Darth vader being luke's father and leia being his sister become big climatic reveals. remember when yoda mentions that 'there is another'? These scenes have a massive gravitas to the new watcher, that would be ruined if they have seen the prequels first.

5. Your own enjoyment. Watching the originals again with someone who is viewing for the first time allows you to appreciate the films with fresh eyes. This is especially nice for someone like me who has seen them all hundreds of times.

If they enjoyed the originals, then try them with the prequals 1-3... but even if they don't like those theyre sure to enjoy the original trilogy.

 

[Something Amyss]

The originals are a pop culture phenomenon, whether they are associated with nerds or not. I would readily recommend them, even in the new "remastered" versions, for at least one view.

It's not for everyone, it's certainly contentious, but it's still worth a watch.

 

[AnarchistFish]

I love every Star Wars film (except that CGI one) so I'd recommend them all 6. Not sure if it's better to watch the old or new trilogy first.

IV>V>III>II=VI>I
That's probably how I'd rank them but they're all fantastic.

 

[JPArbiter]

Star Wars unquestionably belongs in the list of "films everyone should see" though I have the caveat of "Start with the original films first" so you can gain an appreciation for how they changed moviemaking forever.

it is also encumbant on the guy who has seen star wars that is watching the movies with them to NOT overwhelm the new viewer with information. let them watch and learn, and if they ask questions, only provide them with IN FILM context for answers. NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER go into the expanded universe to explain why Han can understand Chewie, or why the death star had such a glaring flaw, etc etc...

 

[AnarchistFish]

Yeah on reflection, watching the originals first is better

 

[Signa]

Edit: I'd suggest Firefly and Space: Above and Beyond first, as they are the best Sci-Fi's we've got, and Sci-Fi as a genre is always better in a series than in a film, or short series of films.

Whoa whoa whoa... .Why Space A&B? Not that the show was terrible, but there are so many other, far better sci-fi shows out there. What about Stargate SG-1, Farscape, or Babylon 5?

Edit: At least you didn't say Battlestar Galactica. I'd have to kick your ass for suggesting that piece of shit qualifies as Sci-fi.

 

[Singularly Datarific]

For what it's worth, it changed Sci Fi for the better in that the movies were no longer snoozefests. Just hand her an unmolested copy of New Hope and tell her there are two other movies and episodes I-III are actually unlicensed movies designed by North Korea as experimental weapons.

 

[A.A.K]

I say yes, I actually enjoyed all 6 Star Wars films. I just pretended the first 3 movies were from a difference series....or a completely separate part of the Star Warsian universe that's only connected in title and nothing else.

 

[A.A.K]

EDIT: Double Post.