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

[Signa]

I was talking to a co-worker today who admitted that she had never seen Starwars. Since Starwars is such a cultural phenomenon, my knee-jerk reaction was to exclaim "You've never seen Starwars?!" Upon further thought, I realized that given the ever-changing state of the series, I don't know if I can recommend the movies anymore to some one who has never seen them.

I mean, if I told anyone to "go see Starwars," they would probably go to the nearest DVD rental/store and buy/rent the films, starting with Episode 1. It's a pretty horrifying thought watching all 6 movies with no frame of reference to what made them good for their time, or which ones you're supposed to like (face it, if you haven't seen Starwars by this time, your knowledge of it is going to be very limited). Also, if you end up with the new BluRay versions, you'll hear Obi-Wan's gay scream, and Vader saying "no!" at the end of episode 6. Add in the still unreverted Han-shot-first scene, and you would never know how the movies used to play out before all the meddling.

Edit: I'm looking at the poll results. Am I reading this correctly? It seems the most people think that despite its flaws, you still would recommend the movie as they are shown now. While those votes aren't the majority of all votes, it is kinda saying that Lucas is right in all the edits he makes if it doesn't affect the whole piece.

 

[WolfThomas]

Not anymore, I enjoyed them as a kid, but now I've completely given up on Star Wars because of the prequels and the revisions.

 

[smearyllama]

If you have access to the original special edition, then by all means have them watch the movies. It's the version with the best good-to-bad add-ins ratio.
Yes, they put in some extraneous stuff, but in exchange we get some good scenes that improve on the series. Or if you have the original tapes, that works, too.

 

[PurePareidolia]

Original release is kind of important, given the changes can completely alter the mood of certain scenes and skip the prequels if possible.

 

[Robert Ewing]

I think it would be a good idea.

Thankfully it's not a franchise in which you must know a lot of lore to fully appreciate it. Like 40k for example. You can just jump right in, and learn about the lore afterwards.

 

[Kotaro]

This is why I keep around my VHS tapes of the original theatrical releases.

 

[badgersprite]

I don't really know what you're talking about. The average person should have no problem whatsoever enjoying the original trilogy in the absence of the expanded universe or any of the extra material. They don't have to become a stan for it to appreciate the originals. I mean, they're not even going to be aware that anything was changed.

 

[Crazy]

Depends on the movies they like/want to watch.

 

[Total LOLige]

Screw Star Wars just recommend Machete that's a bad ass film.
Bad ass is in bold to emphasize the fact that it's super bad ass.

 

[RemuValtrez]

For a newer viewer, I'd say yes. Though I still can't decide if you should go in order of release or watch them in order (Prequels > Originals).

 

[emeraldrafael]

Sure. Just cause I know where SW has been doesnt mean I should deny them watching something so instrumental in cinematic history.

Id tell them to watch all the movies, and of course I'd suggest going chronologically by film release rather then number. But ultimately, it would be their choice, and they could sit and watch 1-6 ror 4-6 then 1-3 or however they like. And if they enjoy the prequel more then the original, thats their preference, I wont fault them for it. I like 6 the best, and thats supposed to be the weakest of the original, so telling them different would just be hypocritical after defended enjoying 6 the most.

the point is they saw the movies and got brought intot he fandom, not what version they watched.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

I don't really know what you're talking about. The average person should have no problem whatsoever enjoying the original trilogy in the absence of the expanded universe or any of the extra material. They don't have to become a stan for it to appreciate the originals. I mean, they're not even going to be aware that anything was changed.

this.


for a new viewer, they aren't going to care the slightest bit about any of the changes nor be hyped/raged at all the things that happened in the background with star wars, they are going to watch the films at face value and judge them from there.

OT: Star wars is pretty easy to just hop right in for the most part, so why not? the worst that happens is they found them kinda boring and they move on with life, being able to recognize some of the references when people use them IRL

 

[LongAndShort]

Yep, definitely. You let them watch the original trilogy first (and not the current blu-ray version), then they can watch the prequels. Judging their reactions is a great way who to decide to keep around or not.

eg. "What's that? You thought that Episode III was the best film of the series? Because it had the best graphics?" *BANG!* "Hmmm, where do I hide this one..."

 

[Lim3]

No, it's been so over-talked by now that expectations cannot be met.

PS by Star Wars i assume you mean the original trilogy since no other ones exist.

*covers ears* "LALALALALALALALA*

 

[octafish]

Unless that person is under 15 I have to say no. The Star Wars trilogy isn't great cinema, you really have to be in the correct mindset to get hooked into the films. If you watch them with a modern, adult, discerning eye they are just some average and dated sci-fi. They are nowhere near as much fun as the wacky stuff they inspired. Instead I'd get the person in question to watch Star Crash, Ice Pirates, and Battle Beyond the Stars.

 

[TehCookie]

Defiantly not. I've never seen Star Wars and people always tell me to watch it. I've tried on several occasions but it was IMO so bad I could never finish it. Everyone knows Star Wars and if they haven't seen it, it's probably because they don't care. People have different interest and that is not one of theirs, so leave them alone.

 

[Nightshine]

I think so, for me, regardless of popular consensus I regard the prequels more interesting then the original trilogy. Because that's what I grew up with, that's what I first saw Star Wars as.
So for someone whos my age (17) I'd give them some background idea of what the series is like but say for them to watch it in chronological order 1-6, but keep in mind 4-6 we're made 20 years before 1-3.
Episode 3 is still my favourite of the series, I found it the most interesting, it shows more interesting places (kashyyyk, Jedi Temple, Mustafar)
I still remember going to the movies to see number 3, when I saw it I thought it was the most amazing movie sever the end lightsaber fight in my opinion is the best of the series. I was only young though, but that's just the sort of reaction it gave me.

 

[Kae]

I'll gather those people in my house and put the VHS, though I should probably get the laser disc or the laser disc bootleg DVD...

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

Defiantly not. I've never seen Star Wars and people always tell me to watch it. I've tried on several occasions but it was IMO so bad I could never finish it. Everyone knows Star Wars and if they haven't seen it, it's probably because they don't care. People have different interest and that is not one of theirs, so leave them alone.

REEERRRRRR jeesh, someone is a bit lashful towards the series.

i honestly have a friend who had never watched them before, not because he didn't care, it was because his parents were such cavemen when it came to technology they skipped straight over the vcr (yes this is true) and straight to dvd, and he never watched them (hell he missed half the disney movies as a kid...poor poor childhood), and he just watched them a couple years back after never watching them before, and he thought they weren't too bad, but was surprised by the hype around them.