Star Wars: Machete Order, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Tolerate the Prequels

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TL;DR version:

IV->V->II->III->VI

It cuts out the stupid mess that is Episode I (and 95% of Jar Jar's screentime), it keeps the big reveals in V and III secret (either one of which would be spoiled by watching in either numerical or release order), and it elevates the tension of the cliffhanger ending of V by delaying the payoff.

It's not perfect, but it sounds like the best way to introduce Star Wars to someone who has never seen any of the films before.

I watch them 1 through 6 - they're all good movies.

Now I'm a hard core star wars fan, I love the books (i can get, hard to find them in Belgium) and the movies. The only star wars thing I don't like is the old republic game. *I* for one don't think any of the movies are bad, or should be watched in a certain order. I watched the original trilogy first, then the II and III, but only because I got them for my birthday from my uncle. I got the first a few weeks after that. I usually try to avoid posting in forums other than the costume redesign thread, but this article... bothers me.

First of all, yes, many people dislike jar-jar binks. But if you think that ruins the entire first movie...I've always seen the first movie as something that introduces Anakin. As well as the beginning of the War between jedi and Sith since the first time (again) in 1000 years.

Also, apart from the jar jar binks reason, other things that you don't know from watching the first movie can become a problem if you are further interested in the rest of the movies. The midi chlorians being mentioned and anakin having no father (virgin birth)... it has a connection (*hint*: Darth Plagueis lives a part in the first movie... remember what Palpatine sais about him in the third... it's about Anakin...).

Granted, the order the writer suggests leaves out a few confusing parts, other things like "a trade dispute <-> systems leaving republic or Obi-Wan with <-> without beard are no real confusing things to me. I've watched the movies first time when I was about 12 years old, I understood most of it, so I hope not many adults have problems understanding the movies.

Don't take me wrong, I'm not saying this is a bad or wrong article, I'm mainly bothered by the "leaving the first movie out". For the main reasons of Jar Jar... and some confusion. Most people have heard of Star Wars, when they're interested in watching the movies, I'ld simply begin with either the one or the fourth (personally). Then they can decide or they like it, and watch the others.

I got introduced to star wars with the games (battlefront I and II), then watched the films. Ordering people to watch the movies in a certain order is just a bit weird to me. You're making it, in my eyes, more complicated than it is.

Of course, this is my personal opinion. I wouldn't do it like the writer suggests. But hey, that's me +

PS: I love all the movies, even the first. The pod racing part and the duel of fates is just epic.

Best way to watch them is IV-V-VI. Fast forward over most Ewok scenes.

Star Wars fans have got to be the most fickle people this side of hardcore Nolan-Batman fans.

I still can't grasp how anyone can prefer Episode II (an entirely unnecessary movie) and III (watch how Anakin Skywalker goes from indecisive over turning to the dark side to killing children in no time at all) to Episode I, which isn't such a bad Star Wars story (though it has little to do with the grander arc of the series).

I didn't mind the prequel (scope and story); I just didn't like much of the acting or dialogue.

I don't get the Jar-Jar hate (outside of the 'so-called' race bashing thing); sure he was an annoying flip-floppity mess of a creature but its more tolerable than watching the Wizard of OZ mash-up of The "Dorothy Bunch", known as C3PO, crying around and betching every 5 to 10... what a freaking nag!

Interesting stuff. I'm tempted to give it a try and see how it feels at least.

Honestly, it's just about what makes a good movie and a good story. I have a friend whose relative works in the movie industry, and it's confirmed that Lucas is as ego-driven, eccentric and utterly used to getting his own way as anyone would ever suspect.

It's very much a case that you can be as creative as you want...until George walks in the room and says do it his way or else. It's that simple.

As a result, the prequels are awful storytelling. Sorry to break it to you, GG. But they just are. I know how to write a script and if you can't justify or rationalise a character's actions (like I don't know...wholesale slaughter of a family (with children!) of sandpeople and then have Padme skip over it for no good reason?), then you're breaking the credibility of the story at its core.

Lucas consistently and egregiously breaks his own story time and again, either by having characters robbed of Common Sense or even believable reactions. These are his vision and have absolutely nothing to do with the story. And it's because noone is in a position to tell the head of Lucasfilm 'No'.

And I say all that as a preface to this reading of the films because we as viewers are forced to try and make a coherent viewing of the story that holds up as a story. We shouldn't have to be. We should be in the hands of a competent and consistent storyteller who isn't working in a vacuum, but we are.

And this is a storyteller who openly revises and makes sweeping changes to his own continuity. It lessens his credibility as a filmmaker because to me it comes off as a demonstration of a lack of faith in his own material. He sees it as flawed or not 'his vision' so he must change it. Constantly. It's the same way I felt when Spielberg made digital alterations to E.T. As a creative person, you're making a decision on the set on that day that is one that you should trust to serve your story. If you're coming back to it tweny years later or whatever, then you've by virtue of the passage of time lost your perspective that you had at that original moment.

Either trust in the material as it stands and don't try and revise it, thereby showing your own lack of confidence, or go and make something else. Anything else diminishes you as an artist, the respect of your peers, and more importantly your public. Because if you can't trust your work, how can they?



S.

lol star wars rage