I don't get the point of going in that order, and I've seen all of those movies 1000 times. That might be an exaggeration. And watch 1...I promise you've seen worse movies than that. Not a ringing endorsement...but since you already own it...
Ya, if you are committed to watching all of Star Wars, there is no point in leaving out episode 1. It might be poorly directed and shot with **** dialogue but it's still part of the canon story so it's worth to endure. I'm sure you've watched worse movies.
Seriously - DO NOT WATCH THE PREQUELS until AFTER you have seen 4,5,6 & 7. After that, watch 1,2 & 3. You will understand.
The episodes are in sequential order, 1 is the beginning, 6 is the end. So technically that would be the right order. I'm for the watching the original trilogy first then the prequels. A lot of the prequels is having knowledge of the universe. It doesn't suck you in for the ride like the originals did.
Because you still get the unspoiled cliff-hanger of episode 5.... but you also add a little back-story prior to the finale. (again, this is only if you "have" to watch the prequels... I advocated for watching them after the original trilogy, if at all, as it won't likely "help" interest towards episode 7).
If you've never seen any of them, I would almost recommend not seeing them at all. You've seen everyone build them up so much that you are probably going to be disappointed. Especially if you're over the age of 30 or so.
I don't know it if will help interest towards episode 7...I suppose that's subjective. I watched 3 the other day with my kids...we're rewatching 3-6 to get ready for 7. But I also don't know if there won't be something in 7 that harkens back to the prequels from a storyline perspective. We'll see.
I agree, don't watch it at all or be disappointed. I suggest something more contemporary like the epic Hunger Games series.
My cousin watched them a few years back for the first time, he liked them but didn't understand the craze. I don't think you can make the same connections to the movies if you watch them first as an adult. You can enjoy them, because they are fun movies. But the vast majority of fans saw them first as a youth, it's just different for some reason. I would certainly still recommend watching them, but tempered expectations would be for the best.
Mr. Clutch knows what he is talking about. THIS is the order to watch it in. Commonly known as Machete Order. Treat II and III as an extended flashback after what happens in Empire Strikes Back. Forget about I or watch after you've watched VI.
You really should try 4,5,2,3,6 because of the it fits the overall story. 2 and 3 act as a long flashback after what happens in 5 and builds suspense to what happens in 6. In fact you will see the parallels between what happened in 3 and what happened in 6. You can watch 1 after all of that and treat it as a true prequel that just gives you some additional background. This was suggested by some guy on a website and it's called Machete Order(not sure why) and it's become a popular way to introduce people who have never seen Star Wars.
People love to hate on the prequels but they weren't totally awful. They had some pretty cringe-worthy moments but also had some great ones. The pod race, Darth Maul, lightsaber battles and Natalie Portman make it worth the pointless garbage Lucas stuffed in there. If you can find the Phantom Edit on Youtube I would highly recommend it instead of the original release. It cut out a bunch of the bad jokes, dialogue and Jar Jar Binks and is much more watchable. I would watch the movies like most people did: the originals followed by the prequels. It would also be cool to actually watch them in order. You would end the series on a high note and each movie is better than the one before it (except VI, still good though). Either way you are experiencing an awesome series for the first time, I am a little jealous. Link to the Phantom Edit but there may be a higher resolution copy out there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPiuUiMdQWw
You said it better than I did. I think the key is that a lot of us nerds....er, fans saw IV in the theater as kids. And it was literally a life-changing experience for us. It certainly was for me, no hyperbole. It shaped my entire childhood. Earl Campbell, KISS and Star Wars. That was my entire life when I was 8. Seeing these movies for the first time when you're 8 is a LOT different than seeing them for the first time when you're 45.
Does anyone remember why Lucas started with IV, V, and VI before circling back around to I, II, and III? Was it because the technology wasn't there to tell the first three at the time? I would say that's probably not it because he hadn't even written them until later after IV - VI came out. He may have had general ideas on what those might entail. But, the problem with watching them in order from I - VI is they were just not meant to be seen that way. You're supposed to go into IV knowing nothing about nothing really and then V - VI as you continue building up your knowledge. I - III...if watched first...are basically spoiling IV - VI in many ways because you would know way too much at that time and they wouldn't be nearly as interesting. Also, IV - VI are a little dated looking compared to I - III obviously...so that would add to the weirdness of watching I - III first imo.
