nomachetejuggling.com - The Star Wars Saga: Introducing Machete Order - In interesting order in which to consider watching the Star Wars films

[DC9]

I wasn't alive back then, but everytime I watch episode IV, I wonder how many people in the movie theatre saw "Episode IV" and thought to themselve, "Hmmm... I haven't seen the first one yet, am I in the right spot?"

[d0ublestr0ker0ll]

I thought the lightsaber duel in the lava river was way overdone, just like most of the CGI in the prequels. Felt like I was watching some Spiderman ****. His limbs getting chopped off was pretty badass, it's the only part of Episode III that really gives me goosebumps. I can go without the prequels for the rest of my life, just give me IV, V and VI.

[talk show host]

I'll take a shot at answering you. But first, I am an ardent fan of the series. I saw IV in the theaters before it WAS IV. I saw it 15 - 20 times. I waited in line for hours to see V and VI. When Episode I was announced, I was really excited. My excitement didn't last long into the movie. That whole story could have been told in the same way that the narrator told the back story in Lord of the Rings, ut to the point of Gandolf coming to the Shire.

Anyway, IV is, was and always will be my favorite. In all it's various forms. I actually liked what Lucas did in the special editions. That was stuff he wanted to do in the first place, but budget and lack of technology to do it prevented him.

Episode II - Was a lot better than I, although a lot of the dialog between Anakin and Padme was AWFUL. Yoda rocked.
Episode III - I was waiting to get into the theater to see this movie, in the corridor in front of the theater doors on opening day. The previous show was in progress, but when the doors opened and the people came out, they all (and I mean ALL) had an odd look on their faces. None of them were saying a word. They just walked out. I commented to the lady standing next to me that I wasn't sure what to think about that; she was looking at them too and agreed with me that it was kinda odd.

As the movie went on, I found myself lost in the visuals, and the emotions. Yes, some of the dialog lines were, well...off. Some of the acting was bad, but overall it wasn't awful. When Anakin was dubbed "Darth Vader" I couldn't help myself in thinking "Anakin, NOOOO" lol. You knew it was going to happen, but you still hoped he wouldn't do it.

The last 40 minutes or so of the movie were something to see in the theater. Even though some of the lines and acting were still "not great", when Obi-Wan defeated Vader, you could feel his torment and angst. Later, when Vader's mask went on, his helmet attached, I could actually hear the entire audience hold it's breath. There was no sound at all that wasn't part of the movie. When I heard that first Darth Vader breath, I actually got goose bumps.
Those last 40 minutes were overwhelming. The "NOOOO" was a little underwhelming, but at the time it seemed insignificant.
When I left the theater, I noticed people looking at us as we walked out; I wasn't sure why. My house was about an hour away from the theater, so I stopped about a mile down the road to get a cup of coffee. It was while I was fixing the coffee that I realized that all of us in the theater left the same way that the first audience did, in some kind of "fog". None of us had said a word and we all must have had that same odd look on our faces, which is why the next audience was looking at us, just as we had looked at the audience before us.

So I guess I didn't explain why some think that III was better than IV. I don't think it was, but it is one of my favorites of the series. I hope you can get a little of why I feel that way.

So basically, you like EP III, not because of its own merits, but because you finally witnessed something you'd been imagining for 30 years of your life.

None of the prequel trilogy movies were good movies. Had these movies been made first (meaning Luca's first star wars movie was TPM in 1999 and EPIV-VI had not been made yet), i think most, if not all adults, would look at them as poorly made, fantasy versions of the Fifth Element. Thats why i'm ridiculously excited about JJ Abrams taking on EPVII. We will have a new star wars movies thats good on its own merits.

[The Curious One]

So basically, you like EP III, not because of its own merits, but because you finally witnessed something you'd been imagining for 30 years of your life.

None of the prequel trilogy movies were good movies. Had these movies been made first (meaning Luca's first star wars movie was TPM in 1999 and EPIV-VI had not been made yet), i think most, if not all adults, would look at them as poorly made, fantasy versions of the Fifth Element. Thats why i'm ridiculously excited about JJ Abrams taking on EPVII. We will have a new star wars movies thats good on its own merits.

As someone who also was around for the first theatrical release of Star Wars, who also saw it in the theaters before the opening crawl had "Episode IV" I wasn't expecting much for Ep III. Episode I was terrible, and the acting/dialog in II more or less ruined it for me. (Anakins and Padme's dinner scene was one of the worst scenes ever made and "I truly, deeply..." gag, choke, I can't even type the rest).

But count me in as someone who enjoyed III. Not my fav, by anymeans. But some of you are being too harsh. I went in to it expecting bad dialog and acting, but was looking forward to the story. I cringed at some of the dialog. And Vader's "NOOOO!" made me want to hang my head. But those things aside, it was still a good STORY.

I am often amazed that so many hate on I, II, and III just because it wasn't they way they wanted it to be or the movie they would have made. All that just sounds like sour grapes to me. I remember when Ep I first came out, I commented to a co-worker that if Ep. I was actually the first released, there wouldn't be any others. It made money on the coat-tails of the first trilogy. So I fully understand how some of you feel. But don't get mad a Lucas just for making the movies he wanted to make. It was his story, his studio, and his dream.

[dfitzo53]

Yeah, it's true, he can do what he wants.

I just don't understand how he could put them out and think, "Yeah, that's exactly how I wanted it to be."

[Forehead]

In reality, if you bash the prequels, then you need to bash Return Of The Jedi, which would mean that the only "True" Star Wars films were IV and V.

This is kind of how I am....I've never been that big a fan of ROTJ. A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back are my favorites, in that order. I'm fine watching those two, then telling my kid or whoever...don't worry, the good guys win in the end, but I just saved you 2.5 hours. Let's go play catch.

[Mr. Sinister]

This is kind of how I am....I've never been that big a fan of ROTJ. A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back are my favorites, in that order. I'm fine watching those two, then telling my kid or whoever...don't worry, the good guys win in the end, but I just saved you 2.5 hours. Let's go play catch.

Yeah I'm just sayng... there are things that I liked/didn't like about the prequels, and there were things I definitely didn't like. But I get the feeling (not aimed at anyone on this site) that some of the people who declare the prequels unwatchable, sort of over-romanticize Return Of The Jedi.

Luke gets punked by Vader one minute, then he comes back like 3 weeks later and is this badass dude with a green saber in all black using The Force like it's nothing. Meanwhile, Han Solo gets encased in carbonite all dramatic (like he'd never come back to life), but when everything gets fast forwarded to Tatooine, it's pretty much a cheap music video followed by "Hey Han, let me help you with that" and he comes back.

Then you have the cute teddy bears throwing acorns, and Leia being Lukes sister for no reason at all, and a few other things that gave off a similar kiddy feel that existed in Episode 1. The scenes with the Emperor, Luke, and Vader were great, but you could argue that the considerable amount of time between that and the beginning of the movie could've been done better.

[talk show host]

As someone who also was around for the first theatrical release of Star Wars, who also saw it in the theaters before the opening crawl had "Episode IV" I wasn't expecting much for Ep III. Episode I was terrible, and the acting/dialog in II more or less ruined it for me. (Anakins and Padme's dinner scene was one of the worst scenes ever made and "I truly, deeply..." gag, choke, I can't even type the rest).

But count me in as someone who enjoyed III. Not my fav, by anymeans. But some of you are being too harsh. I went in to it expecting bad dialog and acting, but was looking forward to the story. I cringed at some of the dialog. And Vader's "NOOOO!" made me want to hang my head. But those things aside, it was still a good STORY.

I am often amazed that so many hate on I, II, and III just because it wasn't they way they wanted it to be or the movie they would have made. All that just sounds like sour grapes to me. I remember when Ep I first came out, I commented to a co-worker that if Ep. I was actually the first released, there wouldn't be any others. It made money on the coat-tails of the first trilogy. So I fully understand how some of you feel. But don't get mad a Lucas just for making the movies he wanted to make. It was his story, his studio, and his dream.

I agree that the story for Episode III was good, but it was poorly executed. Its parsecs better (see what i did there?) than the other prequels, but that doesnt make it "good." It was just just a relief that it wasnt as disasterous as the two movies that came before it. And i dont think anyone is mad at Lucas for making the movies he wanted ot make - theyre mad that lucas made ******* movies. Had lucas done what he'd done with Episodes V and VI and let someone else to the writing and directing, then the movies would have told the story he wanted to tell in a much better fashion. Ultimately, Lucas made the movies he wanted - but they werent the movies his audience wanted to see.

---------- Post added January-30th-2013 at 11:01 AM ----------

Yeah I'm just sayng... there are things that I liked/didn't like about the prequels, and there were things I definitely didn't like. But I get the feeling (not aimed at anyone on this site) that some of the people who declare the prequels unwatchable, sort of over-romanticize Return Of The Jedi.

Luke gets punked by Vader one minute, then he comes back like 3 weeks later and is this badass dude with a green saber in all black using The Force like it's nothing. Meanwhile, Han Solo gets encased in carbonite all dramatic (like he'd never come back to life), but when everything gets fast forwarded to Tatooine, it's pretty much a cheap music video followed by "Hey Han, let me help you with that" and he comes back.

Then you have the cute teddy bears throwing acorns, and Leia being Lukes sister for no reason at all, and a few other things that gave off a similar kiddy feel that existed in Episode 1. The scenes with the Emperor, Luke, and Vader were great, but you could argue that the considerable amount of time between that and the beginning of the movie could've been done better.

When Luke first faced Vader, he had JUST got finished training with Yoda and was immediately facing the most powerful sith ever, so its not surprising he got his butt whooped. ROTJ was pretty retarded, but its still better than the prequels. Also, im pretty sure something like 6 months took place between Empire and ROTJ, so that explains Luke had time to hone his abilities.