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[bitizenbon]

Reading through this thread gives me fond memories of being 14 and watching these movies for the FIRST TIME. I gotta rewatch the shit out of the saga before December, which is creeping up FAST. I remember wanting to do this last summer and thinking the release date was too far away for a marathon.

 

[Inferno313]

Yeah, I think I will do it this way. I might change my mind last second, but this seems logical. Maybe I'll try to knock out 1, and 2 today.

No, don't do that. Watch them in the order they came out. The Prequels are built around the expectation that the audience has seen the previous 3 movies.

 

[Shuggananas]

Never heard the 4, 5, 1-3, 6 order, it isn't too bad the way they explained it.


I kind of like the idea of 4, 1, 2, 5, 3, 6.

You get amazing intro to the series with 4 and hear about the Clone Wars And get to see the build up and it happening with 1-2. Then you return to Luke and training with 5 and finally see two results of the training with 3 & 6. (had to write that a few times cause I was like, wait, spoilers?)

But 4-5, 1-3, 6 might be the best way for a newcomer to watch it.

fuck that custom order noise lol, go 4-6 then 1-3 or just 4-6.

 

[Ray Wonder]

Well shit. Yinz are like two groups of kids trying to peer pressure me, and I don't know what to do.

I'll do it how I wanted to originally. In order of release.

 

[Cheebo]

Release order. The "machete" order is only good if you have seen these movies before.

 

[bananafactory]

Order of release is always the right way for a first time viewer

If you decide to go back and watch them all again down the road then you can experiment with order and see how it flows

 

[Kettch]

Oh yeah, Where the hell did Darth Vader come from when the walkers were getting close to the rebel base? I didn't see a shot of him at all in a Walker, then poof, he's in the base.

Since I didn't notice anyone else mention it, there was this line from from General Veers commanding the Imperial ground force on Hoth:

"Yes, Lord Vader. I've reached the main power generators. The shield will be down in moments. You may start your landing."

So Vader likely came down in a shuttle once the shields were taken out.

 

[cloud_sleep]

Based on their actual invading of the base, I have a feeling they wanted either intel or prisoners. An orbital bombardment would have just destroyed the base wholesale.

It also wouldn't have worked until they took out the generators, which is what the Walkers were there to do. Until then, the base had a shield protecting it.

Can't the shields cover the shield generator itself? Bit of a design flaw! Anyway, AT-AT walkers are the epitome of the rule of cool. They make very little sense as a battlefield weapon system but look really menacing and are far more memorable than something more suitable like a hover tank would be.

 

[Ray Wonder]

Since I didn't notice anyone else mention it, there was this line from from General Veers commanding the Imperial ground force on Hoth:

"Yes, Lord Vader. I've reached the main power generators. The shield will be down in moments. You may start your landing."

So Vader likely came down in a shuttle once the shields were taken out.

Ahh that makes sense. It was just really quickly cut from 15 minutes of Walkers, to Vader inside instantly. Caught me off guard. Thanks for that quote. Cleared it right up.

 

[Jack Remington]

Attack Pattern Delta is the dumbest fucking tactic I've seen in a movie battle. A 10 year old could see that you should attack AT-ATs from their sides or the rear. Instead they form groups of three and fly at them head-on.

 

[Patryn]

Can't the shields cover the shield generator itself? Bit of a design flaw! Anyway, AT-AT walkers are the epitome of the rule of cool. They make very little sense as a battlefield weapon system but look really menacing and are far more memorable than something more suitable like a hover tank would be.

I think the shields did cover the generator. That's why the Walker had to close in. I think it had to get inside the shields in order to destroy them.

In this case, I think the shields don't keep people and walkers out, they just absorb/deflect blasters or bombardment from Star Destroyers.

 

[cloud_sleep]

Attack Pattern Delta is the dumbest fucking tactic I've seen in a movie battle. A 10 year old could see that you should attack AT-ATs from their sides or the rear. Instead they form groups of three and fly at them head-on.

The Rebels should have dug a really wide and deep trench around the base with a spaceship laser or such like. Your move Veers.

 

[Ray Wonder]

Attack Pattern Delta is the dumbest fucking tactic I've seen in a movie battle. A 10 year old could see that you should attack AT-ATs from their sides or the rear. Instead they form groups of three and fly at them head-on.

Hahaha yeah, I didn't even think about that. Something easy to overlook. It would've been a lot safer not to fly through the Walker's legs every pass as well.

 

[cloud_sleep]

I think the shields did cover the generator. That's why the Walker had to close in. I think it had to get inside the shields in order to destroy them.

In this case, I think the shields don't keep people and walkers out, they just absorb/deflect blasters or bombardment from Star Destroyers.

Good point! Perhaps such shields form more of an umbrella with a gap beneath rather than an unbroken half-sphere.

 

[dragonyeuw]

Honestly that's pretty convincing now that I'm at the point that I'm at. I'll think about it.

Not sure if 4,5,1,2,3,6 works in your case, since you're already aware of 'the big surprise'.

 

[Ray Wonder]

Not sure if 4,5,1,2,3,6 works in your case, since you're already aware of 'the big surprise'.

If the big surprise is Vader being Anakin, that came in 5. I would've known even if it hadn't been spoiled 437 times since I was young.

If it's not that, then please don't tell me!! lol

 

[Oersted]

Can't the shields cover the shield generator itself? Bit of a design flaw! Anyway, AT-AT walkers are the epitome of the rule of cool. They make very little sense as a battlefield weapon system but look really menacing and are far more memorable than something more suitable like a hover tank would be.

All things considered, Empire deserved to lose again and again.

AT-ATs? Clunky and useless design.

Stormtroopers? Can't aim for shit and the armor protects against absolutely nothing.

Death Star? Their biggest weakness. Was never an advantage.

Their Super Star Destroyer?

Spoiler

Taken out by a goddamn A-Wing.

Note: If you want to rule an Empire, don't make all decisions based on it looks cool and awesome.

 

[The Sum of Zero]

All these release order purists. kek.

Well it's ultimately up to you OP.

EDIT:

Order of release is always the right way for a first time viewer

Not necessarily. It's not written in stone that it's always the right way.

The only certain thing is never watch in chronological order the first time.

 

[Jack Remington]

The A-Wing scene in ROTJ might be my least favorite scene in the entire series. It seriously devalues Star Destroyers to the point where I can't not think of them as being useless in a real combat situation.

 

[Experien]

All things considered, Empire deserved to lose again and again.

AT-ATs? Clunky and useless design.

Stormtroopers? Can't aim for shit and the armor protects against absolutely nothing.

Death Star? Their biggest weakness. Was never an advantage.

Their Super Star Destroyer?

Spoiler

Taken out by a goddamn A-Wing.

Note: If you want to rule an Empire, don't make all decisions based on it looks cool and awesome.

I always roll my eyes and get angry anytime someone says this, I mean REALLY?! What, do you want a movie 10 minutes long and have the army instantly kill the heroes in a light-hearted space opera?!

As for the Super Star Destroy,

Spoiler

you fly a plane into the bridge of an aircraft carrier or battleship and see how long it stands. Or better yet, fly something into the bridge of a submarine and see how well it stands up.

The

Spoiler

A-Wing scene

in ROTJ might be my least favorite scene in the entire series.

C'mon, spoiler some of this stuff up, I mean there is a first time viewer here.

 

[WadiumArcadium]

All things considered, Empire deserved to lose again and again.

AT-ATs? Clunky and useless design.

Stormtroopers? Can't aim for shit and the armor protects against absolutely nothing.

Death Star? Their biggest weakness. Was never an advantage.

Their Super Star Destroyer?

Spoiler

Taken out by a goddamn A-Wing.

Note: If you want to rule an Empire, don't make all decisions based on it looks cool and awesome.

You do realise Star Wars is a space fantasy series right? Good vs evil, saving the Princess etc etc.

Plus the fact that the Empire ruled for so long meant they were arrogant and became complacent.

 

[cloud_sleep]

All things considered, Empire deserved to lose again and again.

Note: If you want to rule an Empire, don't make all decisions based on it looks cool and awesome.

Sure. I was talking from the perspective of the film maker when evoking the rule of cool. Star Wars is full of stuff that makes little to no sense but was stuck in because it looked good on screen and/or made for a good toy.

 

[tuffy]

As for the Super Star Destroy,

Spoiler

you fly a plane into the bridge of an aircraft carrier or battleship and see how long it stands. Or better yet, fly something into the bridge of a submarine and see how well it stands up.

The problem is that it's all a bit too convenient.

Spoiler

The bridge shields are knocked offline and moments later some poor A-Wing guy flies into it by accident.

So the win doesn't feel earned. Just as with

Spoiler

Boba Fett being defeated by accident

,

Spoiler

it's removed from the story to get it out of the way

but in an unsatisfying fashion - like a lot of RotJ's other resolutions.

 

[thecouncil]

I think one of my favorite scenes of all six movies is in Empire when Luke leaves Dagobah. Yoda and Obi Wan telling Luke he's screwing up and Luke being like, 'Nahhhhh.' And the ending of this scene with Yoda saying 'No, there is another' while being lit by the X-Wing leaving is really great.

 

[Ray Wonder]

I think one of my favorite scenes of all six movies is in Empire when Luke leaves Dagobah. The ending of this scene with Yoda saying 'No, there is another' while being lit by the X-Wing leaving is really great.

Oh yeah, I liked that too. Even though I don't know if that person is revealed in VI or is an unknown character still.

 

[NevaNopa]

If the big surprise is Vaber being Anakin, that came in 5. I would've known even if it hadn't been spoiled 437 times since I was young.

If it's not that, then please don't tell me!! lol

There is another plot element that is spoiled by watching the prequels first. I would advise watching ROTJ next.

 

[Ray Wonder]

There is another plot element that is spoiled by watching the prequels first. I would advise watching ROTJ next.

This is all I had to hear. Definitely keeping to release order.

 

[The Sum of Zero]

There is another plot element that is spoiled by watching the prequels first. I would advise watching ROTJ next.

Just to elaborate, it's revealed at the end of III.

I forgot where in VI it's brought up, my memory is fuzzy.

It's a "wait, what?" moment either way.

 

[Experien]

The problem is that it's all a bit too convenient.

Spoiler

The bridge shields are knocked offline and moments later some poor A-Wing guy flies into it by accident.

So the win doesn't feel earned. Just as with

Spoiler

Boba Fett being defeated by accident

,

Spoiler

it's removed from the story to get it out of the way

but in an unsatisfying fashion - like a lot of RotJ's other resolutions.

Blah...just spoilering it all!

Spoiler

Giant spaceship, why wouldn't you go after weakpoints? How else are you going to bring it down? Can't just shoot it. Would you rather have a missile shot into the bridge?

And if that is the case, we wouldn't have the moving fan-comic strip of Green Leader. Some people felt that scene.

 

[Oersted]

I always roll my eyes and get angry anytime someone says this, I mean REALLY?! What, do you want a movie 10 minutes long and have the army instantly kill the heroes in a light-hearted space opera?!

As for the Super Star Destroy,

Spoiler

you fly a plane into the bridge of an aircraft carrier or battleship and see how long it stands. Or better yet, fly something into the bridge of a submarine and see how well it stands up.

You can have a movie where the evil are not run by brainless monkeys and it goes over 10 minutes. You just need good writing for that. And since when is Empire lighthearted?

Spoiler

We are talking about a 19 kilometres long bridge. Don't be silly. Not even a normal bridge would be taken out.

You do realise Star Wars is a space fantasy series right? Good vs evil, saving the Princess etc etc.

Plus the fact that the Empire ruled for so long meant they were arrogant and became complacent.

Ruled for so long? The Empire ruled around 20 years till their first major defeat. They were only capable in the Prequels aka 2 and 3.

Sure. I was talking from the perspective of the film maker when evoking the rule of cool. Star Wars is full of stuff that makes little to no sense but was stuck in because it looked good on screen and/or made for a good toy.

I was just trying to make a in-universe explanation, I'm aware that most decisions are based on toymaking.

The problem is that it's all a bit too convenient.

Spoiler

The bridge shields are knocked offline and moments later some poor A-Wing guy flies into it by accident.

So the win doesn't feel earned. Just as with

Spoiler

Boba Fett being defeated by accident

,

Spoiler

it's removed from the story to get it out of the way

but in an unsatisfying fashion - like a lot of RotJ's other resolutions.

Spoiler

Boba Fett was just suicidal, he purposefully rolled into it.

 

[tuffy]

Blah...just spoilering it all!

Spoiler

Giant spaceship, why wouldn't you go after weakpoints? How else are you going to bring it down? Can't just shoot it. Would you rather have a missile shot into the bridge?

And if that is the case, we wouldn't have the moving fan-comic strip of Green Leader. Some people felt that scene.

Spoiler

I would've liked it better if the victory was some conscious effort by the Rebels. Like showing the A-Wing guy is piloting his damaged ship into the bridge on purpose in a kamikaze attack would've been a moment of self-sacrifice. Showing the guys targeting the shield generators and the guy targeting the bridge are working together would've been even better. As with the AT-ATs in ESB, it would be an example of the Rebels winning using a clever plan despite being outgunned.

But as it stands on film, the sequence of events looks like a big coincidence in order to write out a threat in a hurry.

 

[Coffee Dog]

Watching the prequels mid way would be weird just because the style of directing and acting is so different from the original trilogy.

 

[eot]

The silhouette shot of Vader and Luke as they're about to start fighting is just the best. That's my favourite scene in the trilogy.

 

[Figboy79]

Episode IV: A New Hope



Please use spoiler tags for any information that is not in any of these movies:

Episode IV: A New Hope
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Glad to hear you're enjoying the movies so far! Empire is definitely my favorite, and I have a lot of love for Jedi, followed by A New Hope. I saw them for the first time when I was 6, in about 1987, after all of the movies had been released. I didn't like Empire back then. It scared me. I liked Jedi the most. As I got older, I really appreciated the tone of Empire, and just the polish of the movie in all areas, from visual effects, to the acting, to the themes of the movie. It's definitely in my list of "perfect" sequels.

Also, holy fuck, I just realized your avatar doesn't have the real Jiggly Puff's face, and now it freaks me the fuck out. I've been seeing it out of the corner of my eyes as I read the comments, and didn't really look directly at it until now.

*shudder*

 

[WadiumArcadium]

Ruled for so long? The Empire ruled around 20 years till their first major defeat. They were only capable in the Prequels aka 2 and 3.

Twenty years is a long time when you consider the six films take place over around 35 years. Their forces are also spread pretty thinly across the galaxy.

 

[Punchy4486]

There is another plot element that is spoiled by watching the prequels first. I would advise watching ROTJ next.

Something he said in the OP implies that he knows this plot element, but still, watch ROTJ next.

 

[Oersted]

Twenty years is a long time when you consider the six films take place over around 35 years. Their forces are also spread pretty thinly across the galaxy.

The Galactic Empire lasted around 20 years. Thats not long enough to explain such stupid decisions.

And their forces are spread pretty thinly? Did you watch the battle in Hope? In Empire? In Jedi? Their strategy was everytime to gather every Stormtrooper, starship, Destroyer and Death Star convienently at one place, so if they going to lose, it is going to be devastating.

 

[WadiumArcadium]

And their forces are spread pretty thinly? Did you watch the battle in Hope? In Empire? In Jedi? Their strategy was everytime to gather every Stormtrooper, starship, Destroyer and Death Star convienently at one place, so if they going to lose, it is going to be devastating.

That's completely wrong. At what battle in Empire did they gather all their forces? Or the other two for that matter? The Empire didn't completely die after Jedi.

 

[TheXbox]

The Egyptian Empire lasted around 5000 years.
Mesopotamia lasted around 3000 years.
The Indian Empire lasted around 3000 years.
The Galactic Empire lasted around 20 years.

And their forces are spread pretty thinly? Did you watch the battle in Hope? In Empire? In Jedi? Their strategy was everytime to gather every Stormtrooper, starship, Destroyer and Death Star convienently at one place, so if they going to lose, it is going to be devastating.

The closest parallel to the Empire in Star Wars is Nazi Germany, which itself lasted about twelve years. Those examples you mentioned aren't really pertinent, nor are they very accurate. (no single empire ruled over Mesopotamia for 3000 years, the kingdoms of Egypt went through various iterations and weren't always considered an 'empire')

 

[Cheebo]

The Egyptian Empire lasted around 5000 years.
Mesopotamia lasted around 3000 years.
The Indian Empire lasted around 3000 years.
The Galactic Empire lasted around 20 years.

And their forces are spread pretty thinly? Did you watch the battle in Hope? In Empire? In Jedi? Their strategy was everytime to gather every Stormtrooper, starship, Destroyer and Death Star convienently at one place, so if they going to lose, it is going to be devastating.

The Empire is based primarily on Nazi Germany. And its fall is very fitting time wise with Nazi Germany.

Let us not forget there is a little movie out this December and what happens to be in it 30 years after ROTJ?

 

[Oersted]

That's completely wrong. At what battle in Empire did they gather all their forces? Or the other two for that matter?

Did you ever watch the movies? At one point in Jedi even the line

Spoiler

At that close range we won't last long against those Star Destroyers!

gets dropped. The Empire was never spread thin.

The closest parallel to the Empire in Star Wars is Nazi Germany, which itself lasted about twelve years. Those examples you mentioned aren't really pertinent, nor are they very accurate. (no single empire ruled over Mesopotamia for 3000 years, the kingdoms of Egypt went through various iterations and weren't always considered an 'empire')

The poster handwaved the utter incompetence of Empire with the genre and ruling for so long away.
The Empire did not rule long.

The Empire is based primarily on Nazi Germany. And its fall is very fitting time wise with Nazi Germany.

Let us not forget there is a little movie out this December and what happens to be in it 30 years after ROTJ?

I'm pretty sure that Episode 7 will not be able to explain why the Empire did so utterly moronic decisions.

 

[WadiumArcadium]

Did you ever watch the movies? At one point in Jedi even the line

Spoiler

At that close range we won't last long against those Star Destroyers!

gets dropped. The Empire was never spread thin.

You seriously believe that is ALL of the Star Destroyers the Empire possess? That's the point you raised that I'm arguing is incorrect.

 

[dragonyeuw]

If the big surprise is Vaber being Anakin, that came in 5. I would've known even if it hadn't been spoiled 437 times since I was young.

If it's not that, then please don't tell me!! lol

Actually forget that comment, I was thinking of something else when I wrote it. I say just go ahead and watch in release order. In some ways the PT was written in a way that assumes you've already seen the OT.

 

[Oersted]

You seriously believe that is ALL of the Star Destroyers the Empire possess? That's the point you raised that I'm arguing is incorrect.

Since this is apparently going nowhere, lets get back to the starting point. Where was your Empire was spread thinly coming from? In every encounter, they exceeded the rebellion by far, by extremely far, in man - and firepower.

 

[Window]

The Egyptian Empire lasted around 5000 years.
Mesopotamia lasted around 3000 years.
The Indian Empire lasted around 3000 years.
The Galactic Empire lasted around 20 years.

No single dynasty has ruled a large proportion of the sub-continent for anywhere near 1000 years let alone 3000. If you're referring to the ancient civilizations, they were not empires. Also, yes the Empire Strikes Back is lighthearted affair. I agree though the empire having only existed for a mere 20 odd years seems odd.

 

[aliengmr]

All things considered, Empire deserved to lose again and again.

AT-ATs? Clunky and useless design.

Stormtroopers? Can't aim for shit and the armor protects against absolutely nothing.

Death Star? Their biggest weakness. Was never an advantage.

Their Super Star Destroyer?

Spoiler

Taken out by a goddamn A-Wing.

Note: If you want to rule an Empire, don't make all decisions based on it looks cool and awesome.

This is more or less hubris, rather than design.

 

[Oersted]

No single dynasty has ruled a large proportion of the sub-continent for anywhere near 1000 years let alone 3000. If you're referring to the ancient civilizations, they were not empires. Also, yes the Empire Strikes Back is lighthearted affair. I agree though the empire having only existed for a mere 20 odd years seems odd.

Empire is the lighthearted one now? Isn't it considered the dark one? And how does that explain anything?

 

[WadiumArcadium]

Since this is apparently going nowhere, lets get back to the starting point. Where was your Empire was spread thinly coming from? In every encounter, they exceeded the rebellion by far, by extremely far, in man - and firepower.

They were ruling most of the galaxy at the time, meaning outposts, armies and fleets spread pretty widely. There's no evidence that the entirety of the Empire's forces were in one place at one time in any of the films as you stated in your previous post. That wasn't even the case in RotJ.

 

[Bobby Roberts]

They were ruling most of the galaxy at the time, meaning outposts, armies and fleets spread pretty widely. There's no evidence that the entirety of the Empire's forces were in one place at one time in any of the films as you stated in your previous post. That wasn't even the case in RotJ.

The New Canon seems to be making this a bit more likely, though. Both Aftermath and Shattered Empire seem to suggest both sides threw most of their numbers (and almost all of their high-level talent) at the Battle of Endor, for example.

 

[Window]

Empire is the lighthearted one now? Isn't it considered the dark one? And how does that explain anything?

Sure by Star Wars standards it's dark but I consider the entirety of Star Wars to be lighthearted. Also I'm not here to explain anything. I can see why some of these inconsistencies may bother people but I personally don't care. Your examples of the length of historical empires were totally inaccurate which is why I chimed in.