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The Star Wars Saga - From a newcomer's point of view

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I found this incredible experiment on the IMDb that someone did. They found someone (friend of theirs), who had never seen or payed attention to Star Wars before. They showed them Eps 1-6 in order. Here's the results:

"Just over the weekend, I showed it to a girl who knew nothing about Star Wars from I-IV. Indeed it was a great experience for her. She watched an innocent little kid grow up to become an overly ambitious warrior. He found love and was trying to make things right. Then suddenly he gets tricked by Palpatine. She as an audience member got tricked and felt betrayed. Then surprise or shock, the worst thing happened, this kid becomes an evil villain. She hated Vader and Palpatine from episodes III-VI. She knew who they were when watching the OT and hated them with passion and sided with the rebellion with passion. She was sitting in suspense everytime Vader confronted someone like Luke, Leia or Obi. "Those are you kids!" she excclaimed. Finally at the end of Jedi, when the chosen one fulfills his destiny and kills the emperor, she felt the biggest relief and joy ever in a movie. She even applauded at Anakin's new, younger spirit. So in the context of modern-day audiences, the I-VI order works better. She even exclaimed that IV and V looked so old and out of date that she wouldn't feel like watching them if she didn't already have an attachment to the characters and the universe already established in I-III. So there you have it. Lucas' new suggestion works.

My experiment of showing from it from 1-6 to someone who knew nothing about at all worked very well. She showed surprise, shock, as well as a whole range of other emotions that I never saw in someone who watched it from 4,5,6,1,2,3. Every single episode from 1-6 was surprising and unexpected for her. Because she knew nothing about it, every single little event came unexpected. This person didn't even really care to see Star Wars to begin with.

She didn't know Anakin was gonna turn evil, or kill kids. She didn't know Padme was gonna die. She didn't know the Jedi will be wiped out. She didn't think Windu will lose the fight with Palpatine. She didn't know Palpatine was Sidious until it was too late and he betrayed everyone including her. She thought Obi-wan was gonna steer Vader in the right direction in IV. She thought Obi was gonna make him meet Luke and turn it all around and then V and VI will be Obi, Anakin and Luke fighting the emperor. But to her dismay, Vader killed Obi and then no one can straighten things out. She felt sorry for Luke and Leia that they didn't know their relationships to each other because of the situation of the galaxy that put them in such a fix to begin with. When Yoda first appeared and acted senile, she found it amusing and took it as his technique of making sure that things are done right with Luke. She then thought that Vader's revelation was very powerful because of everything that it means to Luke, the jedi and the galaxy (something that no one felt watching it the old way, because they may have thought Vader was lying). When Luke finally confronts Palpatine her heart was beating with fear because she knows what Palpatine is capable of. When Anakin returns, that was the biggest payoff that she has ever felt in the history of movies.

So there are a lot more surprises, shocking moments, and tension built-up watching them in chronological order and in more significant ways. Everything is not already known and then anticipated. I had the same fears as everyone else when I decided to show it in chronological story order, but I had to test it out. Somehow this works better because there are no comments like, "well, this happened in the OT, so I would expect it to be like this or that in the PT." The 1-6 order works, but probably only for someone who knows nothing about SW. Try it out someday. It may take years to find a Star Wars virgin, but it is worth it. I enjoyed watching this person take it all in."

He then goes on to say:

"Well, when my non-experienced Star Wars viewer saw the films for the first time, in episodic order, she said that she was glad that she saw it this way. She claimed that the plot style and the picture of ep. IV (even though it is a touched up movie on DVD) would have been too slow and hard to follow if she wasn't already attached to the characters through learning about them via episodes 1-3. The Yoda scene being cut didn't hurt her viewing at all. It was a pleasant surprise for her to find out that her favorite character was still alive after all these years. Oh, Yoda's death in Jedi devastated her though. Her comment was "It's so sad to see him finally just die like this despite surviving all those wars and 20 years in isolation." It was more shocking and sad than Obi-wan's death because he died at Luke's darkest hour. Knowing who Sidious is, there is much more tension involved for the young and inexperienced Luke.

PS: Don't forget to show Clone Wars 1,2 to SW newbies before episode 3. It solidifies Anakin as a hero, thus making his fall that much more tragic. "

I found this here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0121766/board/nest/29221723
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Big deal....so some SW virgin popped her cherry watching all six in order.

Still doesn't change the fact that those films she saw are not available in their original version........

That "experiment" proves nothing.......

Naturally, ppl who have not seen any SW films and watch all six in order are going to think that way. Does that negate my opinion that 4-6 were better in their original versions? No. Does that mean that I have to like 1-3 even though they suck ass when compared to the original originals? No.

Bullshit experiment. Try that with new and old versions, in order and in 4,5,6,1,2,3 order, then come back to us with the results.
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The point is, someone (gasp) watched them in order, (gasp) liked the prequels, and (gasp) liked and saw them as one saga because they were a new viewer, with none3 of that "I am your father" childhood nostalgia affecting them. They saw them how they were meant to be seen. Boy, would I love to havce been them!
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I find it interesting that the author is an authority on how everyone else ever viewed the movies before the PT. Coments like this "(something that no one felt watching it the old way, because they may have thought Vader was lying)" totally take away from any credibility that the author may have had because he assumes that they know all the emotions everyone felt while watching it. I thought Vader's revolution was pretty powerful before the PT, it still meant alot to Luke, the Jedi, and even the galaxy.

the other parts i have problems with are the 'i wouldnt have been able to watch EPIV because its too slow' type comments. How old was the person that watched the movies in 1-6 order? thats important because it shows what kinda of movies they grew up in. Movies during my parents time arent as action packed as movies nowadays. when i watch those old world war II movies that my dad enjoys i sometimes find them slow, but i still enjoy them (for the most part) even though they are in black and white and ancient. I think the fact that the person didnt watch any star wars movies up until this point is also telling because it shows they had no real interest in the story. there is enough info out there that even a star wars 'virgin' will have a basic idea of the story and if that story interested you you would most likely go out and see it. Her comments about having an emotional attatchment (are these her words or not, she seems to be analyzing the movie pretty intensly to not realize how powerful the story of Episode IV really is) to the PT characters comes off more to me as she enjoyed the PT movies more because of their flashy effects and packed action sequences because it kept her attention (this has nothing to do with the actual story, good or bad) which is what seems to be a general trend in hollywood (which sometimes i admit works on me, I fell asleep during the original Italian Job (how many people here even knew about the original, probably more than the general public cause this crowd tends to be into movies in general but i think you see my point), but love the remake)

and all of her, 'realizations' and 'emotional attatchments' that are made to sound like they only occur if you see the PT first. for instance
"When Yoda first appeared and acted senile, she found it amusing and took it as his technique of making sure that things are done right with Luke"
well first, im sure not everyone who saw the OT first was suprised when he declared himself as Yoda. And duh, thats the whole point...hes one of the greatest (if not the greatest) jedi to ever live. after you find out its him and his whole attitude changes do you really think you were supposed to think that he was really senile or that he was testing Lukes patients ("I cant train him, he has no patients"). That was intended from the start and you dont need the PT to tell you that.

I could probably go on, but i think you get the idea.

-Darth Simon

*edit* some new posts were posted while i was typing this. I totally disagree with the "how they were meant to be seen" comments. If that is truely how they were meant to be seen, why not make the PT first (or at least have the story) how many other movie series do you know that have a trilogy or saga and release (create) the films in 2, 1, 3 order (or any crazy variation thereof) and even if the second takes place before the first, its still the 2nd. Id at least give that statement some credibility if the story for the PT was at least outlined before making A New Hope. Just cause it has the title Episode IV (added after, can argue the reasons) doesnt mean it was thought of 4th and meant to be watched 4th. It just means Lucas wanted to make it appear to be some large story that you enter in the middle of and see only one part.
Why Anakin really turned to the dark side:
"Anakin, You're father I am" - Yoda
"No. No. That's not true! That's impossible!" - Anakin

0100111001101001011011100110101001100001

*touchy people disclaimer*
some or all of the above comments are partially exaggerated to convey a point, none of the comments are meant as personal attacks on anyone mentioned or reference in the above post
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Originally posted by: Adamwankenobi
The point is, someone (gasp) watched them in order, (gasp) liked the prequels, and (gasp) liked and saw them as one saga because they were a new viewer, with none3 of that "I am your father" childhood nostalgia affecting them. They saw them how they were meant to be seen. Boy, would I love to havce been them!

Yeah, some mentally sub-normal girl who probably thought Hayden was 'so cute'. Whatever. I don't deny the possibility that the prequels, when watched with the 2004 versions have the ability to flow as one enjoyable 6 part story, but our point on this website is that this six part story is NOT the original story Lucas created, and he has shaped and remolded Star Wars into something different, something it never was (despite his lies) and has lost a lot of the best things about it in the process. That is what you fail to see Adam, and I feel sorry for you because, thanks to Lucas, you will never have the chance to view the movies the way we did, the way they were originally written and intended. Sure, you can get some LD rips, but your experience will be tainted by your prequel experiences. Boy are you missing out.

War does not make one great.

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She likely felt that way because she simply saw the PT, and felt the OT was to slow compared to the PT.
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Originally posted by: Adamwankenobi
She likely felt that way because she simply saw the PT, and felt the OT was to slow compared to the PT.
Which is a failure on Lucas' part for not being a good enough filmmaker to match the pace and style of his originals. If he had made the prequels in a retro kind of way, mimicking his old style, I'm sure he would have been praised for it and everyone would have said how clever it was of him to make a seventies style film in the nineties.

War does not make one great.

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I would rather see the OT through those eyes of nostalgia, dickhead.

Everyone can keep their stupid, CGIed to death, piss poor acting, Natalie Portman wet dream, lifeless, turning Vader into a pussy, Boba into a stupid clone, around the survivor a perimeter create bullshit to themselves.....and they can take their newly enhanced, digitally mastered, brutally butchered, turning Solo into a pussy, misplaced CGI, retarded Jabba, Clive Revil raping, no eyebrowed, don't deserve to be there Hayden sacks of shit and go fuck themselves!!!!

My trilogy has been horribly raped.

Inferior in FX and dated the OOT may be.....but my trilogy kicks the fucking shit out of your trilogy any day of the week, punk.
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I'm sure if they did an experiment of showing someone 4-6,1-3, and they thoroughly enjoyed, we could then say, see this is the way to watch it. Going by one person, whether it is true or false, really doesn't make the case for me.

I have a friend who just liked Star Wars & ESB, but hated ROTJ, should I have posted in 1985, the saga should be watched 4-5, and this person loved it!

It is interesting to see what they say, but one person does not make a science experiment.
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Originally posted by: Yoda Is Your Father
Originally posted by: Adamwankenobi
She likely felt that way because she simply saw the PT, and felt the OT was to slow compared to the PT.
Which is a failure on Lucas' part for not being a good enough filmmaker to match the pace and style of his originals. If he had made the prequels in a retro kind of way, mimicking his old style, I'm sure he would have been praised for it and everyone would have said how clever it was of him to make a seventies style film in the nineties.


I don't think his intention was ever to "fit" the PT-effects wise with the OT. And he's not out to impress people. The entire reason he pushed the effects so much on the PT is because he was so happy that he could make it how his original vision saw it, which he never got a chance to do with th OT, where he had to make constant sacrifices. He talks in interviews of how happy he is with the PT, but how disappointed he initially was with the OT. I'm actually proud that he got full control to do whatever he wanted, and didn't listen to any of his co-workers, or any fanboys when making his decisions.
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Edited: Wed December 07, 2005 at 9:53 AM by Adamwankenobi
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i dont believe that article, just like i dont believe some 8 year old wrote in yahoo that he was sad to see anakin turn in ep3 but hoped his son could save him in ep4. what crap
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The internet is just like TV. If you believe anything you see, you got problems.
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Originally posted by: Adamwankenobi
Edited: Wed December 07, 2005 at 9:53 AM by Adamwankenobi


Yeah....I figured as much, Adam. Next time you sprout off....at least have the guts to stand by what you said instead of changing it and running for the hills.

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I dont find alot of posters on IMDB credible, now i am not disputing the authenticy but how do we know that person is not a major Lucas asskisser and saying this put down the bashers over there, of which there are many....
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I admit that over Thanksgiving when I was at home I experimented by watching the movies I-VI (well, actually, I only got through Empire before I had to go back to school) Lucas's versions, and I admit that they did allow for a different perspective that was quite entertaining. I didn't say it was better, just that it allows you to see them differently. Sadly, my mom started watching with me. She'd pop in and out once in a while anyway. She had seen the original Star Wars in theatres in '77 supposedly, but she doesn't really remember it or care. She actually got into it, but when I got to the original Star Wars (oxymoron) she insisted on watching that with me because she wanted to see the movie that started it all. It was the worst viewing experience of Star Wars I'd ever had. She always asks questions in movies every fifteen seconds anyway. But there were, "Doesn't she know that Vader's her father?" and "How can C-3PO be there? Didn't Anakin make him?" And perhaps worst of all, "He doesn't look like Ewan McGregor!" It was then to my horror that I realized that I had indoctrinated my mother to Star Wars in numerical order. And she's all the more annoying for it.

But anyway, it's entirely possible that this girl liked it that way. I'm sure I would have too, and, like I said, I enjoyed the perspective myself. But it definitely doesn't prove anything about which way is better.

There is no lingerie in space…

C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.

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He talks in interviews of how happy he is with the PT, but how disappointed he initially was with the OT. Text

Awesome Quote, and so ironic!

Most of us on this website love and want the O-OT on DVD, and that is what Lucas was most disappointed with

Most of us hate or have major problems with the SE & PT, and Lucas is very happy about the results of those movies & changes

Irony, I love it!
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Originally posted by: Cable-X1
Originally posted by: Adamwankenobi
Edited: Wed December 07, 2005 at 9:53 AM by Adamwankenobi


Yeah....I figured as much, Adam. Next time you sprout off....at least have the guts to stand by what you said instead of changing it and running for the hills.


My goal was that only YOU saw my original post. It wasn't intended for anyone else. Then again, maybe I should have PM'd you instead. I think I'll do that.
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Originally posted by: Adamwankenobi
Originally posted by: Cable-X1
Originally posted by: Adamwankenobi
Edited: Wed December 07, 2005 at 9:53 AM by Adamwankenobi


Yeah....I figured as much, Adam. Next time you sprout off....at least have the guts to stand by what you said instead of changing it and running for the hills.


My goal was that only YOU saw my original post. It wasn't intended for anyone else. Then again, maybe I should have PM'd you instead. I think I'll do that.


You go right ahead and PM me that then, chicken shit.
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Originally posted by: Adamwankenobi
Already did.


And here is what you sent me....for public consumption....


Cable X-1, you can take your OOT and shove it up your ass, motherfucker.

This kid ain't too bright, is he?
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In case you can't put two and two together, that was in response to your rant about how bad you hate the SE's and the PT. Shall I remind everyone? Here it is:

Originally posted by: Cable-X1
I would rather see the OT through those eyes of nostalgia, dickhead.

Everyone can keep their stupid, CGIed to death, piss poor acting, Natalie Portman wet dream, lifeless, turning Vader into a pussy, Boba into a stupid clone, around the survivor a perimeter create bullshit to themselves.....and they can take their newly enhanced, digitally mastered, brutally butchered, turning Solo into a pussy, misplaced CGI, retarded Jabba, Clive Revil raping, no eyebrowed, don't deserve to be there Hayden sacks of shit and go fuck themselves!!!!

My trilogy has been horribly raped.

Inferior in FX and dated the OOT may be.....but my trilogy kicks the fucking shit out of your trilogy any day of the week, punk.
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Adamwankenobi

Date Posted: Tue December 06, 2005 7:33 PM
Fucker.


Adamwankenobi


Date Posted: Tue December 06, 2005 6:53 PM
Fuck you, you cocksucking asshole!



What about those PMs
"Yub Knub" by Warrick Davis