The order in which I introduced the woman who would become my wife to Star Wars was in (internally) chronological order. In hindsight, I think release order is probably best. I have an eight year old brother-in-law that absolutely loves everything Star Wars (probably thanks in large part to The Clone Wars) and as much as I'm sure he'd love The Phantom Menace, if and when I get the opportunity to introduce him to the movies, it will be in release order.

I haven't tried to introduce someone to Star Wars using Machete order, but I'm open to it.

Anyway, I think Release Order is best. The "Luke, I am your father" reveal is too important to the experience.

I know it's a stupid pet peeve of mine, but the quote is "No. I am your father."

I've tried the "machete order"... and it's pretty decent, though I'd suggest keeping Episode I in the mix as it's not the train wreck he seems to think it is. It's not the best of the six (by my perspective), but it's not a total waste of time either.

I've tried the "machete order"... and it's pretty decent, though I'd suggest keeping Episode I in the mix as it's not the train wreck he seems to think it is. It's not the best of the six (by my perspective), but it's not a total waste of time either.

I agree. I came up with basically the same idea a few years ago, just because I thought it would make the prequels function like a flashback, essentially.

Luke gets the big WTF moment of Vader dropping this bomb on him, but he's reluctant to believe it, and so might we be if we were first-time viewers.

Then you go back and see the story of how it happened, and (ideally) have sympathy for Anakin and want Luke to find a way to redeem him.

Then you start at Return of the Jedi with you the viewer and Luke now convinced of the truth and determined to redeem Anakin.

I like the idea of IV, V, I, II, III then back to VI. Thanks.

As for subjecting a 4 year old to Star Wars, as I alluded to above she's only watched Episode IV and not all of it since she was made to look away at certain moments. Ex: Floating black ball of death with a needle coming at the little princess.

For me the best way, if a bit impractical, would be to watch Episodes IV and V, then Episodes I and II, then the Clone Wars TV show, then Episode III, then episode VI.

The Clone Wars gives me a great appreciation and respect for Anakin as a man and a leader, and also shows me his fall in a way I find much more convincing than the prequels do by themselves. Watching the Clone Wars you get to see Anakin perform acts of bravery and heroism many times, as well as getting to see how constraining the Jedi Council can be, and how blind they are sometimes in dealing with their own flaws.

Then you finally see Anakin pushed over the edge, and then you come back to Return of the Jedi and Luke redeems him.

Machete Order sounds great, but losing the Episode I means losing the Qui-Gon Jin, Darth Maul and Duel of Fates. Nothing essential to the story, but part of coolness which makes us love Star Wars.

Just for personal enjoyment I'm thinking of viewing the following in this order:

Phantom Menace

Attack of the Clones

The Clone Wars Series

Revenge of the Sith

YouTube Force Unleashed cutscene video

New Hope

Empire Strikes Back

Return of the Jedi