dj_ivocha on 13/6/2012 at 23:42
So, there's a girl (27) who has never watched any Star Trek or Star Wars. I want to get her hooked (preferably on both franchises) but I'm not sure on the best way to do that. I've more or less decided to start with SW for various reasons, but should I go with A New Hope or The Phantom Menace first? Watching the prequels first is how it's "supposed" to be viewed and the saga ends up on a high, feel-good note. But this way spoils a few of the interesting twists in the original trilogy (Yoda, I'M YOUR FATHER, etc.) and while I liked the prequels well enough, the originals ARE better and more adventure-y. And she likes Indiana Jones and Harrison Ford. On the other hand, I'm fairly sure she'll like Jar-Jar or at least get a few good chuckles out of his antics, so this potential con for the prequels is actually more of a pro.
Or maybe I should start with some Trek first? The problem here is that the best movies to get someone interested are probably the new Trek or The Voyage Home and the latter is probably best appreciated if the previous movies have been watched too. But that means starting with The Motion Picture and that's probably not so good an idea... Also Trek is more technobabble and her German (in which we're gonna be watching them) is still shaky so it'd be hard to separate the technobabble from the "understandable" stuff.
So, what would you guys (and even better, gals) suggest?
Briareos H on 13/6/2012 at 23:52
Give up.
If giving up is not an option (it is always one), as you said the old trilogy has Harrison Ford. Period. Also, unlike the new trilogy, even if she doesn't really like them, the old Star Wars films might not disgust her completely from the series, science fiction in general, and you by extension.
If she's geeky enough for Star Trek, she's probably already seen'em. So, no.
Kolya on 14/6/2012 at 00:10
First we need to know what kind of relationship you have with this young dame. And -THIS IS IMPORTANT- what kind of relationship you want to have.
Harvester on 14/6/2012 at 00:18
Star Wars first, original trilogy, then stop unless she's really excited about seeing the prequels. Jar-Jar may be fun to her, but are endless talks about trade disputes and whiny kids/teenagers also fun? And as you said it ruins all of the surprises of the original, superior trilogy.
With Star Trek, I'd consider the movie First Contact as, well, her first contact with Star Trek. Because it has a character (played by Alfre Woodard) who, like her, is also "WTF is up with this space shit, I don't understand any of this, explain this stuff to me" so in a way that character gives a voice to your girl's feelings and lets the main characters helpfully explain stuff about the Star Trek universe. Also, the movie is high on action, the stakes are high and relatable (the fate of the earth), and the plot is easily understood even when knowing nothing about Star Trek.
demagogue on 14/6/2012 at 00:43
You could just watch all of them in chronological order like everybody else did. That's usually my plan of action for anything classic I hadn't seen before.
LarryG on 14/6/2012 at 01:17
Quote Posted by dj_ivocha
... and her German (in which we're gonna be watching them) is still shaky so it'd be hard to separate the technobabble from the "understandable" stuff.
So, what would you guys (and even better, gals) suggest?
I suggest, if her English is up to it, to watch the originals in English in the order in which they appeared in the cinema, with subtitles in German that you can both laugh about and discuss later.
So that would be
* Star Wars, released on May 25, 1977
* the 1979 Star Trek feature film, Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
* The Empire Strikes Back, released on May 21, 1980
* Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, 1982
* Return of the Jedi, released on May 25, 1983
* Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, 1984
* Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, 1986
* Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, 1989
* Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, 1991
* Star Trek: Generations, 1994
* Star Trek: First Contact, 1996
* Star Trek: Insurrection, 1998
* Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, 1999
* Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, 2002
* Star Trek Nemesis, 2002
* Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, 2005
* Star Trek, 2009
* Untitled Star Trek sequel, 2013 (oops)
Koki on 14/6/2012 at 05:47
Have you considered the fact that both Star Wars and Star Trek are pretty horrible and a total waste of time?
june gloom on 14/6/2012 at 06:12
go play planescape koki
Koki on 14/6/2012 at 06:32
are you saying planescape is better than star wars
nickie on 14/6/2012 at 06:32
I'm not sure I should be a party to getting some poor unsuspecting female addicted to anything. However, if you must, I'd suggest Star Wars 1 2 and 3 and then quit while you're ahead.
I suppose I should admit I haven't actually seen a Star Trek film.
