My kids are 5 and 2. Too young for Star Wars, but in a couple of years they’ll be ready.

And I’m already conflicted about how to introduce them to what is such an important cultural product for me.

Do we screen the films in the order I saw them? Or in the order of the episodes? It’s not a simple question, because the experience of the films is very different depending on your approach.

Thankfully, smarter people than I have worked out the best solution. It’s called Machete Order:

1. Episode IV: A New Hope
2. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
3. Episode II: Attack of the Clones
4. Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
5. Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

Rod Hilton’s the one who came up with the order, and he provides great detail and rationale at his blog, Absolutely No Machete Juggling.

I’m convinced. And I can hardly wait to watch the films again in this sequence.