Star Wars and kids

[killer_carlson]

my oldest kid is 4 and my next one is almost 3. (both daughters)

My plan had been to wait until the summer to introduce them to star wars via dvd, starting with the original 3, and then after that put them into the latter three.

However, now that phantom menace is coming out to theatres, I'm stuck and I'm looking for thoughts.

Because it is a better movie in the theatre than at home, do I deviate from the plan? Do I start with the lesser quality Phantom Menace trilogy, or do I start with the New Hope trilogy?

[TurnedTheCorner]

Show your kids the movies in the following order:

4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6

That is all.

[CMPunk]

First...are your kids going to be able to sit through a 2 and a half hour 3d movie in a theater?

Second...are you F'ing insane? Of course you start with the New Hope trilogy, in fact, lie to your kids and tell them the Phantom menace trilogy is a whole different set of movies and they have nothing to do with Star Wars

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Just pretend the prequels don't exist.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Show your kids the movies in the following order:

4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6

That is all.

Close, but not quite.

I read a very compelling article a few months ago that explained why the best viewing order is 4,5,2,3,6, skipping Episode I completely. There is literally nothing in The Phantom Menace that is necessary to understand the plot and character motivations in Episode II and III that isn't explained through dialogue anyway. Plus, you avoid the worst of Jar Jar and the pointless BS about medichlorians.

http://www.nomachetejuggling.com/201...viewing-order/

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I don't get why you'd want to watch either of episodes 2 and 3 out of order.

You get to the end of Empire and then don't get to RotJ for 2 more movies?

It basically amounts to a 4.5hr flashback in between 5 and 6.

[nik-]

I say don't introduce them at all and save them the pain.

[Coys1882]

You kids will love the 4,5,6 - my 5 yr old would watch Empire on loop if he could.

[grizz29]

Show them the movies - hopefully this will be the start of something great.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I don't get why you'd want to watch either of episodes 2 and 3 out of order.

You get to the end of Empire and then don't get to RotJ for 2 more movies?

It basically amounts to a 4.5hr flashback in between 5 and 6.

I actually think its an interesting idea, ive never considered it before. At the end of Empire you find out that Vader is Luke's father. Seems like a natural time for a flashback into the beginnings of Darth Vader's life. I might try this the next time I decide to watch the series.

[Northendzone]

The only problem with the prequels is that #3 is not really kid friendly. It is a little darker than all the rest......

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

The only problem with the prequels is that #3 is not really kid friendly. It is a little darker than all the rest......

Yah especially the end when Anakin is all raged out crawling about with no limbs and getting the magma soak.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I don't get why you'd want to watch either of episodes 2 and 3 out of order.

You get to the end of Empire and then don't get to RotJ for 2 more movies?

It basically amounts to a 4.5hr flashback in between 5 and 6.

It's to not spoil the fact that vader is luke's father. It seems common knowledge now, but if you don't know, it's probably the most shocking moment in the entire series.

[KTrain]

My kids (3 and 2) love Star Wars. They've seen them all (though 3 was the last we showed them and made sure I watched it with them).

You know your kid's attention span and you know the movies. A New Hope is a safe bet. So is Phantom Menace. After they've seen them all, they'll pick their favorite movies and watch them until you're sick of them.

As much as fanboys bitch and complain about what Lucas has done with the franchise, watching them again with kids makes you realize it doesn't matter. These movies are meant for kids and will be loved by every generation of them until the Earth explodes.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by blankall

It's to not spoil the fact that vader is luke's father. It seems common knowledge now, but if you don't know, it's probably the most shocking moment in the entire series.

Ok but that still doesn't explain why you'd slot in 2 and 3 after 5.

There are any number of ways to make sure that you see 5 before the prequels that doesn't involve watching them in a mixed order. The most obvious would be to watch the original trilogy first.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by KTrain

My kids (3 and 2) love Star Wars. They've seen them all (though 3 was the last we showed them and made sure I watched it with them).

You know your kid's attention span and you know the movies. A New Hope is a safe bet. So is Phantom Menace. After they've seen them all, they'll pick their favorite movies and watch them until you're sick of them.

As much as fanboys bitch and complain about what Lucas has done with the franchise, watching them again with kids makes you realize it doesn't matter. These movies are meant for kids and will be loved by every generation of them until the Earth explodes.

Oh it matters.

Your kids will never see Star Wars unless you have the DVD with the unedited version. All your kids will see is some craptacular imitation version of Star Wars that somewhat resembles the movies released 77-83.

[nfotiu]

Are these releases only in 3d? My kids love everything star wars, but they are 3 and 5 and the 3d glasses thing at that age just doesn't work.

[HPLovecraft]

Originally Posted by grizz29

Show them the movies - hopefully this will be the start of something great.

<pictures>

I find these absolutely hilarious for some reason. Especially the ones where they're wearing the Star Wars helmets.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I actually think its an interesting idea, ive never considered it before. At the end of Empire you find out that Vader is Luke's father. Seems like a natural time for a flashback into the beginnings of Darth Vader's life. I might try this the next time I decide to watch the series.

SPOILER ALERT!

jeez.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Ok but that still doesn't explain why you'd slot in 2 and 3 after 5.

There are any number of ways to make sure that you see 5 before the prequels that doesn't involve watching them in a mixed order. The most obvious would be to watch the original trilogy first.

Read the link I posted above. It explains exactly why it makes sense to watch II and III and V.

This alternative order inserts the prequel trilogy into the middle, allowing the series to end on the sensible ending point (the destruction of the Empire) while still beginning with Luke’s journey.

Effectively, this order keeps the story Luke’s tale. Just when Luke is left with the burning question “how did my father become Darth Vader?” we take an extended flashback to explain exactly how. Once we understand how his father turned to the dark side, we go back to the main storyline and see how Luke is able to rescue him from it and salvage the good in him.

The prequel backstory comes at the perfect time, because Empire Strikes Back ends on a huge cliffhanger. Han is in carbonite, Vader is Luke’s father, and the Empire has hit the rebellion hard. Delaying the resolution of this cliffhanger makes it all the more satisfying when Return of the Jedi is watched.

Narratively, it’s just like a movie that starts with a big opening, then fades to “2 years earlier” for most of the movie, until it catches up with the present time and concludes.