[Poll] Star Wars for kids: Which series to start from?

[Jag]

I really think my kids (5 and 7) would like Star Wars, so I figured I would attempt to get them to watch it. Which way would you start?

[Eduardo X]

NOBODY should be subjected to 1-3.

[Laner]

"The story is meant to be told this way"

Guh?  The "reveal" at the end of Empire pretty much invalidates this argument.

[IkeVandergraaf]

Show them 4-6 first.  Never show them 1-3.  Assuming you love them.

[Montag]

As an adult we know Episode I sucks terribly. I do not think a 5-7 year old would.  I suggest skipping to episode 3 right to the scene where it implies Anakin kills all the children.  Make sure you clearly explain it in case the 5 year old does not get it.

[Gratch]

My nieces and nephews that are about that same age all loved Episodes 1-3, but were lukewarm to the original trilogy (which they watched first).  Despite what all us old geeks think of them, I think the prequels are typically more fun for the kids.

[disarm]

"The story is meant to be told this way"

Guh?  The "reveal" at the end of Empire pretty much invalidates this argument.

exactly...start with the original trilogy just so the surprise at the end of Empire isn't ruined.  that one scene is the single biggest moment of all the films, and knowing that ahead of time ruins the original trilogy.  unlike many others, i don't think Episodes I-III are horrible, but they will always be secondary to the originals and should be viewed as such.

[faide]

My opinion is that if Lucas wanted people to watch the movies in 1-6 order then he should've released them in that order.  Since he didn't do that I vote 4-6 then 1-3   I have kids about the same age.  They liked all the movies.  I would say number 1 was my 6 year olds favorite for a while.  He liked it the most because it's about a boy that's not much older than him doing all these cool things.  Kids definitely get swept  up by that.  Now that he's watched them few times though, i'm proud to say he usually requests to watch episode 4 now

[ScubaV]

Did someone say Star Wars Kid?

[Jag]

My nieces and nephews that are about that same age all loved Episodes 1-3, but were lukewarm to the original trilogy (which they watched first).  Despite what all us old geeks think of them, I think the prequels are typically more fun for the kids.

This is where i'm coming from. Phantom is basically a kids story. If it was released first, SW would have been the Harry Potter of our day. Enjoyed by adults, but aimed at kids.

[Unagi]

My nieces and nephews that are about that same age all loved Episodes 1-3, but were lukewarm to the original trilogy (which they watched first).  Despite what all us old geeks think of them, I think the prequels are typically more fun for the kids.

This is where i'm coming from. Phantom is basically a kids story. If it was released first, SW would have been the Harry Potter of our day. Enjoyed by adults, but aimed at kids.

I think the folks at Mattel would beg to differ.

[Geezerone]

My kid (5.5 now) has seen all the episodes and at different times has loved each one (at least requested each one) more than the others.  Episode 1, with the pod race was his first favorite (he might have been 4 years old at the time).  Episode 3, being the darkest, is the one we limit his viewing, and make sure he doesn't see most of the end (although he knows what happened).

But I agree with he others, start them off with episodes 4-6, then show 1-3.  You can explain why they are meant to be shown that way.

[wonderpug]

If the kids are too young to appreciate 4-6 more than Jar-Jar's Adventure then you should wait until they're older.

Do the right thing.

[LordMortis]

"The story is meant to be told this way"

Guh?  The "reveal" at the end of Empire pretty much invalidates this argument.

exactly...start with the original trilogy just so the surprise at the end of Empire isn't ruined.  that one scene is the single biggest moment of all the films, and knowing that ahead of time ruins the original trilogy.  unlike many others, i don't think Episodes I-III are horrible, but they will always be secondary to the originals and should be viewed as such.

I can't speak for children but from psuedo literary standpoint 4-6 are the story.  1-3 are a historicall footnote.  Something you come back to understand how we got to the story.  It (the rise of the empire and the clone wars) is the most fascinating when it is not the focus.  Just like the Sith themselves are now probably the most fascinating thing about the Star Wars world.

Like if you were to make movie of The Silmarilion.

[Debris]

My grandson (6yo) is a huge fan of 4-6.  1-3 are Ok with him, but only because of the plethora of lightsaber fights.

I would stick with 4-6 first.

[Destructor]

Show them 4-6 first.  Never show them 1-3.  Assuming you love them.

+1

[mb737]

Star Wars
Empire Strikes Back
Phantom Menace
Attack of the Clones
Clone Wars Cartoon 1
Clone Wars Cartoon 2
Revenge of the Sith
Return of the Jedi

[rittchard]

Show them 4-6 first.  Never show them 1-3.  Assuming you love them.

+1

+1

Do you really want your kids watching the scene where Obi Wan chops up Anakin?  Or even worse, the scene where Natalie Portman says "hold me like you did on the fields of Naboo..."  (shudder) 

[Toe]

Show them 4-6 first.  Never show them 1-3.  Assuming you love them.

+1

+1

Do you really want your kids watching the scene where Obi Wan chops up Anakin?  Or even worse, the scene where Natalie Portman says "hold me like you did on the fields of Naboo..."  (shudder) 

Like watching ewoks is any better.

[Destructor]

Show them 4-6 first.  Never show them 1-3.  Assuming you love them.

+1

+1

Do you really want your kids watching the scene where Obi Wan chops up Anakin?  Or even worse, the scene where Natalie Portman says "hold me like you did on the fields of Naboo..."  (shudder) 

Like watching ewoks is any better.

The Ewoks are far better than the lines that Anakin gives out during the course of the three movies.

[Rowdy]

As an adult we know Episode I sucks terribly. I do not think a 5-7 year old would.  I suggest skipping to episode 3 right to the scene where it implies Anakin kills all the children.  Make sure you clearly explain it in case the 5 year old does not get it.

Agreed - 5 and 7 is too young for Star Wars.  Try starting with Lego Star Wars and let them watch the movies in 5 years or so.

[Biyobi]

Agreed - 5 and 7 is too young for Star Wars.

I don't know about that.  I was seven when Star Wars came out and I was all over that movie (and the toys!)  I don't think there's a problem with kids that age seeing it.

[Jag]

Agreed - 5 and 7 is too young for Star Wars.

I don't know about that.  I was seven when Star Wars came out and I was all over that movie (and the toys!)  I don't think there's a problem with kids that age seeing it.

No I agree with episode 3. I'll put on the lightsaber fights, but definitely not the part about killing the children and I stop it before Anakin gets all maimed and burned.

[kadnod]

How about those Clone Wars cartoons that came out a while ago?  The traditionally animated ones, not the Clone War CGI thing that's coming out soon. 

[wonderpug]

How about those Clone Wars cartoons that came out a while ago?  The traditionally animated ones, not the Clone War CGI thing that's coming out soon. 

Those are awesome fun but I would still wait to show them after 4-6 for my own children so they don't miss out on experiencing the original trilogy's big reveals.  I don't think you need them to see 1-3 for the Clone Wars cartoons to make sense; for the most part they're just about setting up all the awesome action scenes that should've been in 1-3.

On second thought, I'd vote for showing them the Clone Wars cartoon so that they'll be prepped for the CGI movie and the new series this Fall.

[Freezer-TPF-]

Show them the original trilogy.  Then if they misbehave, show them 1-3 as punishment.