My son's first Star Wars experience. Which Trilogy First?

[Schrute Farms]

My son is five, and we are going to have our home theater set up in February (see my HT Gallery). My plan is for us to watch the Star Wars saga together for the first time and I am contemplating which is the best way to watch it.

I was born three months before Star Wars came out, and saw Empire Strikes Back in the theater on its original release date, thus I saw the OT first. I plan on watching all six films on consecutive nights and wonder if watching the OT first might confuse him once we start the PT. I bet I get a lot of "Why is Obi-Wan alive again?"-type questions, and "But I thought Palpatine was the bad guy?" etc...

My son thinks Darth Vader is really cool looking though, so the OT might keep his attention just as good as Jar-Jar. Oh CRAP, I won't be able to fast forward thru the Gungan crap this time.

So how should my son experience Star Wars for the first time?

[P@t_Mtl]

I would go in order from 1-6 I think he will probably find that fun.

[quexos]

Go with the chronological order to avoid confusion. So the new trilogy first then the old trilogy.

[Nameless Evil]

Personally, I would start him on Episode IV - A New Hope

[Schrute Farms]

It is now a poll.

[un4gvn94538]

my son started with the n64 pod racing game. that got him into star wars. then he wanted to watch the movie with the racing in it. he doesnt really follow the story lines but like the action scenes like the racing, hoth battle with the snow speeders, jedi with speeder bikes etc, so he can play along with the scenes. the only ones he really sits through and maybe pays attention is the clone wars cartoons.

[P@t_Mtl]

Your HT should look pretty good can't wait to see the fiinal look of it.

[dad2erin]

My son is 5 and I started him at age 3. He loves the OT but will not watch the PT. He love Jedi the most, Jabba is his fav.

[benzgrl]

My nephew whose 6 years old, just saw all 5 episodes and PT first (only because my brother had never seen them, well, he'd been living overseas and leading a busy life and kinda missed the PT when they hit theaters), so I finally got my brother to sit down and watch the PT which during the time his son was watching too.

My brother of course loved it -- we were kids when we saw the OT in theaters. I had recommended to my brother that my nephew not watch Episode III as I thought the content might be a little too scary for him, but my brother said my nephew LOVES Darth Vader and is running around the living room playing lightsaber, hahaha! And my niece whose 4 years old is playing with her hair trying to make it like Princes Leia, she loves her!

I don't think at their age, they really understand the story, but they appreciate all the characters and visuals, so I'm not sure it matters which order they view them in. They will want to watch them again through-out their lives, it runs in our family!

When my nephew gets a little older, I think my brother will sit down with the whole family and watch Episode III.

Star Wars forever!

[ScarredLungs]

Originally Posted by Nameless Evil

Personally, I would start him on Episode IV - A New Hope

+1 Start on Episode IV

[uziel5000]

Actually, imo starting him on the PT will give both of you a different and interesting point of view. Through him, you'll be able to see the Saga in it's chronological order without any bias or hype which, us old fans will never be able to do. Of course he will at the same time benefit from your perspective as you watch it together. Specially as you get on to the OT later on.

I have actually given this a lot of thought as my daughter is a year old and down the line it will be my turn to show her these films like you are going to do with your son, It may sound cheesy but I think this could be a very interesting experience for both of you.

Hope it helps.

[ObiTrentKenobi]

because he's only 5... start with the prequels. TPM.

a 5 year old will become confused, and possibly uninterested in the original trilogy if seen first (yes, there's a possibility...)

if he was, say, 15 or so, i'd start with the Original trilogy. because it's fun to learn after seeing episode 5 that vader IS luke's father and after episode 6 learn that Leia is his sister. If an older child watches the prequels first, it's not as fun knowing this info.

a 5 year old will like star wars for the lightsabers, podrace and space battles... not so much all the story, so it's better to start with the phantom menace.

[Another_Dude]

I'd start w/ IV.

He should see the Luke/Leah/Han relationships develop like we did without know the whole story, and the introduction of Obi Wan. Besides, it would take the fun out of the end of Empire if you already know that Vader is Luke's father.

[JamesKurtovich]

Start with IV. Always start with IV.

Most people that start with the prequels desire to see the same bright lights and action sequences in the OT but are really disappointed. If they start with the real Star Wars movies, then hopefully their appreciation won't fizzle.

[dvd_mazter]

While the prequels (the first two at least) are pretty weak, I'll agree and say show it in order (I - VI) just so he doesn't get confused of the timeline.

[Gamma_Winstead]

original trilogy first! Trust me! I was a kid when the PT came out! I enjoyed the OT more! Han Solo is the man! The sense of. Wonder will be gone.

[P@t_Mtl]

The story goes from 1-6 that's how it should be watch.

Would you watch Lord Of The Rings this way?

1 - Return Of The King
2 - The Two Towers
3 - The Fellowship Of The Ring

[DAROCKNESSMONSTER]

I, personally, would never show him the prequels.

[Jeremy1983]

Show him 1-6. That way they get better with each film, instead of worse.

[Marine Mike]

I don't think you should ever show him 1-3, but only the Original Trilogy.