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

[Ex Accountant]

Originally Posted by jadedeath

Not really a fair question.

Well, maybe a fair question in make-believe land, but not here in reality.

We weren't given the option of the PT first, otherwise we might have ended up with a better written PT.

Logan

Not to be a bitc*, but since few people were forced to see the OT first, technically it could be considered a fair question...Unless your usage of the pronoun "we" is being aimed at a predefined group of people.

[Agent Cooper]

Well, who would want to rob their kids of one of cinemas greatest moments ("I am your father!") ever, just for the sake of continuity?

Don't you wanna look at your kids face and cherish the moment when that scene unfolds?

Not to mention Luke's first encounter with Yoda, the revelation of the Emperors appearance (only hinted in IV and V), Ben/Obi Wan Kenobis secrets and origin, the love triangle between Luke, Han and Leia (not knowing two of them are siblings), the size and appearance of the Death Star etc. All will be lost if going into the PT first.

To add, if they watch the PT first, much of the revolutionary SFX work in the OT will be diminished considerably, along with much of the character development.

I understand the idea of serving the SW movies in chronological order, but I think you would regret it when discussing the themes and grand ideas of the movies with him, when he gets a bit older and his understanding of Lucas' universe unfolds.

[Marquoz]

I would say the OT first. That's how I did it with my son, and then we watched the PT, now we are doing the Clone Wars to fill in the rest of the blanks.

[Slec]

Gotta go with IV first. It's actually a nice transition from VI to I in terms of style and effects. Part of the allure is they way they were revealed to us, the viewer. Tell Luke's story. Then Darth Vader's story, part of why Darth Vader is so captivating is because we know so little throughout IV-VI. Show them in the order they were made and your son will link them the way you did...

Let us know how it goes, and don't forget to update your theater, I haven't seen one in awhile!

[Tsmith13]

Well i watched the older ones first because thats all that was out. So when i watched the new ones i understood it more.

But being young i think he would like the newer ones better. They have more stuff for all ages....But in the older ones the ewoks were cool for kids.

[mjbethancourt]

Originally Posted by Slec

Gotta go with IV first. It's actually a nice transition from VI to I in terms of style and effects. Part of the allure is they way they were revealed to us, the viewer. Tell Luke's story. Then Darth Vader's story, part of why Darth Vader is so captivating is because we know so little throughout IV-VI. Show them in the order they were made and your son will link them the way you did...

Let us know how it goes, and don't forget to update your theater, I haven't seen one in awhile!

You know, that's true, I follows VI perfectly in style and theme; for similar reasons, I think that VI follows III as it's wrap-up. Basically, Star Wars is circular, and he made it that way on purpose. Myths and legends work best when they're revisited for meaning... that's the role they play in society; and Star Wars is truly modern mythology.

[Schrute Farms]

Here's an idea. What about watching them : 4,5,1,2,3,4,5,6? That way one would get both impressions of vader, and then fully appreciate the climax of Return of the Jedi.

That sure is a lot of Star Wars watching though. Maybe too much of a good thing?

[Variable]

Originally Posted by Schrute Farms

Here's an idea. What about watching them : 4,5,1,2,3,4,5,6? That way one would get both impressions of vader, and then fully appreciate the climax of Return of the Jedi.

That sure is a lot of Star Wars watching though. Maybe too much of a good thing?

once you do 4, 5 to start I think it would be odd to not watch jedi. no reason to leave for THAT long with the questions Empire leaves you with.

4 5 6, 1 2 3

[Slec]

Originally Posted by Schrute Farms

Here's an idea. What about watching them : 4,5,1,2,3,4,5,6? That way one would get both impressions of vader, and then fully appreciate the climax of Return of the Jedi.

That sure is a lot of Star Wars watching though. Maybe too much of a good thing?

Given the age of your son, we might be splitting hairs here. I think that's a good plan to refresh his memory...it's a LOT of movie watching though. Have fun with it!

[ScarredLungs]

Originally Posted by Tsmith13

Well i watched the older ones first because thats all that was out. So when i watched the new ones i understood it more.

But being young i think he would like the newer ones better. They have more stuff for all ages....But in the older ones the ewoks were cool for kids.

GO with the the OT. The ewoks were awesome! I loved them as a kid!

[mjbethancourt]

Originally Posted by Variable

once you do 4, 5 to start I think it would be odd to not watch jedi. no reason to leave for THAT long with the questions Empire leaves you with.

4 5 6, 1 2 3

A valid point, but I've always felt (since I was a wee tyke in '83) that 'Jedi' was not so much a complete movie as an ending to the whole thing. The last 45 of 'Jedi' is the ending of the Star Wars saga, (how can you watch Luke burn Vader's remains and not see that as the satisfying closure of the whole cycle? Anakin is finally free of the torments that made him Vader, and the whole galaxy is free from the greatest disaster imaginable, the reign of Palpatine. To me, that moment is by far the most moving scene in any of the six Star Wars movies... I frequently shed a tear for Vader at that moment, and you're supposed to. Back in '83, that scene didn't have as much impact... it seems to me that the whole purpose of the PT is to enhance one's understanding and connection with most of the events of the OT... I watch 'Jedi' with a completely different set of eyes after seeing the PT); while, by contrast, I just can't see any part of the PT as an ending to anything; watching it your way puts the proper ending into the middle, which just ain't right; and to me, with movies, endings are by far the most important part.

Here's some food for thought:
As I said before, Star Wars is circular. The PT ends where the OT begins, and the OT coming first, it set up the framework and introduces the characters and conflicts. It's almost a chicken-or-egg scenario. Do you think it's possible that many people would make their choice in this poll on the basis that they have a favorite between the two trilogies, and think that one should come first at the expense of the other, rather than which arrangement would foster a better understanding of Star Wars as a whole? Could folks be subconsciously (or not so subconsciously) be re-interpreting or oversimplifying the question into "which trilogy is your favorite"?

[uziel5000]

You know, this question has sparked a very interesting discussion and most of the arguments have been awsome both ways. But at this point I HAVE to ask:

Schrute Farms, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? I saw in post where you seem to favor doing it chronologicaly but I just want know for sure. No particular reason. It's just that since it has brought up so many interesting points I'm kinda dying to know.

And as long as I'm writing let me answer variable's post whether we were done a disservice by seeing the OT first. Absoloutely not! I think the OT is the better set of films by far. At least MY recommendation to begin with the PT first is based on a metter of perspective. Having his son see it in a way diffrently than he did might bring both a different perspective they can share and make things interesting. Just adding to my two cents.

[mjbethancourt]

Originally Posted by uziel5000

...Having his son see it in a way diffrently than he did might bring both a different perspective they can share and make things interesting. Just adding to my two cents.

That is the best point I have seen in this thread so far. What could be better (in this scenario) than for a father and son to have an opportunity to discuss Star Wars from differently conditioned (but fully informed) perspectives? The discussion would be worth far more than any satisfaction one would derive from feeling that they "shaped" their son's view of Star Wars... he may even teach you something, and that would be really cool, if after all these years and viewings, you can still get something new out of Star Wars, (I just finished watching 'Jedi' again after this discussion prompted me to, and I spotted a thing or two myself that I hadn't previously integrated).

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by mjbethancourt

That is the best point I have seen in this thread so far. What could be better (in this scenario) than for a father and son to have an opportunity to discuss Star Wars from differently conditioned (but fully informed) perspectives? The discussion would be worth far more than any satisfaction one would derive from feeling that they "shaped" their son's view of Star Wars... he may even teach you something, and that would be really cool, if after all these years and viewings, you can still get something new out of Star Wars, (I just finished watching 'Jedi' again after this discussion prompted me to, and I spotted a thing or two myself that I hadn't previously integrated).

You're pre-supposing a five or seven year old can engage in a discussion of ideas equal to or beyond those of his or her father. I guess, given those parameters, that depends on how stupid the father is and how intelligent the child is.

Addressing the real world, it seems to me the Star Wars films are the teachers of the children, the parents the mentors of the children, and the children the audience of the saga who grow into men and women who pass the same on to their children.

How to best do this in the future?
4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6

Lucas can control when the films are released. He can't control how you show the films to your kids.

4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6

Serve your kids, serve the saga. End the dopey argument.

Peace out.

[sfmarine]

If I had a son, I'd start him off as everyone else did. IV is the way to go. Even though Lucas recommends watching them in order. PM was especially made for kids ala Jar Jar Binks. It re-ignitied the Star Wars Industry and brought a whole new fanbase with it. So he'd probably enjoy 1 but it's too early to tell. Once he's seen them all and understands them...then he can finally make a decision. In the meantime, show him Ep. 4. See how he takes it in.

[Clobbersaurus]

I know that when I try to show them to my daughter I will start with New Hope. If she has interest in seeing more, I will go 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6, if not 4, 5, 3, 6, or maybe just 4, 5, 6.

[uziel5000]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

You're pre-supposing a five or seven year old can engage in a discussion of ideas equal to or beyond those of his or her father. I guess, given those parameters, that depends on how stupid the father is and how intelligent the child is.

Addressing the real world, it seems to me the Star Wars films are the teachers of the children, the parents the mentors of the children, and the children the audience of the saga who grow into men and women who pass the same on to their children.

How to best do this in the future?
4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6

Lucas can control when the films are released. He can't control how you show the films to your kids.

4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6

Serve your kids, serve the saga. End the dopey argument.

Peace out.

Well, when I was talking about father and son sharing perspective, I wasn't talking about a doctoral dissertation on the literary merits of the saga Ernest. I was merely pointing out that he had the opotunity to watch the saga again through his child's eyes. Watching him react to the films and see how its different from his experience of watching it they way they came out.

And if it's such a dopey argument, why are you making suggestions as well? 4,5,1,2,3,6 anyone?

[mjbethancourt]

Originally Posted by uziel5000

Well, when I was talking about father and son sharing perspective, I wasn't talking about a doctoral dissertation on the literary merits of the saga Ernest. I was merely pointing out that he had the opotunity to watch the saga again through his child's eyes. Watching him react to the films and see how its different from his experience of watching it they way they came out.

And if it's such a dopey argument, why are you making suggestions as well? 4,5,1,2,3,6 anyone?

That's my chosen sequence, 451236... anyway, I'm sure I've heard a ton of proverbs about the student/child becoming the teacher, or "one who can't learn from a child is himself a fool", etc. etc. Look, obviously OP cares enough about the shared experience of Star Wars with his son to be asking for our opinions; so if it's such a stupid notion to you, Ernest, you probably don't belong in this conversation, other than just to threadcrap.