A New Hope
January 7, 2011 8:04 AM Subscribe
What is a good age for a child to watch Star Wars for the first time?
I watched A New Hope first when I was 5 or 6, but my parents fastforwarded (yay VHS!) through the part where they discover the dead jawas and Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen's skeletons. Kids less prone to being afraid of everything like I was may not need that, though. Empire Strikes Back scared me more than it was worth, but I really liked Return of the Jedi. Unfortunately, I lived for the ewoks...
posted by ChuraChura at 8:08 AM on January 7, 2011
posted by ChuraChura at 8:08 AM on January 7, 2011
Star Wars was the first movie I saw in the theatre - I was seven years old. Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi are pretty suitable for a younger audience (really, it all depends on whether or not they have the attention span to watch an entire movie), as is Phantom Menace, and perhaps Attack of the Clones. Revenge of the Sith is not really suitable for younger children, both because of the gruesome violence, and also because it talks a lot about Galactic Senate "politics".
posted by KokuRyu at 8:10 AM on January 7, 2011
posted by KokuRyu at 8:10 AM on January 7, 2011
Every kid is different. I'd say eight is the baseline for a kid to watch it and understand it beyond just being wowed or scared by the effects. Maybe I'm overly practical, but I don't see much point in showing a kid a movie if they're not going to be able to follow the story. Otherwise it's just using the flashy TV box as an electronic babysitter.
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 8:11 AM on January 7, 2011
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 8:11 AM on January 7, 2011
I was three when I first saw it. Scared the crap out of me, especially Darth and Chewy. I think a 5 year-old could handle it however. My nephews on the other hand, with their diet of sponge-bob and what passes for cartoons these days, were unphased by the scary parts of the films and absorbed them by 3 or 4 with no problem. That said, my 4 year-old (3 3/4) daughter who has not seen a whole lot of tv got scared watching the old stop-action Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, despite being briefed on the [SPOILER] rehabilitation of the Bumble.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 8:11 AM on January 7, 2011
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 8:11 AM on January 7, 2011
You can get a lot out of the movie even at age 3.
posted by typewriter at 8:11 AM on January 7, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by typewriter at 8:11 AM on January 7, 2011 [2 favorites]
The Clone Wars cartoon series, on the other hand, shoudn't really be watched under the age of 10 or so. Too much death.
posted by KokuRyu at 8:11 AM on January 7, 2011
posted by KokuRyu at 8:11 AM on January 7, 2011
Data points: I can't remember a time when I hadn't seen Star Wars. I think my nephew was probably two or so the first time he watched it with my brother. I'm pretty sure neither of us had any problems with it, and I think both of us tend(ed) to be easily frightened by movies (man, I had nightmares for years after watching Witches when I was little).
posted by Vibrissa at 8:13 AM on January 7, 2011
posted by Vibrissa at 8:13 AM on January 7, 2011
My son is 2 and a half years old, and he has watched Star Wars (just Episode 4) a handful of times over the last several months.
He has this book and is constantly asking me to read it with him. He can identify all of the characters in it (yes, even Jar Jar) and finds it really exciting.
posted by jozxyqk at 8:14 AM on January 7, 2011
He has this book and is constantly asking me to read it with him. He can identify all of the characters in it (yes, even Jar Jar) and finds it really exciting.
posted by jozxyqk at 8:14 AM on January 7, 2011
My son watched it with me at 3-4...seems to be pretty average age...
posted by TeachTheDead at 8:14 AM on January 7, 2011
posted by TeachTheDead at 8:14 AM on January 7, 2011
I'm assuming you're starting them on A New Hope since that's the title of your question. But wouldn't it be fun to start them on Episode I?
I say that totally seriously. If you've managed to keep from them that Darth Vader is Luke's dad then Episode III will (I think) be better. I know when I saw it I instantly knew Anakin would fall in the lava. Someone who doesn't know he's Vader won't do that.
But to answer your question, they watch it when they want to. Because it's fucking awesome and any kid who wants to watch Star Wars shouldn't be denied for any reason other than not having time right this second.
posted by theichibun at 8:17 AM on January 7, 2011 [2 favorites]
I say that totally seriously. If you've managed to keep from them that Darth Vader is Luke's dad then Episode III will (I think) be better. I know when I saw it I instantly knew Anakin would fall in the lava. Someone who doesn't know he's Vader won't do that.
But to answer your question, they watch it when they want to. Because it's fucking awesome and any kid who wants to watch Star Wars shouldn't be denied for any reason other than not having time right this second.
posted by theichibun at 8:17 AM on January 7, 2011 [2 favorites]
My son first watched it around age six and even now at age eight he'll fast forward through the "scary" scenes, including the Wampa, the Sarlacc pit, the Rancor, and those creepy assassin millipede things in Ep. 2.
He gets scared of movies easily but all the eye candy and coolness does a lot to make up for the scary parts.
Be warned: your child will see no difference between the prequels and the original trilogy. See this not as a failure on your child's part but as proof that Lucas, while a shitty writer and director, knows what the kids like. My son's favorite episode is #3, mostly for that lava light saber duel. I'm sure it'll be a few years before he notices how bad the acting is.
posted by bondcliff at 8:18 AM on January 7, 2011
He gets scared of movies easily but all the eye candy and coolness does a lot to make up for the scary parts.
Be warned: your child will see no difference between the prequels and the original trilogy. See this not as a failure on your child's part but as proof that Lucas, while a shitty writer and director, knows what the kids like. My son's favorite episode is #3, mostly for that lava light saber duel. I'm sure it'll be a few years before he notices how bad the acting is.
posted by bondcliff at 8:18 AM on January 7, 2011
I was a month or so when my parents took me with them to see ANH*. I know that I saw ESB in the theatre when I was about three but I don't remember it. But definitely remember RotJ when I was six.
It really comes down to the cognitive and emotional maturity of the child. Will they be able to follow the story and not get upset by the scary stuff that happens? How good are you with the fast forward button? Are you watching it with them so they can ask questions?
* My mom also took me to see Amadeus when I was seven. But my mom is weird.
posted by elsietheeel at 8:22 AM on January 7, 2011
It really comes down to the cognitive and emotional maturity of the child. Will they be able to follow the story and not get upset by the scary stuff that happens? How good are you with the fast forward button? Are you watching it with them so they can ask questions?
* My mom also took me to see Amadeus when I was seven. But my mom is weird.
posted by elsietheeel at 8:22 AM on January 7, 2011
My 5-year-old daughter watched Star Wars for the first time on Christmas Day, but she had already heard the story of it countless times from my husband and me. She had also seen the Lego Star Wars re-enactments, so she knew most of the plot (though we still changed the channel for the part where Luke finds the bodies of Uncle Owen & Aunt Beru).
posted by mogget at 8:23 AM on January 7, 2011
posted by mogget at 8:23 AM on January 7, 2011
I saw A New Hope at the drive-in theater when I was 4 & I was totally hooked. Some parts scared me a little, but it was good-scary, not scarred-for-life scary.
posted by SamanthaK at 8:24 AM on January 7, 2011
posted by SamanthaK at 8:24 AM on January 7, 2011
My fairly intelligent four-year-old and I often have conversations about the things he's watched. And it's fascinating to hear how completely he's able to misunderstand plots and characters. Unless every detail of the story is spelled out in plain english (preferably twice) he's guaranteed to have no idea what's going on.
Being able to watch something actively, think about what's happening any why, and understand the motivation of characters based on their actions, is a skill a lot of people don't even seem to have as adults. I watched Star Wars at the age of six when it came out and I think I probably took in the broad details, but missed any subtleties in the relationships between the characters. But then, a lot of 'family' films are specifically written to work at different levels, so maybe that didn't matter.
I think if you make a point of discussing the things you watch with a child, you can get a pretty good feel for what works, and whether a particular film will make sense to them. I know my son isn't anywhere near ready for Star Wars. We're staying pretty much in CBeebies territory for now.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 8:25 AM on January 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
Being able to watch something actively, think about what's happening any why, and understand the motivation of characters based on their actions, is a skill a lot of people don't even seem to have as adults. I watched Star Wars at the age of six when it came out and I think I probably took in the broad details, but missed any subtleties in the relationships between the characters. But then, a lot of 'family' films are specifically written to work at different levels, so maybe that didn't matter.
I think if you make a point of discussing the things you watch with a child, you can get a pretty good feel for what works, and whether a particular film will make sense to them. I know my son isn't anywhere near ready for Star Wars. We're staying pretty much in CBeebies territory for now.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 8:25 AM on January 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
I had seen all of the first three long before I started kindergarten and don't remember being scared by it at all. I do remember being affected by Darth Vader cutting off Luke's hand in Empire, but in more of a "Ewwww gross!" way than a frightened way. Then again, I'm not sure how much of the movies I really "got" at that age, since I used to think that the ceremony at the end of A New Hope was a wedding between Han and Leia.
posted by futureisunwritten at 8:25 AM on January 7, 2011
posted by futureisunwritten at 8:25 AM on January 7, 2011
I saw "Empire" before "A New Hope."
I was in love with R2D2 and Yoda and thought R2D2 was having fun when the swamp monster thing spit him out.
And I was smart enough to figure out Yoda was Yoda before Luke Skywalker did.
I was probably about five.
posted by zizzle at 8:26 AM on January 7, 2011
I was in love with R2D2 and Yoda and thought R2D2 was having fun when the swamp monster thing spit him out.
And I was smart enough to figure out Yoda was Yoda before Luke Skywalker did.
I was probably about five.
posted by zizzle at 8:26 AM on January 7, 2011
On the other side of the spectrum, my wife was 20-something the first time she watched the original trilogy (the 2004 DVD versions). And, having grown up in Brazil and not-so-much a sci fi nerd, she had managed to avoid even the most basic of spoilers about it.
I got to witness her genuine reactions, like thinking Luke and Leia would get married after the first movie and authentic shock at Vader's paternity declaration in Empire.
Now _that_ is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
posted by jozxyqk at 8:29 AM on January 7, 2011 [4 favorites]
I got to witness her genuine reactions, like thinking Luke and Leia would get married after the first movie and authentic shock at Vader's paternity declaration in Empire.
Now _that_ is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
posted by jozxyqk at 8:29 AM on January 7, 2011 [4 favorites]
Watched them all excessively from age 3-14. Loved to play with the action figures with friends while watching from 3-5 :)
posted by Acer_saccharum at 8:34 AM on January 7, 2011
posted by Acer_saccharum at 8:34 AM on January 7, 2011
My kids saw the movies as babies, we watch them again at least once a year. If they're paying attention we'll have them cover their eyes when Luke finds his Uncle and Aunt.
posted by TooFewShoes at 8:35 AM on January 7, 2011
posted by TooFewShoes at 8:35 AM on January 7, 2011
Yeah, when I was very little, I wasn't watching closely and I don't think the Owen and Beru's bodies really registered with me - I saw that his home had been destroyed, and I might have vaguely been aware that they must be dead, but I remember being a little surprised at some later point in my childhood to recognize charred skeletons.
posted by Vibrissa at 8:40 AM on January 7, 2011
posted by Vibrissa at 8:40 AM on January 7, 2011
My now 8-year-old first watched Eps 4-6 at about 5 or 6 years of age and was heavily in to the toys for about a year or so.
I still won't let him watch the tripe that is Eps 1-3. :)
posted by kuanes at 8:41 AM on January 7, 2011
I still won't let him watch the tripe that is Eps 1-3. :)
posted by kuanes at 8:41 AM on January 7, 2011
I thought Star Wars was boring until I was about 8. Then, a switch flipped and I named by swing set the Millennium Falcon.
posted by mmmbacon at 8:42 AM on January 7, 2011
posted by mmmbacon at 8:42 AM on January 7, 2011
You should play the original three on loop whilst in the womb, to help foster an early bond. Apply liberally through the formative years. Under no circumstances should you expose your children to the final three films until they are old enough to cope with disappointment, anger, and self-destructive nerd rage. I suggest you treat them like tattoos -- your children may become curious, but you want to avoid exposing them to such harmful activities as long as possible.
posted by londonmark at 8:51 AM on January 7, 2011
posted by londonmark at 8:51 AM on January 7, 2011
I'm sure it'll be a few years before he notices how bad the acting is.
Yeah, since the acting in the other films was always Oscar worthy.*
*Note: Empire Strikes Back is my favorite of the films and I LOVE it. LOVE IT.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 8:56 AM on January 7, 2011
Yeah, since the acting in the other films was always Oscar worthy.*
*Note: Empire Strikes Back is my favorite of the films and I LOVE it. LOVE IT.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 8:56 AM on January 7, 2011
I was 10 when I saw it and the big "I am your father" thing was already spoiled for me by its ubiquity in pop culture. So before then.
posted by NoraReed at 9:04 AM on January 7, 2011
posted by NoraReed at 9:04 AM on January 7, 2011
I watched A New Hope for the first time when I was four, and then every time I could after that. To this day one of my favorite presents of all time is the original box set of all three originals on VHS.
(Not the Special Edition. I have that too and was excited at the time, but I was 9. I heartily apologize and accept that I was wrong to be excited. The originals are indeed much, much better.)
Han shot first.
posted by InsanePenguin at 9:18 AM on January 7, 2011
(Not the Special Edition. I have that too and was excited at the time, but I was 9. I heartily apologize and accept that I was wrong to be excited. The originals are indeed much, much better.)
Han shot first.
posted by InsanePenguin at 9:18 AM on January 7, 2011
I was ten when I saw it in the theater at its original release and I thought it was pretty awesome and got a lot out of it. its a pretty simple, archetypal story and I think even younger kids could definitely find a lot to enjoy.
posted by supermedusa at 9:25 AM on January 7, 2011
posted by supermedusa at 9:25 AM on January 7, 2011
I am told that I saw Empire Strikes Back in the theater with my older brother (big 8y.o. fanboy) at age 5. I am also told that the 4 of us cousins ages 5-9 were absolutely horrified at the bleak ending, but that we loved it all anyway. I don't personally recall. I do know that it was kind of assumed that I'd seen the first movie, but that all through middle school people tended to watch it late at night and I was generally asleep on the sofa before they got off Tatooine. So, in some sense, I didn't see Ep 1 until I was in high school...
Anyway, your kids *can* watch it age 3 and there's no reason not, but kids understand plots and characters so differently at different ages that the first time they see it isn't going to be particularly formative.
posted by aimedwander at 9:34 AM on January 7, 2011
Anyway, your kids *can* watch it age 3 and there's no reason not, but kids understand plots and characters so differently at different ages that the first time they see it isn't going to be particularly formative.
posted by aimedwander at 9:34 AM on January 7, 2011
9 or 10. That's how old I was, and it was perfect, so therefore that is the answer.
posted by Mchelly at 9:41 AM on January 7, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Mchelly at 9:41 AM on January 7, 2011 [2 favorites]
I'm going to offer a drastically different answer: 13.
Despite the fact that my username was my childhood nickname, I don't recall watching them until the Special Editions were released in the theater. Though Star Wars references are ubiquitous in our culture, I never felt particularly left out. However, I was still captivated by the narrative of A New Hope. Luke's story--of longing for a wider life and adventure beyond his dry and dusty home town--must have been written with thirteen-year-olds in mind. It was my introduction in earnest to science fiction, and it opened my eyes to a world of magic and feeling and longing for something more. I suspect it's something I wouldn't have appreciated at 3 or 8. But at 13? It was perfect.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 10:03 AM on January 7, 2011
Despite the fact that my username was my childhood nickname, I don't recall watching them until the Special Editions were released in the theater. Though Star Wars references are ubiquitous in our culture, I never felt particularly left out. However, I was still captivated by the narrative of A New Hope. Luke's story--of longing for a wider life and adventure beyond his dry and dusty home town--must have been written with thirteen-year-olds in mind. It was my introduction in earnest to science fiction, and it opened my eyes to a world of magic and feeling and longing for something more. I suspect it's something I wouldn't have appreciated at 3 or 8. But at 13? It was perfect.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 10:03 AM on January 7, 2011
Saw Star Wars at 5 and built my childhood around it. Did I appreciate what the hell was happening in it? Probably not.
But then, I loved Grease, too.
posted by coolguymichael at 11:08 AM on January 7, 2011
But then, I loved Grease, too.
posted by coolguymichael at 11:08 AM on January 7, 2011
I don't see much point in showing a kid a movie if they're not going to be able to follow the story
Sure, makes plenty of sense. And why bother talking to infants? They won't understand you. This sort of 'thinking' keeps children unnecessarily behind.
posted by kmennie at 12:28 PM on January 7, 2011 [3 favorites]
Sure, makes plenty of sense. And why bother talking to infants? They won't understand you. This sort of 'thinking' keeps children unnecessarily behind.
posted by kmennie at 12:28 PM on January 7, 2011 [3 favorites]
My two and a half year old son loves all three original movies. He is now obsessed with light sabers and pre
tending to be Darth Vader, complete with heavy breathing. However, he is not the type of kid to be easily scared by things he sees in movies. I probably would have been scared by Star Wars until about 5 or 6.
posted by mudlark at 1:15 PM on January 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
tending to be Darth Vader, complete with heavy breathing. However, he is not the type of kid to be easily scared by things he sees in movies. I probably would have been scared by Star Wars until about 5 or 6.
posted by mudlark at 1:15 PM on January 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
You could always do what my parents did. We'd watch A New Hope on TV every time it was on, and then I got sent to bed around about the time the Millennium Falcon landed on the Death Star.
That lasted for a few years - definitely when I was around 3, probably up to around 6. And I never knew if they got off the damned Death Star and rescued the princess.
But I must've seen it and Empire by the time Return of the Jedi came out, because there's no way Dad would've taken us without us knowing what had happened.
posted by Katemonkey at 2:20 PM on January 7, 2011
That lasted for a few years - definitely when I was around 3, probably up to around 6. And I never knew if they got off the damned Death Star and rescued the princess.
But I must've seen it and Empire by the time Return of the Jedi came out, because there's no way Dad would've taken us without us knowing what had happened.
posted by Katemonkey at 2:20 PM on January 7, 2011
The first movie I saw in the theatres was ESB. My Dad took my sister and I to see it to get us out of Mom's hair. I really remember the act of Dad taking us more than the movie. My Mom bought me several of the supporting books (I had a light blue pop-up book for Empire that was way rad) and I had the story on a record. My parents still occasionally talk about how I regaled anyone who would listen with a complete blow-by-blow of the whole story. My wife saw ANH in the theatres at age 3. She says she slept on her Dad's lap.
Oddly, though, I grew up to be a sci-fi and comic book fan, but not really a Star Wars fan, especially for my generation. The acting in all of the movies is really uneven. The advantage of the first three movies is that there is generally less exposition and thus less tedium. Empire is genuinely moody and evocative and is the only one I would sit down and rewatch at most any time.
posted by Slothrop at 2:46 PM on January 7, 2011
Oddly, though, I grew up to be a sci-fi and comic book fan, but not really a Star Wars fan, especially for my generation. The acting in all of the movies is really uneven. The advantage of the first three movies is that there is generally less exposition and thus less tedium. Empire is genuinely moody and evocative and is the only one I would sit down and rewatch at most any time.
posted by Slothrop at 2:46 PM on January 7, 2011
I work with kids age preschool-5th grade, and kids REALLY get into Star Wars around 7-8, second grade. I think if you have a love for the movie and want to share it, and you have a kid in mind to share it with, waiting until 7-8 is probably a good time. If you have a younger kid in mind who is curious, asking questions, and "OMG lightsabers" all on their own, they might be telling you they are ready before then.
posted by shortyJBot at 5:29 PM on January 7, 2011
posted by shortyJBot at 5:29 PM on January 7, 2011
Star Wars is so ubiquitous, I'd think it'd be hard to hold kids off until they're old enough to properly "appreciate" the movies. A New Hope was always on HBO when I was a kid in the early 80s. I have very foggy memories of seeing ESB on Beta, and don't even recall Vader's revelation. And I think I saw ROTJ in the theater, around 5, but that's foggy too. My big regret is not seeing them the "proper" way.
I'd just show them Episode I or IV only, depending on your preference, at whatever age, however many times. Then you can assess if they'd be able to follow along with the rest.
And I kinda feel you're cheating a kid if you refuse to let them watch the prequels because your jaded cynical adult self was disappointed by them. Kids will still be entertained, and ultimately that's what matters. They'll also probably think ESB is slow and boring, but they'll outgrow that someday.
And I second the comment about not noticing charred Beru and Owen as a kid. I always just saw the smoke. But is it really that disturbing?
Whatever you do, don't let them watch the equally ubiquitous Family Guy parodies before the real thing. I shudder at the thought of a whole generation growing up thinking they're one in the same...
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 8:39 PM on January 7, 2011
I'd just show them Episode I or IV only, depending on your preference, at whatever age, however many times. Then you can assess if they'd be able to follow along with the rest.
And I kinda feel you're cheating a kid if you refuse to let them watch the prequels because your jaded cynical adult self was disappointed by them. Kids will still be entertained, and ultimately that's what matters. They'll also probably think ESB is slow and boring, but they'll outgrow that someday.
And I second the comment about not noticing charred Beru and Owen as a kid. I always just saw the smoke. But is it really that disturbing?
Whatever you do, don't let them watch the equally ubiquitous Family Guy parodies before the real thing. I shudder at the thought of a whole generation growing up thinking they're one in the same...
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 8:39 PM on January 7, 2011
I'm assuming you're starting them on A New Hope since that's the title of your question. But wouldn't it be fun to start them on Episode I?
I say that totally seriously. If you've managed to keep from them that Darth Vader is Luke's dad then Episode III will (I think) be better. I know when I saw it I instantly knew Anakin would fall in the lava. Someone who doesn't know he's Vader won't do that.
This is a whole 'nother dilemma. Watching I-VI prevents lack of suspense like characters' fates, it presents the story in order, and it ends things on a happy note. Which for kids, I'd think is much better than the alternative.
But if you go IV-III, it keeps The Big Surprise in V intact. I even heard a suggestion once of going IV, V, I-III, VI (like a Godfather II sort of thing).
Then there's the Clone Wars cartoon to confuse things even more. (I'm somewhat amused by the thought of the hero clones there ultimately becoming evil stormtroopers).
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 8:53 PM on January 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
I say that totally seriously. If you've managed to keep from them that Darth Vader is Luke's dad then Episode III will (I think) be better. I know when I saw it I instantly knew Anakin would fall in the lava. Someone who doesn't know he's Vader won't do that.
This is a whole 'nother dilemma. Watching I-VI prevents lack of suspense like characters' fates, it presents the story in order, and it ends things on a happy note. Which for kids, I'd think is much better than the alternative.
But if you go IV-III, it keeps The Big Surprise in V intact. I even heard a suggestion once of going IV, V, I-III, VI (like a Godfather II sort of thing).
Then there's the Clone Wars cartoon to confuse things even more. (I'm somewhat amused by the thought of the hero clones there ultimately becoming evil stormtroopers).
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 8:53 PM on January 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
I saw Return of the Jedi in its first run, when I was two. Did OK with it. I then apparently saw Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back at some later point in early childhood, though I remember almost nothing except for being afraid of Hoth for some reason. And of course being aware of cultural references like Chewbacca, Jabba the Hutt, light sabers, the theme music, etc.
I first remember seeing all three and being fully aware of the story arc, character development, etc. when I was around nine. That was when I really became a Star Wars fan. In fact, in a lot of ways, my fascination with how the (real) trilogy was made was the beginning of my interest in film. Which later led to a career.
I don't think seeing the trilogy out of sequence when I was tiny did anything negative to me or my enjoyment of the films, but I didn't really get them till I was a little older. I probably could have hung in there when i was a little younger than nine, though. That was just when I happened to see them.
posted by Sara C. at 9:26 PM on January 7, 2011
I first remember seeing all three and being fully aware of the story arc, character development, etc. when I was around nine. That was when I really became a Star Wars fan. In fact, in a lot of ways, my fascination with how the (real) trilogy was made was the beginning of my interest in film. Which later led to a career.
I don't think seeing the trilogy out of sequence when I was tiny did anything negative to me or my enjoyment of the films, but I didn't really get them till I was a little older. I probably could have hung in there when i was a little younger than nine, though. That was just when I happened to see them.
posted by Sara C. at 9:26 PM on January 7, 2011
I think I was 11 or 12? But I clearly remember that at 14 I decided it was time for my little brother and sister (6 and 3) to share in the awesomeness of Star Wars, and took advantage of babysitting duty to make this happen. I fast forwarded through the particularly scary parts (Owen and Beru skeletons, etc.), but my mom was NOT PLEASED when she got home. Today, my little brother is pretty much the biggest Star Wars nerd I have ever met (he ended up waaaaaay surpassing me on that front - and I was pretty nerdy), and my sister maintains that I scarred her for life.
posted by naoko at 10:56 PM on January 7, 2011
posted by naoko at 10:56 PM on January 7, 2011
I've tried to show it to me about-to-turn 4 son a few times, but it's just too slow for him. He knows about Star Wars, likes it, knows the music and the main characters (especially Darth Vader), loves the toys (especially lightsabers), but when it comes to sitting down and watching it it's 'meh'. Tried Phantom Menace, same result. Slightly more interest in Clone Wars, but I think he finds the plots confusing.
I feel weird letting him watch it, because when I was a kid, it was rated NRC - Not Recommended for Children.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 11:07 PM on January 7, 2011
I feel weird letting him watch it, because when I was a kid, it was rated NRC - Not Recommended for Children.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 11:07 PM on January 7, 2011
I saw Star Wars in the theater when I was five (the original trilogy). It has been one of the greatest loves of my life, and it was one of the first mind-blowing experiences of my childhood. I was notoriously afraid of everything when I was a kid (Poltergeist.. ET -- I'm still afraid of ET, FWIW), but I never had a moment of fear watching any of the first three Star Wars movies. Now, the prequels.. I was in high school when those started coming out, so I can't really say how young is too young for them. Personally, I wish I had the hours back that I spent watching all three of them. I have never watched the Clone Wars, and I have no intention of ever watching it, so I can't comment on that, either.
posted by Mael Oui at 12:53 AM on January 8, 2011
posted by Mael Oui at 12:53 AM on January 8, 2011
After you wipe off the placenta.
posted by darkgroove at 9:05 AM on January 8, 2011
posted by darkgroove at 9:05 AM on January 8, 2011
I'm assuming you're starting them on A New Hope since that's the title of your question. But wouldn't it be fun to start them on Episode I?While that’s true, watching them I–VI in sequential order really spoils much of the plot excitement of IV–VI: if you already know that Darth Vader is Luke’s father, A New Hope is not as interesting, Empire has a huge plot twist that you already had spoiled for you, and all the significance of Luke confronting Vader is taken out of Jedi.
I say that totally seriously. If you've managed to keep from them that Darth Vader is Luke's dad then Episode III will (I think) be better. I know when I saw it I instantly knew Anakin would fall in the lava. Someone who doesn't know he's Vader won't do that.
Ultimately, watching them in order makes the original trilogy less fun and less exciting, yet they are the more interesting three movies of the Star Wars saga. That would be a real shame.
posted by KuraFire at 7:48 AM on January 9, 2011
I've never seen it, and as someone who has never seen it but grown up in this pop culture, I never ever want to. It'd be pointless. I've seen all the parodies, learned the twists and heard the quotes enough that I have a Pavlovian reaction to the whole franchise (see also: Monty Python, though that's thanks to bad amateur renditions). Start them early, if you feel it's something they should see, so it isn't ruined through overexposure first.
(I saw BTTF late in life too, but because that wasn't such a big cultural juggernaut like Star Wars, I really enjoyed it.)
posted by mippy at 8:53 AM on January 10, 2011
(I saw BTTF late in life too, but because that wasn't such a big cultural juggernaut like Star Wars, I really enjoyed it.)
posted by mippy at 8:53 AM on January 10, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by mkb at 8:07 AM on January 7, 2011 [2 favorites]