Newcomer to Star Wars question

POSTED BY: Calhoun
UPDATED: Monday, March 20, 2006 11:05
VIEWED: 6320
PAGE 1 of 3

1 2 3 NEXT PAGE

CALHOUN

Thursday, March 16, 2006 3:09 AM

My kids are the age where they ready to be introduced to Star Wars (Woohoo!). I am wondering about where to start with them. Do you think newcomer kids should start with the prequels or the originals? and why?

CYBERSNARK

Thursday, March 16, 2006 3:24 AM

Originals.

Episode III ruins any dramatic impact the original trilogy has.

Y'know That Scene in ESB? The one you do NOT want spoiled? The one that defines the entire emotional/narrative axis on which the trilogy (and arguably, the entire SW universe) turns, and completely redefines Luke's character arc and future growth throughout the Expanded Universe?

Episode III comes right out and tells you that Anakin/Skywalker/Darth Vader's son is Luke Skywalker (and that Leia Organa is Luke's sister).

You show the prequels to your kids first, they'll never understand what anybody ever saw in the saga.

Oh, and after the original trilogy, make sure they see the Ewok movies. Love 'em or hate 'em, I feel everyone should see those two at least once (plus the DVD is ridiculously cheap).

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

SEVENPERCENT

Thursday, March 16, 2006 3:27 AM

The originals. And not just the originals, the pre-edited originals, if you have the means to find them.

I mean, I grew up with Star Wars, loved Star Wars as a child and as an adult, but let's be frank - the prequels? Trash. Too much greenscreen and computer generated junk, and not enough real actors to give it life. The real actors that they had, all of them quality, were reduced to cardboard versions of themselves because of it (I've seen Sam Jackson and Natalie Portman act, but somehow the prequels turned them into dinner-theater quality amateurs).

And as for why I say the unedited originals, let me be perfectly clear: Han shot first, and Hayden Christiensen was not Darth Vader's spirit. I do not accept the changes; it's like my brain shuts down when I hear about them from people who have bought his latest "cleaned up" versions. Nuh-uh.

So, introduce them to the story the way it was meant to be told - IV, V, and VI. One day they'll thank you for it.

------------------------------------------
He looked bigger when I couldn't see him.

Anyone wanting to continue a discussion off board is welcome to email me - check bio for details.

BREWGRL

Thursday, March 16, 2006 3:32 AM

Sevenpercent, I am right there with you! I like to pretend that the prequels were never made and I can just imagine what happened before the original three. And Han shot first!

ACRAZYIVAN

Thursday, March 16, 2006 3:58 AM

Original-originals - if you have the means. Not even the "special edition" VHS from the late 90's. A CGI Jabba the Hutt, an exhaustive music video from his palace, Greedo shooting first - it's all bunk. I don't think you'll find a person here who thinks that the Star Wars trilogy is better off now than it was before. Not only that, but the prequels are a travesty. You might even think about telling your kids they aren't worth watching. I introduced my girlfriend to Star Wars, and after everything she's heard, she plans to never see the prequels. I know there's an awful lot of stuff from them I'd like removed from my memory (I cringe at the sight of a CGI Yoda). The only thing the prequels do is make the original trilogy less exciting surprising. 'Empire' would just end with the thought: "Yeah - obviously. We all knew that." instead of "Holy hell? HE is your father??"

George Lucas never should have, as River would say, meddled with Star Wars after the first trilogy was done.

"We've gotta go to the crappy town where I'm a hero."

THIEFJEHAT

Thursday, March 16, 2006 4:09 AM

Han Shot First.

Show them episodes IV, V, and VI.

Do not fear me. Ours is a peaceful race, and we must live in harmony.

CHRISPV

Thursday, March 16, 2006 4:22 AM

The prequels are an acquired taste that I never acquired, so it might be that your kids will love them. However, you DEFINITELY want to start out with the originals. My reason for this is simple: A New Hope is the introductory film. If you start with The Phantom Menace, you'll have Jedi running about, using the Force, fighting for the Republic, but your kids won't have the slightest clue what those things actually mean.

That's one of my main problems with the prequels, they operate on an extraordinarily high base of assumed knowledge.

Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal, Fox!

CALHOUN

Thursday, March 16, 2006 4:46 AM

Thank you all for your input.

I was thinking the originals but I couldnt be sure my bias was justified, but now reading and fully agreeing with what you guys have articulated I am convinced.

Also as a bonus I have the original unedited versions in widescreen on DVD(never been released on DVD(I think)), because I bought the widescreen VHS way back when and made my own DVD's of them.

CHRISPV

Thursday, March 16, 2006 4:50 AM

Good call. I have a set of DVDs mastered off of the laserdiscs.

The irony? The laserdiscs were marketed as "The Definitive Edition."

Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal, Fox!

BROWNCOATSANDINISTA

Thursday, March 16, 2006 5:47 AM

I think that this tells us something about our BDM. Never, ever, ever let fox come out with a "Special Edition" version of the DVDs with Dobson shooting first, CG reavers, and Hayden Christiansen as Book. Never Ever Ever.

If anyone gets nosy...Shoot em.
Shoot em sir?
Politely.

1 2 3 NEXT PAGE