The Original Star Wars Saga

[Varangian (John)]

When should I let my 4.3 year old watch it? He's asking about it constantly because I brought home a dictionary of Star Wars Lego.

I remember my Dad stuffed me into the boot of a HR Premier in 1977-78 (as a 6 year old) at the Ballarat Road (Geelong) drive in and let me watch the movie from the back seat.

Scared the hell out of me. But kids are different today. Any thoughts?

[DJDD]

my friend's daughter started watching it at 6 years of age but i guess it depends.

if you think 4.3 is too young perhaps start him on the Star Wars Angry Birds game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BferNXUH5dM

[Varangian (John)]

What about those clone wars toons? Are they pretty violent?

[ourkind (Carlos)]

My nephew watched the first one when he was 4 (Anakin is only 5 or 6 himself) and consequently each year he's watched the next Episode.

Now my nephew is six and I found out he's watched the 3rd one where Anakin turns into Darth Vader. He was a little upset that he's a baddie now (just like he cried when Wincup started driving Holdens a few years ago) but he's over it and has seen all 6 episodes.

Now he wants to be Luke.

He's also crazy about Lego.

[Poita (Peter)]

I didn't want to go when I was 7, I thought it was a war movie and they gave me nightmares.
My Dad convinced me to go, and I just sat there transported for the what was the best two hours of my young life.

Four year old? Maybe wait until they are a year or two older to really appreciate it, but they need to see it before it is spoiled by seeing all the references to it in every other show.

[Poita (Peter)]

Of course, if you are going to have them watch the (ugh) prequels, do it in the right way.
http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2012/05/ff_starwars/

and Episode III is *not* kid friendly, especially the burned up Anakin scenes and the (stupid) child slaughtering scenes.

[Poita (Peter)]

And this is why the order is important, you can't miss this moment on your kids' faces.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbV5hn_ET0U

[JB80 (Jarrod)]

I thought we had all agreed on forgetting the "prequels" ever existed.

My oldest is 3.4 and while we have no issues with exposing him to the Star Wars franchise with toys, clothes and dads toys(except R2, nobody plays with R2), he is still too young to watch the movies purely because it's too long for his concentration. Each kid is different though but I plan on waiting a couple years before letting him watch it.

[The_bluester (Paul)]

My 4YO has been watching the original movies. The first one he is dead keen on, not quite as keen on the second (A bit of scene skipping required though Luke getting his hand cut off does not bother him in the least, he promptly pulls his sleeve over his hand to make it disappear and waves it about) and the third he does not really watch.

We have not really let him near the prequels to date, I think they are much to explicitly violent for kids his age where much more of the violence in the originals was implied rather than shown.

[Poita (Peter)]

Originally Posted by JB80

I thought we had all agreed on forgetting the "prequels" ever existed.

My oldest is 3.4 and while we have no issues with exposing him to the Star Wars franchise with toys, clothes and dads toys(except R2, nobody plays with R2), he is still too young to watch the movies purely because it's too long for his concentration. Each kid is different though but I plan on waiting a couple years before letting him watch it.

Oh I have agreed on that, my post was for those 'other' Star Wars fans

I've spent far too much time and money over the years tracking down film copies of the original and digitising them so I don't have to watch the 'special editions' either.

-P

[Varangian (John)]

Originally Posted by Poita

And this is why the order is important, you can't miss this moment on your kids' faces.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbV5hn_ET0U

That is hilarious, I forgot how much of an imapct this reveal had on my life. I wish someone got footage of me at that moment.

I will only be showing my son episodes IV, V and VI, if he wants to watch that other stuff he's welcome to.

I think I'll wait until he is 5 1/2 for this and reassess then.

[bartman (Bart)]

Watched the first episode ( original) way back then when I was 8......Loved it ! Wanted be Luke too......

Originally Posted by Poita

and I just sat there transported for the what was the best two hours of my young life.

Four year old? Maybe wait until they are a year or two older to really appreciate it, but they need to see it before it is spoiled by seeing all the references to it in every other show.

I agree Poita.......^

Originally Posted by Varangian

What about those clone wars toons? Are they pretty violent?

Yep too violent^

Originally Posted by Poita

and Episode III is *not* kid friendly, especially the burned up Anakin scenes and the (stupid) child slaughtering scenes.

Yep the kid slaughter scenes wont give the kids too much confidence of becoming a Jedi Warrior......
If I had seen that back in the 70's.... well I would think twice about wanting to become Jedi Luke
As much as I would like my two nephews( 4ish and 2ish) to watch Star Wars.........I'll have to wait till they can sit still and understand the Saga!
Cheers
Jedi Bart

[tlgerdes (Trevor)]

Sit down and watch it with him. That's what fathers are for, someone to hide behind in the scary bits.