Star Wars for the next generation

I was not alive for the release of any of the original films. They weren't exactly on TV, either. Somewhere around the time I was in 6th grade, I suddenly had a burning desire to finally watch them. I got the original trilogy for Christmas that year on VHS. This was before the Special Edition ever came out, so I was able to enjoy them unaltered.

What did it mean to me? I think I love Star Wars just about as much, if not more than most of the people who were alive to see it in the theater. I ate it up and rewatched it just as hard as anyone who was there, only I did it from the comfort of my own home, sometimes with a large collection of Star Wars toys my brother and I amassed in a short period of time. I was at the age where I could still buy or ask for action figures and actually play with them (I still buy them occasionally now, but they serve as decorations), and the Power of the Force line was going back then. That was my last hurrah for playing with toys, but it was a hell of a hurrah.

So yeah...little to no difference for me.

Lucas fucked up the movies with the new effects. The originals were all models, lighting, and true special effects, and they screwed the whole look of the film up when they went back and added in the shite like Jabba, some of the very unfunny "comedy" like that singer in A New Hope, and most especially the 2 dimensional "blast wave" of the death star exploding.

I have the originals, and they will remain original.

And there was me thinking that the answer to "Star Was for the Next Generation" was going to be Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings.

How about trying them out with the Clone Wars CGI cartoon? Way better than the prequel movies.

panzerattack wrote: And there was me thinking that the answer to "Star Was for the Next Generation" was going to be Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings.

How about trying them out with the Clone Wars CGI cartoon? Way better than the prequel movies.

Along those lines, I don't think there is any doubt that the Harry Potter films will be to those growing up during their run what Star Wars is to people of my generation.

Machete Order is the way.

IV, V, II, III, VI. Ignore The Phantom Menace completely. Kids still get to be shocked at the Big Reveal at the end of Empire, then get some backstory before the finale.

I have IV-V-VI discs burned from the second Laserdisc release (pre-THX). The THX releases were the first (slight) video edits.

Sorry, I'm late for the party, but here's my two cents:

I was 7 or 8 when I saw Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope (or, as it was called that time: Star Wars). I can tell you for sure that I had no idea what the hell was going on. Nope, none at all. All I knew was that it looked fucking awesome, and it had the best music I had ever heard.

Anyway. Show it (the original trilogy) to her as soon as possible, before her expectations are spoiled by modern special effects, and it stands in the way of enjoyment. The prequel trilogy can wait until she's older, especially Episode 2 and 3, those are for kids at least 10-12 years old.

If you watch the Pre-quel trilogy first it ruins the original trilogy. You'll know that Darth Vader is Lukes Dad and I remember watching Empire in the theatre and the arguements in the school yard after that movie came out were furious. Was Darth lying? Was he really Luke's father? It was amazing the effect it had on the children. I don't hate the pre-quels but they don't work together at all.

IF you watch the pre-quels alone you may be shocked to find out that Anikan becomes a bad guy at the end... that would be cool if we didn't already know it and IF you watch the original one first you'll be shocked to find out who Luke's father is.

They can't both work though. Sure, kids enjoy the pre-quels well enough but you have to decide which surprise is more exciting and, probably due to nostalgia, I'll side with the original series. I'll still show my son the pre-quels when the time comes but he's definitely going to experience the original series first.

I have nothing against CGI, but I think Lucas did go overboard with it and he filmed them too early. The CGI looks pretty bad in the new one or at the very least incongrous with the humans in the film. But some stuff looks dumb in the first ones too. Not the space battles though, they all look great.

433 wrote: Machete Order is the way.

IV, V, II, III, VI. Ignore The Phantom Menace completely. Kids still get to be shocked at the Big Reveal at the end of Empire, then get some backstory before the finale.

I have IV-V-VI discs burned from the second Laserdisc release (pre-THX). The THX releases were the first (slight) video edits.

I 2nd this. I did it last time I was in the mood to watch them. Pretty much ruled.

JonJacob wrote: You'll know that Darth Vader is Lukes Dad

WTF!! SPOILER ALERT!!

WHAT!!! I never knew this. Maybe I was drunk or maybe I didn't bother watching beyond Star Wars. I heard there is some kind of incestual relationship between that blonde guy and the chick with the funny hair. Doesn't sound like kids should be watching it at all!

I actually think The Phantom Menace is the best of the prequels. It's the only one that feels like it has any sort of soul at all to me. I reckon that's because there was far more location filming on that one than the other two. Get rid of Jar Jar Binks and it'd actually be a pretty decent film. Yeah, young Anakin is annoying but I'll take him over sulking teenage Anakin any day.

I would take a badass, Han Solo-like Anakin over either of those.

I'm going to do what the guy from Film Nerd did with my kids. Read the articles - they'll make you see the movies in a whole new light. This stuff is great!

bitly.com/bundles/shwitz/3

Read them all. They're worth it.

tomvasel wrote: I'm going to do what the guy from Film Nerd did with my kids. Read the articles - they'll make you see the movies in a whole new light. This stuff is great!

bitly.com/bundles/shwitz/3

Read them all. They're worth it.

Timely, as it's my lunch break.

And you're right, they are.

tomvasel wrote: I'm going to do what the guy from Film Nerd did with my kids. Read the articles - they'll make you see the movies in a whole new light. This stuff is great!

bitly.com/bundles/shwitz/3

Read them all. They're worth it.

Thanks, this is truly awesome.

My favorite line, so far:
"After one of the kissing scenes, Toshi asked me if all the kissing is what made Anakin turn into Darth Vader."

My plan is to watch the clone wars show, then the OT. I already have so much star wars stuff I have little fear that he he wont be curious about it. I think the clone wars show does a good job of filling in the anakin backstory without spoiling his parentage of Luke and leia. The prequels are just a mess thematically and handle everything way worse than the clone wars.