Introducing older kids to Star Wars

[Julylady]

We are taking my 11 and 14 year old nieces to Walt Disney World this spring. They have never been exposed to any of the Star Wars movies or culture, with the exception of the Star Tours ride. I saw the first two movies when they came out, but hardly remember them at all. Their interest has been piqued by the new movie and the fact that Hollywood Studios is opening some Star Wars exhibits.

Do you have any advice on how to introduce kids to Star Wars? Should we just watch all the movies? What order should we watch them in? This is on our list of things to do during their holiday break. THANKS.

 

[msmama]

My personal advice is just do 4,5,6 (the original trilogy) and forget the rest even exist!!

If you google you will get tons of opinions on how the entire series should be watched (I think the most popular being 4,5,6,2,3,1(or skip one all together). If they enjoy the movies, I highly recommend The Clone Wars and Rebels TV series.

For older kids you may not care as much, but the newer movies are significantly more violent (Especially 3) and it'll be awhile before I allow my son (7) to see them.

 

[yulilin3]

I agree with @msmama if you want to watch them all do it in theatrical order, I would completely skip Episode II (only important thing in that one is that Anakin married Padme in secret)
There are plenty of videos on youtube with all the movies and star wars explained in 6 minutes, and the such. I would still watch the movies though

 

[Mikie]

I mostly agree with @msmama - and I see @yullin3 best me to it while I type! I'd watch them in theatrical release order. If they're still interested, move on with 1, 2, 3. Definitely watch the originals (4, 5, 6) before the new movie or going to DHS!

 

[Julylady]

Thank you all! 4,5 and 6 it will be.

 

[Skywise]

To keep all the spoilers and plot twists intact (and if you want to see ALL the movies) the order for this is 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6.

Most people would say you don't need to see the prequels (and for the most part they're definitely not as good as the original trilogy) but if you're interested in the whole story I think that's the way to go.

(Also, some say 4, 5, 2, 3, 6 and you dont need to see 1 at all but I say you should suffer Jar-Jar like the rest of us! )

 

[Skywise]

I agree with @msmama(only important thing in that one is that Anakin married Padme in secret)

Hullloooo spoiler alert!

 

[yulilin3]

Hullloooo spoiler alert!

but I didn't tell her about the shark...

 

[Skywise]

but I didn't tell her about the shark...

Oh why dontcha just blow the whole story about

Spoiler: spoiler

Jar-Jar being a sith apprentice!!

 

[nilla]

My wife was in the same boat. We watched 4, 5, and 6. I said she should now watch 1, 2, and 3 as well, but as far as the story goes, I don't think you miss out on anything whatsoever by not seeing those. They're really just origins and back story, and don't really add anything you that you would need to know going into Episode 7.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

if you watch Episode 1 first you may not want to watch the rest of them, so I'd go with Episodes 4 5 and 6 in that order. It's a good lead in to the new film too. If you then have an interest in the backstory after seeing 6, go for the prequels.

 

[elgerber]

I agree with @msmama if you want to watch them all do it in theatrical order, I would completely skip Episode II (only important thing in that one is that Anakin married Padme in secret)
There are plenty of videos on youtube with all the movies and star wars explained in 6 minutes, and the such. I would still watch the movies though

LOL, this is my advice to anyone who asks exactly!! Start with 4, 5 and 6, and avoid #2 at all costs!

 

[cgattis]

but I didn't tell her about the shark...

Oh please say Jar-Jar gets eaten by a shark at the earliest possible opportunity....pleeeeeease???

 

[ChloesDaddy]

Looks like the OP has decided to go with 4-5-6. For what it's worth, I think ESB (5) is most likely to get tween or teen girls interested. It moves fast, has a love triangle of sorts, has betrayal and redemption elements, and generally plays most like a soap opera. Based on the trailers for the new film, it also seems most reflective of the same tone and settings. If you want to get girls interested with minimal time investment I think this is the one to watch.

 

[tstidm1]

I would say that you can either watch 4, 5 and 6 before Episode 7 and not worry about the first three films. If their more animation fans, I would try Rebels or Clone Wars series. Clone Wars is on Netflix and Rebels is on Disney's VOD service or Amazon Video. Both are really good series IMHO even though Clone wars takes place in the prequel universe.

 

[bumbershoot]

The 11 year old might actually like jarjar. My 11 year old still does.

Trying to not feel miffed at the stated idea that girls might be interested bc of a love triangle? I'm a girl and my fave part of the movies is the light saber battles. Ep 1 is worth suffering through jarjar for the Liam/Ewan/"can't remember the name of the guy who plays Maul" battle alone.

 

[yulilin3]

The 11 year old might actually like jarjar. My 11 year old still does.

Trying to not feel miffed at the stated idea that girls might be interested bc of a love triangle? I'm a girl and my fave part of the movies is the light saber battles. Ep 1 is worth suffering through jarjar for the Liam/Ewan/"can't remember the name of the guy who plays Maul" battle alone.

Ray Park...I'm not even going to go there with the whole girl/love triangle thing

 

[srferson]

I agree that 4, 5, 6 makes sense for introducing someone to Star Wars.

There are a lot of people who think #2 is a waste of time and that nothing happens. We watched them recently and I definitely disagree. I don't think it's an amazing movie but I found it very interesting in terms of character development. Just my opinion.

 

[yulilin3]

I agree that 4, 5, 6 makes sense for introducing someone to Star Wars.

There are a lot of people who think #2 is a waste of time and that nothing happens. We watched them recently and I definitely disagree. I don't think it's an amazing movie but I found it very interesting in terms of character development. Just my opinion.

it is important for character development I just can't stand Hayden's acting

 

[ChloesDaddy]

The 11 year old might actually like jarjar. My 11 year old still does.

Trying to not feel miffed at the stated idea that girls might be interested bc of a love triangle? I'm a girl and my fave part of the movies is the light saber battles. Ep 1 is worth suffering through jarjar for the Liam/Ewan/"can't remember the name of the guy who plays Maul" battle alone.

Sorry for any stereotyping and don't mean to imply girls can't or wouldn't be interested in other elements. I don't really know what someone else's girls might like. My oldest, a 10 year old girl, isn't interested much in soap operaish stories and really gets into the Marvel films. Winter Soldier is her favorite with Guardians of the Galaxy a close second.

However, recent movie franchises that have been popular with girls that age (Hunger Games, Twilight) have included a love triangle as a prominent plot element, right? I would say each person has to guage the choice based on the particular interests of their daughters, nieces, etc. I'm just offering a different perspective that someone might find useful for their situation.

As for the mystery actor, martial arts expert Ray Park played Darth Maul, and I agree that whole sequence alone is worth suffering Jarjar, midichlorians, and Manequin Skywalker. The pod race sequence is really good too.