A Father of a Padawan

I went to bed last night and I dreamed of sitting in my living room and having a Star Wars Marathon.  It included my daughter "The Munchkin" a couple of Pizza's, and an introduction to a science fiction fantasy world.  When I awoke this morning, the feeling had not gone away, and I knew it was time.  It was time to introduce the Munchkin to the world built by George Lucas.

After a long day of work I headed home, eager to get to a DVD player, where I could watch the first episode (episode IV for the purest our there).  I picked the Munchkin up from Daycare and I told her the plan.

Me: I have a surprise for you
Munchkin: What is it!?!
Me: Were going to go home, have your favorite food and watch the first Star Wars
Munchkin: YAY! I'm finally old enough?
Me: Yes Padawan, you are old enough. The Force is strong with you...

Image by James Chance

This was the actual conversation.  Arriving home, I quickly ordered a couple of pizzas, poured us some Root Beers and it had begun.  Now I have to point out a couple of minor details, the DVD we were watching was the High Definition re-release 3 pack with George Lucas changes, it was not the Blu-Ray, I couldn't find my VHS collection copy.  I had thought this wasn't going to be a big deal until we began watching.  Little things bothered me, and I wondered how it was going to affect the Munchkin.  Simple things, like Han NOT shooting first, The conversation between Solo and Jabba, most of Aunt Berus' lines changed (possibly a different actress VO'ed). Little things like this bothered me.  I want to know that even with these changes, will my Munchkin be affected by these films as much as I was as a child?  I worry for our next generation.

Now I have seen many debates about the order that you should present these films.  From Chronological order, to the original release order all the way down to an alternating order of I - IV - II - V - III - VI.  Even Wired's Geek dad has an opinion on how to watch these sacred films. I felt the best way to present them was the way they were presented to me IV - V - VI and maybe the prequels when shes older (Damn you Jar Jar).

After finishing episode IV, the Munchkin asked if she could watch the next one, but it was late, and I have to work in the morning, so I told her the next movie night we would watch.  She was very appreciative, and glad she got to watch it.  Now I sit here thinking about what I have done.  I have begun a chain of events that will alter the way the Munchkin views sci-fi for the rest of her life.  I am literally sitting here typing this, figuring out a way to get a hold of the original VHS copies so I can show her the original format.  So here we are at almost the bottom of this blog post and I am sure you are wondering why I am going on a tangent, well here is the reason - At the end of Return of the Jedi, when Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Yoda appear as ghosts of the Force to Luke Skywalker, the "Edited" versions show Hayden Christiansen instead of Sebastian Shaw.  Now when the Munchkin sees this person, she will have no idea who that is, he is not show anywhere else in all 3 of the original films.  How do I explain that? Am I forced to show her the prequels so she understands? Do I skip episode I and go straight to II.  This is the thing that keeps me up at night.  I don't want to confuse her, I want her to enjoy it, just as I did as a child.  A world of Light Sabers, Space Ships, Dark vs Light.  What is a father to do in the best interest of his child?

Well i'll tell you what I am going to do, I am going to scour the online universe and find the original un-edited versions of the series and continue from there. Yes I may pay an arm and a leg (possibly my next newborn?) but it is the only way to protect my child from the taint that is the "edited" versions of a once great series.  I never thought it was an actual issue before, but that was before I sat on a floor made of blankets and pillows, enjoying a piece of pizza and root beer, with the next generation of sci-fi fans.  I hope that you take this in when you decide it's time to show your child the series.  Watch Episode IV before you make any decisions and see there reaction, hopefully that will determine how you can proceed.  I am interested in what other dads think, or have done, to let there children be broken into the series. 


May the Force be with you... Always