While I can enjoy the Star Wars saga from the perspective of a child, I am much happier watching these great films from the perspective of an adult. That way, I am able to appreciate them on all levels. For example, I never realized how many real world examples there are in Star Wars until I was older and became more aware of the world around me.

Well put. I agree that people usually overlook that Star Wars draws very much from the real world. Yet for some or other reason, the Prequels do not fully exploit the great potential of their premise. The political parable of Palpatine's rise to power is beautifully executed, but certain story beats should have been mined with more devotion.

Anakin's hardships of slavedom, Padme's lot in life to have grown up too fast (all Naberrie scenes have been excised) or the subplot concerning refugees fleeing the Outer Rim on the brink of galactic war that hardly anyone is aware of (basically excised as well).

As a child, I find the entertainment value excellent, as an adult, I wish aforementioned bits had textured the Saga further.

I want my daddy!

I'm entertained by different things from each film and trilogy, some are for similar reasons, some are completely different. One can spend a lot of time picking out mistakes, weaknesses, why this is better than that yada yada... but I'd rather spend my time enjoying the good stuff. I see each trilogy as a different animal, yet they tie together as perfectly as GL intended. It's his baby so none of us can change it, and I have trust in his vision. There are as many different types of fans as there are actual fans, so nobody can fit exactly into either "if".

With that, it's past my bedtime and I bid you adieu

i fell in love with sw as a kid but i undertand the stories so much better now and iam so impressed with how the stories all fit so well togeather!

but i have been having a hard time finding a timeline that will allow me to find and read the books that are between the movies.

i just read dark lord - the rise of darth vador (great book!) and i thought it was the book meant to pick up after revenge of the sith. (maybe it is, but i read something that said other wise)

i would really like to be able to fill in all the missing books before i venture out into the expanded universe or any other spin offs.
please help thanks in advance ~ d

LIke JK, I'm entertained by various things in each episode. Sure, the OT always will hold a special and magical place in my heart as it certainly influenced my childhood but I like to look at the greater picture now, as an adult. I appreciate both trilogies for what they offer.
good blog!

It's an interesting question. It's one I guess that assumes when you watched "Star Wars" as a child you didn't watch it with a critical eye and a mind that thought what was playing out through.

I can enjoy the OT (in its original format) as I did as a child, but I can't watch the PT as a child, because I wasn't one when it came out. I can watch it as an adult who is disappointed that it didn't hold up to what the OT was.

donothing8 hit something there; I think it's the EU's job to fill us in on the details. Star Wars' red beating heart is that of a 1940s adventure serial. So I think endless development of character and slowing down the pace to satisfy adults need for a more complicated movie is not what it's about. At least in the films. They're meant to be visual feasts for the eye, carried along by the music.

They're more "feel" and not-so-much logocentric like most modern movies. It's this aspect of them that kids can appreciate more instinctively.

Well, lwj, I say yes, one can.

Why?

Because of the magic and wonder of it all.


(and that goes for those of us who are older in years but retain the heart of a child. )


MTFBWY

I haven't sat down to view the PT in a while, and every time I see a snippet here and there, I'm reminded of how cool they were. So I suppose I can still view them with a good amount of awe and wonder. Maybe I'm just lucky... or maybe the key is to not watch them all the time.

I started watching Star wars when I was 5

Star Wars' red beating heart is that of a 1940s adventure serial. So I think endless development of character and slowing down the pace to satisfy adults need for a more complicated movie is not what it's about. At least in the films. They're meant to be visual feasts for the eye, carried along by the music.

They're more "feel" and not-so-much logocentric like most modern movies. It's this aspect of them that kids can appreciate more instinctively.

Hammer, meet the head on the nail.

Thanks, Miss Padme.

(and that goes for those of us who are older in years but retain the heart of a child. )

Hey there Melinda...I resemble that remark.

Maybe I'm just lucky... or maybe the key is to not watch them all the time.

I think that is key. When the movies were new and fresh, I would tend to over-do it. And it loses something for me unless I decide not to watch them for a while. Overwatching leads to overanalysis and the phenomena of "blooper-obsessiveness" and other maladies. One thing that happens to me is having Prequel Hater arguments run through my head as a sort of negative DVD commentary track.

Those really aren't so bad, because watching the films is always the best argument for their beauty and power. But yeah, I am now in my normal mode of watching them once or twice a year (the sextet).