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AIBU?

To tell DH 5yrs old is too young for Star Wars (even though I've never seen it)

142 replies

lechatnoir · 18/05/2011 21:05

DH has started to let DS1 watch Star Wars (the old ones) which I'm not happy about it as I assumed they are quite dark &/or violent. DH reckons the early ones are 'harmless' and I'm being OTT and unfair stopping him seeing then when most of the boys in is class have seen bits if not all of them.

So AIBU to DH/DS1 or are the Star Wars series totally inappropriate viewing for a 5yr old?

LCN

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RobF · 18/05/2011 21:17

I think the original Star Wars trilogy would struggle to get a U today. It seems amazing that TESB got a U even 30 years ago, what with Luke getting his hand cut off and Han Solo getting tortured and then frozen in Carbonite.

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pombal · 18/05/2011 21:21

Well I saw the original Starwars when it first came out, I was 6 at the time. There was a scene near the beginning where a sandman attacks Luke and Obi Wan and I was so scared I asked my Mum to take us out of the cinema.

I would let him watch to see the robots, spaceships etc. but get DH to skip some of the scarier bits.

5 is too young to really appreciate though.

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saffy85 · 18/05/2011 21:22

My DD (3) has seen one of the old ones at her dad's insistance although can't remember which one (didn't watch them as a child so not clued up). She seemed to like it, wasn't scared at all and acted out a few of her favourite parts with the help of her teddies. She also wanted to know if she could have her own pet Yoda. I don't think they are scary, just dull imo.

Mind you, I've also found out after the event that her dad has previously ley her watch Transformers, The sodding Terminator and Batman Returns(?) and none of it has fazed her at all. She simply asks who the "goody" is and cheers for them and boos at the baddy.

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Georgimama · 18/05/2011 21:23

DS aged 4 loves the original 3 Star Wars (geek fact: they haven't actually been renumbered; when it came out in - 1977? - Star Wars: a New Hope was number IV. It was always intended that there were 3 prequels). And Empire Strikes Back is popularly considered, along with the Godfather II (don't let him watch that) to be one of the only sequels which is a better film than its predecessor.

BTW the best characters in the original Star Wars trilogy are Han Solo and Lando Calrisian. DS says so it must be true.

(Should I admit to DS's other favourite film - Zulu? Possibly not)

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messymammy · 18/05/2011 21:23

star wars are brilliant classic films,with a strong moralistic theme amongst others,and are suitable for all ages as the themes have so many levels.
I cant believe you've never seen them!And to deny him seeing them when you havent is strange.

ALthough I stil don't know where Lucas was going with the half romance with brother and sister Luke and leia.Weird.Like in He-Man :o

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trixymalixy · 18/05/2011 21:25

RobF if you read the notes on the BBFC website someone linked to below, it was classified in 2004 and the BBFC thinks it is suitable from age 4

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theglove · 18/05/2011 21:27

Merylstrop ds loves Boba Fett! He has a lego Boba figure and I can make him comply with orders by threatening it.

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PatriciaHolm · 18/05/2011 21:27

"I assumed they were quite dark/violent'

So you would rather go with your assumption than your DH's actual knowledge. Don't you trust him?

The original 3, as everyone else has pretty much said, are basically kids films. Most 5-6 year olds I know have watched them.

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NerfHerder · 18/05/2011 21:28

YABVU- how could you not have seen Star Wars?

I saw the first one at 3... had a profound effect on me.

Empire Strikes Back is quite dark I think... but I had to wait until 6 for that one...

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Cutiecat · 18/05/2011 21:29

My son started watching Star Wars at age 3 and I have to say it has never given him a worry, if anything it has taught him lots. We talked about the death of Osama Bin Laden's death recently and DS asked why there was a photo in the paper of him smiling. My answer was that was before he went over to the Dark Side. No more explanation required.

YABU.

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Ragwort · 18/05/2011 21:29

messymammy - I am sure there are lots of people who have never watched a Star Wars film and are pefectly happy about that . Personally I can't understand the appeal at all - have never, ever had the inclination to watch one - I wouldn't have let my 5 year old DS watch them, he does watch the occasional one now (age 10) - I have to leave the room.

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Megatron · 18/05/2011 21:30

My DS is craxy about all things Star Wars and has been since he was 5 (he's 7 now). I won't let him watch number 3 of the new ones but we've had great fun watching the rest of them.

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DilysPrice · 18/05/2011 21:31

YABU, DD has been completely hooked since the age of 2 1/2.

I wouldn't let them watch Revenge of the Sith at a very young age. because that's nasty, but I took her to see The Clone Wars movie at the cinema as a 6th (maybe 7th) birthday treat - turns out that it's one long CGI battle, and very dull it is too, but she declared it Best Movie Ever (all films she watches at the cinema are BME, until the next one - I think she's just very susceptible to popcorn).

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verlainechasedrimbauds · 18/05/2011 21:34

My ds loved Star Wars and recorded the films onto video when he was quite young (a bit older than your ds though). He then proudly labelled the videos himself.

I think anyone looking through his video collection might have been a bit worried: spelling wasn't his strong point and I think "Star Wores" might have conjured up some entirely different images in most people's minds.

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280169 · 18/05/2011 21:35

yabu my ds was in hossi in solitary age 6 for a couple of weeks star wars saved my life. i love the films now

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PaisleyLeaf · 18/05/2011 21:36

Too violent for my DD when 5 - but I am basing that on having watched them for myself (not an assumption of the content).

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pointythings · 18/05/2011 21:37

My DDs ( 8 and 10) haven't seen Star Wars but not because I'd object - they just aren't that into the sci fi stuff though they do love fantasy. We watched the Princess Bride the other day - now there's a classic, they loved it. They've seen Harry Potter 1 - 4, after having the books read to them and I have already told them we're taking a break after book 5 as it gets too dark.
They're very different characters, TBH - DD1 still finds 'Labyrinth' scary whereas it's DD2's favourite film of all time.

They mostly get upset when people die (if it's a main character they care about) so that's my censorship criterion.

I have no intention of letting them watch LOTR until they are at least 12 and preferably older. I also want them to read the book first (realise this might be a big ask, though I read it by 11 )

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animula · 18/05/2011 21:38

Wow. You've never seen Star Wars? That's like the popular culture equivalent of not having read "Hamlet"!

Ds watched it at around about 5 (I think - am hazy now). It was an event, a rite of passage, and godfather insisted on being there.

Think you're going to have to watch it with him.

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Maelstrom · 18/05/2011 21:39

When I first saw the first Star Wars I was six, very impressed, in a positive way. The old ones are harmless, yet we draw the line at Episode III, too violent for a young child.

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HeadfirstForHalos · 18/05/2011 21:39

All of mine love the Star Wars films, the old and new ones. They are aged 3,5,7 and 8. The "dark" stuff goes over the heads, but they love the cool light-sabery stuff, and R2D2 and C3PO are heroes in this house

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animula · 18/05/2011 21:41

Unreasonable you are.

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Jude89 · 18/05/2011 21:41

its really dull...

play lego starwars instead

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PatriciaHolm · 18/05/2011 21:42

Excellent Animula - but staggered no-one has done it yet!

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MrsPlesWearsAFez · 18/05/2011 21:44

YABU

The original three are all U-rated, and all of the information about their classification can be found online.

Similarly, you could read the parents guide on IMDB

Totally agree with your DH that they're harmless - is there any reason why you don't trust his judgement despite having not seen them yourself? Seems like an odd position to take.

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MrsPlesWearsAFez · 18/05/2011 21:45

Or IMDB even

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