It blows my mind that Monday was Star Wars Day ("May the Fourth be with you!"), because I discovered this after the boys and I spent much of the weekend watching "A New Hope" two and a half times. They wanted to see it a full third time--after Robert's mudbath that some observers might call a baseball game--but I restricted the viewing to cool stuff, like droids battling and battles droiding, so we could conjure LEGO battles of droids battling and battles droiding.
The first viewing was Friday night, when the three of us settled in on drizzly, grim night. The boys sat rapt, squirt guns blasters wedged in their pajama waistbands, while Luke used the force to fell a ginormous, planet-sized space station with his two little popguns. One of the most ridiculous plot points in all of explored space, if you ask me, but still a crucial protein strand in our collective celluloid DNA.
By the second viewing, our third overall, we'd gotten pretty familiar with all the specific dialogue. So an impromptu sort of MST3K episode broke out. Witness these little gems:
- Robert, after Luke gazes off into the two setting suns of Tattooine: "Does that mean you can get two sunburns?"
- TwoBert, after our heroes plunge into the Imperial Trash Smasher: "Princess Leia should not be walking in the garbage because she is wearing a dress."
- Robert, after Obi-Wan slashes the arm off the belligerent snoutface in the Mos Eisley cantina: "OK, note to self. Don't mess with the old guy."
By viewing number three, we were playing along with our LEGO ships and drawing huge explosions and rolling around avoiding certain blasterdeath. The downstairs neighbors might have called the National Guard.
To celebrate May Fourth, I bought both remastered trilogies for $30 each on Amazon. The Force is strong with these children. Perhaps by the time he is 18, TwoBert will follow through on his promise to change his name to Darth Vader.
May the force be with all of you...you have the force so the neighbors better not bother you! So should we start calling him Darth just to set the standard? Love that you do such cool stuff for and with your kids...you rock!
Posted by: Dot | May 05, 2009 at 16:49
My son, who is 3, wanted to be Darth Maul for Halloween. No, he has not seen the new episodes of Star Wars, but he has seen the older ones and he has books. He plays non-stop with my husband's old Star Wars action figures and ships (which would probably be worth a mint if we sold them on ebay) Honestly though, I cannot think of a better, more heart-warming moment, than seeing my 3 year old and my husband playing with light sabers.
May the force be with you.
Posted by: Beth | May 05, 2009 at 18:29
My kids are right there with yours. Over the past several months they have developed a great love for the SW franchise. My kids are young (5 and 6) and I debated whether I should let them see the newer movies, but in the end I did, and they love them. Of the whole series, they tend to like Empire Strikes back, and the last of the new ones when Ani becomes DV.
I just can't wait until they are old enough to watch and enjoy the LOTR trilogy. Orcs may cause nightmares right now at their ages, but in about six years? Instead of watching SW with their dad, they'll be watching LOTR with me and claiming it to be FAR superior. Heh.
Posted by: Jane | May 05, 2009 at 18:43
Oooh! LOTR will be completely AWE to the SOME when these kids come of age.
Posted by: LOD | May 05, 2009 at 18:59
I just hope their future girlfriends don't wear metal bikinis.
Posted by: Alli | May 06, 2009 at 08:37
I sort of hope they do.
Posted by: LOD | May 06, 2009 at 09:53
My kids LOVE to watch movies with their dad. They look forward to it, and he spends time choosing those that are his favorites.
The TV time drives me nuts, but it's worth the bonding time.
Posted by: kidsmom | May 06, 2009 at 13:05
I'm debating whether or not to see this...I used to watch the original series, but only because I was forced to. My hubby and son are big fans though, so maybe I will see it just because...
Posted by: Mary @ Holy Mackerel | May 06, 2009 at 18:02
I have yet to see one Star Wars movie all the way through. However my children have and they love them all! We also have all the Star Wars Lego that I put together with them and they act out all the scenes.
Posted by: BeautifulWreck | May 07, 2009 at 18:14
Okay the line about messing with the old guy just felled me.
Posted by: shula | May 10, 2009 at 09:12
Awesome that they're into Star Wars as opposed to some of the weird stuff my nieces and nephew dig. May the force be with all of you!
Posted by: Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com | May 14, 2009 at 14:20
Ok, the vintage Star Warms movies ROCK. The more recent ones. Not so much. Ok, I'll say it: they suck. Come on, you knew I was going to say it.
Posted by: Elisa | May 16, 2009 at 18:14
My kids love Star Wars. My 1-year old even likes to have Lightsaber battles.
Posted by: Mocha Dad | May 17, 2009 at 21:36