The force: really all that?

[jamesc]

I love the star wars movies, I really do, but a couple of things have gotten me thinking. Namely, the force unleashed, a comment by yahtzee, an article on another game sit, and my own thoughts. Why is it that all the Jedi "suck"? Keep in mind that when I say this, I don?t mean that they are bad, but they *are* bad compared to what the force can supposedly do. Such as the force unleashed. In that game, they start to tap the true potential of this mystical power, but even then, it still is kind of iffy. I mean, from what I have heard, the force is only limited by what you believe you can, and cannot do. I understand that this can lead to many complications, what with people doubting themselves and all, but shouldn't even some of the worst Jedi ever at least be able to snap their fingers and have a star destroyer rip in half? I'm not intending this as a rip on the star wars series at all, just an honest question that I would like answered about the series. What is keeping the Jedi from doing, well, anything they want? What I would think they could do would be something like the dragon riders in the Eragon series, because they are very similar to each other. Only Jedi?s wouldn't be limited by the energy in their bodies, because they have unlimited energy. Also, there is no such things as midochlorians, so don't even mention them.

 

[perfectimo]

Do not ever use 'Star Wars: Force Unleashed' as canon to what the force can do, ever. It may link the original trilogy to those other 3 but that's it.

 

[jebussaves88]

I'll tell you why, because Star Wars is inconsistant. How come not a single one of them detected a disturbance in the Force before getting murdered in Ep 3? Because it's inconsistant. And yet they can tell when a single spikey faced red man with a double ended lightsabre is biking at them ten minutes before. Stupid really. I think the original trilogy is more like it, where fights were more controlled and the Force was still impressive despite it basically being psychic powers.

 

[rottenbutter]

For one reason, or another, Lucas didn't give jedis EXTREME force powers in the movies.

But from what I've heard, ridiculously strong force powers are more common in the expanded universe.

 

[John Stalvern]

Midochlorians

 

[Nivag the Owl]

I thought it was because Jedis use the highest amount of power that doesn't start corrupting and controlling them. I mean I don't really know much about Star Wars but that's what I gather from the films.

 

[jim_doki]

in parts 1-3 jedi are everywhere. by part 4 there are four (by the end 3) Jedi left in the universe. i thik that hase something to do with it

 

[jamesc]

Midochlorians

ARGHHHH

 

[J-Man]

Midochlorians

Seconded.

 

[xxcloud417xx]

Lots of inconsistencies in the series mate... I wouldn't let it bother you what the force can and cannot do, I mean it's just a movie/game/comic/etc, etc, etc. And besides, its not like any of us have the Force so why do we need to know its limits?

 

[ThaBenMan]

I thought it was because Jedis use the highest amount of power that doesn't start corrupting and controlling them. I mean I don't really know much about Star Wars but that's what I gather from the films.

I think Nivag has a good point here - that old chestnut, "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely". You mentioned The Force Unleashed. What sort of character do you play in that? That's right, a Sith. A light-side Jedi isn't going to be seen doing that stuff.

And about your post, jebussaves - I think Yoda did foresee the shit that was going to go down and so escaped. Maybe all the other Jedi just weren't as strong as him and so couldn't foresee it? I mean, he is Yoda

 

[Berethond]

I thought it was because Jedis use the highest amount of power that doesn't start corrupting and controlling them. I mean I don't really know much about Star Wars but that's what I gather from the films.

I think Nivag has a good point here - that old chestnut, "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely". You mentioned The Force Unleashed. What sort of character do you play in that? That's right, a Sith. A light-side Jedi isn't going to be seen doing that stuff.

And about your post, jebussaves - I think Yoda did foresee the shit that was going to go down and so escaped. Maybe all the other Jedi just weren't as strong as him and so couldn't foresee it? I mean, he is Yoda

If you'll all recall, Chancellor Palpatine was clouding the future from the Jedi. He was able to do that because he's a Sith and the Dark Side works a little differently than the light.

 

[blackcherry]

From what my friend has told me of the expanded universe, the jedi can use force lightening (at one point they apparently use it frequently) and other darkside powers as long as they aren't in anger or focusing negative emotions. As thats 'un jedi like' *rolls eyes*.

However, as you draw on the force to do more it becomes more physically and mentally draining until it begins to have long term effects upon you. After all, the body can only take so much.

From what I myself recall of reading the books as a teenager, the most impressive feat of the force involved killing the inhabitants of a whole system, but it was pretty much a one off. Most force users, even the most powerful sith, peak at episode 1-3 levels.

 

[L.B. Jeffries]

Hell, I take KOTOR more seriously than I do the prequels.

 

[Erana]

The developers of the Force Unleashed stated in an interview I saw that they were going over the top for the sake of making the game more fun-
A sacrifice I'm willing to make.

 

[Trace2010]

I'll tell you why, because Star Wars is inconsistant. How come not a single one of them detected a disturbance in the Force before getting murdered in Ep 3? Because it's inconsistant. And yet they can tell when a single spikey faced red man with a double ended lightsabre is biking at them ten minutes before. Stupid really. I think the original trilogy is more like it, where fights were more controlled and the Force was still impressive despite it basically being psychic powers.

I think that the novel adaptation of the third movie explained it very well. Pick it up and read the part beginning "To set a Jedi trap and not join the numerous ranks of failures..." The clone troopers were created to simply obey orders from superior officers- they felt essentially nothing themselves- thus when they got the order to kill all of the Jedi- there was no ripple in the Force to alert the Jedi to their intent.

EDIT::: Also, Yoda was on Kashykk-far away from the Imperial Epicenter when he began to feel the ripples created by the deaths of Jedi on other world's. That, and deductive logic, was how he escaped the trap.

 

[Archemetis]

In the original Trilogy? no it's not all that much.
You could lift an X-wing out of a swamp, that's your limit.

in the later trilogy, yeah there was more you could with it, but still nothing incredibly impressive.

Force unleashed: you could destroy the universe nine times before lunch by blinking quickly enough.

 

[Alex_P]

Why is it that all the Jedi "suck"? Keep in mind that when I say this, I don?t mean that they are bad, but they *are* bad compared to what the force can supposedly do. Such as the force unleashed. In that game, they start to tap the true potential of this mystical power, but even then, it still is kind of iffy. I mean, from what I have heard, the force is only limited by what you believe you can, and cannot do.

The Force isn't just mystical power, though. It's mystical harmony, mystical unity, mystical life energy.

A true Light Side master, one with the universe and the Force, isn't going to be ripping Star Destroyers apart with his mind. He doesn't need to. Bending reality to your will is the forte of the Dark Side. A Light Side master is one with the universe -- all about minimal effort, minimal disruption, minimal violence (for all of Starkiller's power, what does he truly accomplish?). That's why the truest expression of the Light Side is becoming a "Force ghost" -- a reference and homage to the concept of bodhisattvas. Obi-wan is so in tune with the universe that it can speak through him even after his death. (The Sith ghosts we see in the EU, in contrast, are tortured echoes, rooted in placed and only dimly aware of themselves and their surroundings.)

...

And about your post, jebussaves - I think Yoda did foresee the shit that was going to go down and so escaped. Maybe all the other Jedi just weren't as strong as him and so couldn't foresee it? I mean, he is Yoda

Yoda in the Old Republic era isn't nearly as wise as Yoda in the Empire era. Like the rest of the Jedi Order, he's kinda lost his way, forgotten what truly matters. That's why the renegade, near-heretical Qui-Gon is the first Jedi in a very long time to become a "Force ghost" (This was really poorly set up in the movie). It's only through his deep contemplation on Dagobah that Yoda becomes a person truly capable of helping Luke.

-- Alex

 

[jboking]

Hell, I take KOTOR more seriously than I do the prequels.

Agreed, and thats why my answer to this question is their Midi-chlorian count.

 

[sirdapfrey]

Over-using the Force and/or unecessarily using the Force for mundane tasks and such are a path to the Dark Side. Other than Force Unleashed and the expanded universe (books,etc...), we're not really shown the Dark Side in all of it's evil glory. Thusly, there are no scenes in any of the movie of Star Destroyers being ripped apart and so on.