STAR WARS

A Strong Effect... On The Weak-Minded

We've already seen that Kenobi is a dangerous man to be left alone with.
How long is the ride to Mos Eisley?
Because Luke is now officially captured by Kenobi and is absorbing everything this vile war-criminal wants to fill his head with.
How many Jedi war atrocity stories is Luke treated to?
Compare the editing here with the droids journey across Tatooine.
No need to bother us, the audience, with Kenobi's innocent chatter, eh?

On to Mos Eisley spaceport.
Per Kenobi, "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy".
How is it you know this, old hermit Ben?
Come to Mos Eisley often, do you?

A couple things to note about Ben's use of the Force with the Stormtroopers;
First, the troopers actually seem pretty polite.
We don't see them roughing up any motorists or pedestrians, knocking over any fruit stands, rounding up innocents just to persecute them - nothing of the sort.
Also, watch how easily Kenobi manipulates the trooper.
Relaxed, confident, he disuades the trooper almost casually.
Makes you wonder what he could do if he really concentrated, eh?
Like, say if he thought the fate of the galaxy was at stake...
Or, say if he was pulling some elaborate trick on his arch nemesis...
Oh, shit...
Run, Luke! Run!!

This little display of the Force with the troopers shows us how it can be used to influence the thoughts and actions of others.
Caught in the hypno-crossfire, Luke seems as conked out as the troopers, later admitting he has no idea how they got passed them. (Andy Bergstrom)
Kenobi tells Luke that "the Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded".
Is this a subtle joke at Luke's expense?
Is he so confident at this point that he's actually telling Luke that he's controlling his mind?

I've come to question everything about this saga, so can the Force be used at all to control others or is this just another lie?
Jedi mind tricks are often discussed however, and this trait is commonly accepted within the Star Wars universe, so it gets a lot of validation.
It's not too extraordinary to imagine that a meditation/philosophy/training could produce Rasputin-like charisma.
An intergalactic School of Mesmerism, if you will.

We don't hear the term "Jedi mind trick" until Return of the Jedi, when we're also introduced to the idea that some folks are immune to said tricks.
If the Force can be effective on the "weak-minded", criminals seem to be immune.
Jabba, Han, Lando are good examples (in the new trilogy Watto is immune and an opportunistic business man - in other words, a criminal:)
Successful criminals are (usually) fairly sharp-minded individuals.
Is this why the royals employ criminals so readily, to have people on hand who can't be swayed by the Jedi?
Seems to be the case - Leia enlists Han and Lando, Vader enlists the Bounty Hunters.
Solo and Calrissian, active criminals, are recruited by the Rebels and then promoted to generals.

I see...