The Force often seems to be a kind of magic but it is its own thing: THE FORCE. There's also a scientific basis for Force-sensitivity. The Knights of the Round table are skilled warriors with armor, rides and loyalty. So are the Navy Seals. They are not the same.
I suppose to common folks, especially the outer rim colony folks, the force would seem like magic. They called the force using women of Dathomir "witches", and I think that Owen really did think of the Jedi as "wizards". But no, the Force is not "magic" in the traditional sense. It's more like using the power of the mind to manipulate life-energy. You don't see Jedi or Sith "casting" fireballs, physically transforming anything, summoning demons, or anything else that one would consider "traditional magic". Some Force techniques closely resemble psionics, however. Telekinesis, levitation, telepathy, etc. Psionics is not magic. It's...well, psionics.
In some fiction fantasy worlds created, magic is shown to be derived from "life-energy" as you said above. It's about manipulating and balancing the elements of life etc. So maybe the Force IS magic. But I've never really seen it that way.
Magic=supernatuarl power. Wizards and witches=manipulators of supernatural power (magic) How is the force not magic?
because it's an energy field manipulated by biological factors inside your cells, the force is the force it's not magic nor is it spiritual it's a concept that exists only in Star Wars
To take a step outside the movies, Lucas has likened Obi Wan (and Yoda) to the mentor role that is often seen in Mythology. The mentors role obviously being that of the teacher or father figure for the Hero. In many cases the mentor has magical abilities or is a wizard. Most famous of these is Merlin. Merlin being the mentor to King Arthur. Other, current, examples are Gandalf, Morpheus, etc..
Star Wars parallels many aspects, but is its own thing. LotR, Dragonlance, Elfquest, etc. these are solidly fantasy, same genre. Star Wars is similar but separate. Same with the Force: parallels magic, but it is not magic, it is the Force.
