Luke, you've turned off your targeting computer!

So we all know that Luke turns off his computer and uses the Force to blow up the Death Star. But does using the Force mean he needs to turn off the computer? Wasn't doing so foolhardy in a sense?

In AOTC Obi-Wan tells Anakin not to lose his lightsaber, showing that the Jedi do rely on technology to a good extent. There was also this one other Jedi Odan-Urr that said "Do not come to rely on the Force to the detriment of your other senses and abilities". In light of this, doesn't turning off the targeting computer seem pretty stupid?

 

I get the sense that it was probably distracting him from sensing the timing via the Force, and as he was so new to it he couldn't afford any distractions. That would be my rationale, anyway. When it comes to the movie, though, it's a way of showing *us, the viewers* that he's using the Force and not relying on the targeting computer. The Force is such a nebulous thing, especially if it's just augmenting his already-existing senses, that it needs this moment of clarification. Plus, it heightens the tension of the final battle: He just switched off the targeting computer! He'd better have mad skills! Think about how much tension we'd miss if he hadn't switched off that computer.

 

i always assumed that he needed more of a connection (meaning no interruptions) to sense the force so. what has already been said and what will probably said further on.

 

When Luke had the targeting computer in place it was right in front of his face. He had to shut it off in order to see where he was going. Notice he leans slightly out of the way as it retracts?

I also think it was a show of faith in The Force. Kind of like when he put the blast helmet on while fighting the remote.

He probably didn't NEED to shut it off, but it was a show of confidence in his ability to do his duty using only The Force.

 

Its just kind of a way to show lucas's theme that no matter he technology, the power of spirit is stronger. Red leader tried with his targeting computer and failed; luke trusted himself and the words of ben and succeded.

But just to make it simple, he's Luke fricken Skywalker. He doesnt need no targeting computer. Thats like giving brass knuckles to Chuck Norris. It just darn redundant.

 

The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.

 

Heh yeah, but I'm arguing that Force doesn't necessarily trump logic.

 

Don't try to frieghten us with your moderating ways, General Kenobi.

 

It's a mythopoeic depiction of the theme of choosing heart and humanity over mechanized rigidity and conformity. The science fiction trappings are simply window dressing for this ancient play of inner conflicts; whatever reasoning is required to explain the technological aspects of the story can be best left to physicists and engineers. The point is that Luke makes a choice betwen the power and energy of life, and programmed political intentions. Vader chose the latter and is a robot, a servant of the system. Luke listens to the spirit of his departed mentor, chooses the former, and is triumphant.

 

You hit the nail on the head there.

Sums up my feelings as well.

"Your eyes can decieve you, Don't trust them. Streach out with your feelings. Let go, Luke. Trust me."

 

I know that this was basically just a visual way to represent the power of the force, and to parrallel the Vader line about "the ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the force.", but this scene always cracks me up.

I mean think about it, the Rebel Alliance is sitting on Yavin, right, and the Death Star is like 2 minutes away. They are going to be blown to bits in two minutes.

The last hope is some kid who just joined the Alliance that day. I mean just THAT DAY, he never even piloted an X-wing before! I mean I sure he was the best bush pilot in the outer rim and all that, but still I mean come on.....

The kids got a shot though, he's heading down the trench, he's got a bead on the exhaust port. I mean it's looking 50/50 as to whether od not this plan is gonna work. Then he SWITCHES OFF the freakin' targeting computer!

In the movie all the alliance folks are just walking around, ho-hum...then one guy asks him, "Luke you switched off your targeting computer, is everything all right?". Like it's no big deal.....How could this be no big deal!!

I'm thinking if I was on that base, and I just heard that transmission I would be jumping on the next shuttle off that rock.

I guess I'm just rambling, but that part of the movie always makes me laugh, just wondering what the heck was going the minds of the people in that control center when Luke switches off his targeting computer.

 

^ But thats the whole point of the movie. The rebels NEVER really had a chance. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. A million to one shot.

 

Yeah, I understand...but being in the command room and watching your 1,000,000 to 1 shot suddenly become 1,000,000,000 to 1, has to be a bit unnerving.

 

It is. Don't you see Leia and General Jan Dodanna's faces?

 

Yes, even Threepio looks concerned!

 

I can't tell if that post is sarcastic or?

I honenestly can! Like when R2 gets blasted and he quickly looks to Leia and then sadly, slowly turns his head down...


It makes me so sad...

 

Also must say you hit that one squarely on the head!

 

I think it certainly represented Luke having to make a choice. Leaving the targetting computer on and trusting the force would have left him distracted by the force when trying to use the targetting computer and distracted by the targetting computer while trying to use the force. The Targetting Computer is probably a damn good and accurate piece of equipment, but the force is better. Concentrate fully on the "Better" method to succeed.

But yes, if I was on the Rebel base, I would have been freaking out. At least Luke said "It's ok, nothings wrong" instead of "MY DEAD MENTOR TOLD ME TO!" That would have sent the poor Rebel Leader's hopes on a rocket ship to hell. "OH MY GOD! WE HAVE ONE LAST SHOT AT THIS AND THE KID IS LOSING HIS MIND! WHAT BAD LUCK! WHY DIDN'T BIGGS HAVE LUKE COVER FOR HIM!"

Carnage

 

Just for the record, in my above post I summarized and adapted Joseph Campbell's explanation of these matters from his book with Bill Moyers, The Power of Myth, chapter five, The Hero's Adventure.

 

He turned it off because he needed confidence that he couldn't fail. Having a targeting computer there in his view would only distract him, and I'm sure if Luke thought about it any further and had the targeting computer on anywaise, he'd use it just to ensure it wasn't a gamble. With the computer off, theres more determination that he must destroy it cause he only gets one chance and that he's trusted with thousands of lives and leaves it to the force to do it.

 

No. A computer couldnt hit that exhaust port. But the Force could so Luke had to. A Jedi does need his lightsaber but Luke did not have one and had no other way to destroy the Death Star but to use the Force.

 

You hit the nail on the head. It goes right along with R2 being hit and taken out. All of Luke's technological helps are being taken away and he must rely on his inner-self.

Lucas basically explains as much in "From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga."