When Han Solo shots at Vader.

What would be the point of risking damage to his hand? He must've used the force, because you can never fully rely on technology, even if you're basically a half-robot yourself.

I agree with the other responses about the possibility of Vader being able to use the force to block the lasers, but if he used his left hand (I think it's that one), then it wouldn't matter, because that glove is indestructible. I've only read 3 Star Wars books, and they take place after Return of the Jedi. It starts out with a search for his glove, because whoever found it would be the new Emperor or something like that. It's been a long while, but I'm pretty sure that's what happened.

I have to agree with the others and that it was the force he was using to deflect the blast. I just took it as that and didn't even think of any other possiblity. I suppose it could be due to him being mechanical but considering how powerful he was supposed to be with the force it makes more sense that he was showing off what he was capable of doing.

yes, i agree with you that darth vader is such an advanced half robot. blocking a simple blaster shot is nothing much to deal with for him.

In some of the more recent expanded universe novels, mainly the ones after Jacen mastered multiple styles of the use of the force, when Jacen confronts Thracken he gets shot at and it said something about Jacen using the force to disperse the energy of the blast. So I would opt for it being a force power rather than some sort of machinery.

I've always thought it was his hands, either armor or his robo-hands. We see him block four shots, three with his right and one with his left (I believe) and we see smoke coming off his hand, like it burnt through the glove but then bounced off something else. Also, in TPM, we see the droids attacks bounce off the grass before they hit the Gungan lines. So if grass can deflect blasts (from one of their tanks, no less), I don't see how Vader couldn't have some armor to do the same.

He used the Dark Side of the Force. That is just how far powerful he is in the Force. Read some of the Star Wars, Expanded Universe novels, and you'll see several references to creating small, personal shields. In fact, one character has the ability to absorb energy attacks, through the Force. Although the books indicate that this is a rare talent, for Jedi, it could be possible that through Sith techniques, Anakin/Vader could have learned to do so, irregardless as to how much of his flesh is left.

I think your friend is nuts. He is just simply using the force. What's the difference in deflecting blasts and pushing back enemies?

You also have to remember that Darth Vadar was mostly mechanical so his hands would have been metal and their for wouldn't feel the blast as he blokes it.So i think it was a combination of this and the force that he bloked the blast with

Took the last replier a long time to respond but brought this topic back up so that I could read it as I was not here 3 months ago. I too believe Darth Vader was using the Force. After all isn't that the whole point of most of the films. May the Force be with you! I love these films and am so glad that they got around to making the ones telling the beginning of the story after such a long wait.