Question about Chancellor Palpatine's face in STAR WARS

[romantico]

Okay, whe Palpatine is shooting electricity out of his hands at Mace Windu, is it the strain that cuases his face to prune or is that how he looks all the time & the 'shroud falls' as they say? They're not very clear about explaining this. Perhaps I should read the book & they'll explain it.I also thought it was Mace's saber that was catching the electric bolts that wore him down. Later, Palaptine had no effect when he used his electricity bolt on Yoda & i Jedi it didn't seem to weaken him when he was attempting to kill Luke.Just curious, if his disfigurement could have been prevented or is this how he has always looked. Also, do we know how old Palpatine is? I assume he was the apprentice he told Anakin about & PRAY the Star Wars tv show explores a young Palpatine & his master, Darth Palagius (???)

[Neil Lisst]

1. I think this will sound familiar to you ...

[DS1]

2. and a followup question

if Jedis can force jump, why can't they force 'land' - what's to stop Mace Windu just force pushing against the ground and lowering himself instead of going splat?

[baldguy]

3. He did it to himself.

http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/palpatine/index.html

"Skywalker witnessed a stunning sight: the Chancellor, cornered, with Windu looming over him with his lightsaber blade extended. Palpatine unleashed a torrent of Sith lightning at the Jedi Master, but Windu was able to deflect it back at the Chancellor. The evil energies twisted Palpatine's face as they flowed through him, scarring and disfiguring his once handsome features. His eyes burned yellow, his voice grew ragged and deep, and he became a well of dark side energies."