Darth Venal said:
"The Force is an energy field which surrounds all living things" isn't really that far from midichlorians being something genetic found in all living cells, is it. So that idea doesn't bother me, I just wish it had been handled a lot better.
Let's say the midichlorians are "IN" living cells and the Force is "BETWEEN" living cells (or everything else, like the rock). Midichlorians just are the connection.