With the staffs, PJ seems to have attached far more importance to them than did Tolkien. In the film Gandalf has his staff taken by Saruman who then used it against him. Then Gandalf had to get another staff from somewhere.
In the Book the only evidence of what happened to Gandalf's staff comes from Frodo's dream in the house of Bombadil.
Quote:
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Suddenly a shadow, like the shape of great wings, passed across the moon. The figure lifted his arms and a light flashed from the staff that he wielded. A mighty eagle swept down and bore him away.
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Gandalf later seems to confirm that this dream was true.
The Council of Elrond
Quote:
`I saw you!' cried Frodo. `You were walking backwards and forwards. The moon shone in your hair.'
Gandalf paused astonished and looked at him. 'It was only a dream' said Frodo, `but it suddenly came back to me. I had quite forgotten it. It came some time ago; after I left the Shire, I think.'
`Then it was late in coming,' said Gandalf, 'as you will see. I was in an evil plight.
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So, if Saruman left the staff with Gandalf, then either he could not take it, or he had no reason to take it. Which ever of these is true it shows that there is no particular 'Power' in the staff itself and that even as a means of channeling power it would not help Gandalf escape from Orthanc.
So my view is that the staff of an Istar is important but more as a symbol than anything else.