20 Things You Didn't Know About Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

17. It Has More Practical Effects Than The Original Trilogy Combined

Star Wars The Phantom Menace Anakin Shimi
Lucasfilm

The prequels generally catch plenty of (justified) flak from fans who see them as emblematic of the soulless potential of filmmaking overly reliant on green screen and CGI.

And while they're certainly not wrong, it might surprise fans to know that The Phantom Menace actually featured more miniature sets and props than were made for all three of the original Star Wars movies combined.

Of course, The Phantom Menace also features more CGI shots than the original trilogy combined, but to summarily dismiss the film as nothing more than a gloopy mess of garish effects is to ignore the ridiculous amount of practical craftsmanship that went into many of the smaller details.

It's a shame Lucas didn't find a more fortuitous balance between the two filmmaking philosophies, though.

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