Star Wars: 8 Stupid Changes In The Phantom Menace Special Edition

4. Anakin Goes Spinning

You know what's worse than simply chucking in a bunch of extraneous moments into the pod race? Even when Lucas does put the focus on Anakin we still lose a sense of purpose, with an over-reliance on proving just how great a pilot is getting in the way of an engaging, tight sequence. In the original film, the first lap has Anakin at the back of the back, the second him catching up and third sparring with Sebulba. The DVD throws a spanner into the works with a second lap bit where Anakin's pod somehow detaches from one of his engines, sending him spinning (with unconvincing green screen) and setting him further back. It's a messy sequence, but also totally unnecessary when you consider all the other mechanical problems Ani comes up against in the race (if anything this makes his win even more unlikely). What purpose does it add Sebulba's tampering didn't? Is the "spinning" meant to be foreshadowing of how he enters the Trade Federation ship? Because that makes no sense.