I think the sheer number of shots, thousands of effects shots. wouldn’t have been possible on the money and time they needed to be done in without CGI. But they should have done more practical effects and done a mix. Lucas was determined to push digital though, even when it looked wonky and made no sense. Because it was about getting there eventually, where everything would be digital like it is now.

He was pushing for shooting digitally when it looked like ass, cameras meant for news footage. Episode II will never look good. on III they got the technology a little bit better. But they will never look as good as 35mm shot movies on film.

The part that makes no sense to me is George decided no Clone Trooper suits. It had to be faked in cgi.

General audiences did not care the films look like animated cartoons in places or CGI animated. Lucas was able to get away with it because you don’t linger on a single shot. so the fact some of the renders don’t hold up, whatever they go by at 24 frames per second. Yeah, you can pause the movie at home now in 4K. and say good lord who approved this shot it looks terrible.

There were sets and miniatures and it wasn’t all cgi. Yes we know about the location shooting and miniatures. But the overwhelming amount of the movie was shot on greenscreen with a digital backlot, and actors shot separately from one another as elements. Actors acting to nothing, doesn’t help.