I will once again bore you all to death with my preferred sequence of events.

In ANH there is constant reference to the Rebel Hidden Base and the plans so it makes sense that the final destination of the film is Yavin and the use of the plans to destroy the Death Star. The characters all follow a path to that single destination which results in an action packed end sequence.

I would have Padme on Coruscant representing her people with representative Binks and trying to prevent an invasion diplomatically at the beginning of the film. Have some transmission on the Queen's secret channel cut off and disputed as nonsense in the senate but supported by some Jedi (Dooku, Qui-Gon) with resistance (Maceinyourface Windu). She then heads off home and is shot down over Tatooine. They pick up Anakin after winning the parts to repair the ship and then rescue the significantly damaged planet by Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon landing on the droid command ship fighting droids and finally facing Maul in the reactor room. Obi-Wan shuts down the droid army or sends a full report to the senate and escapes before Anakin purposefully destroys the ship, everyone celebrates and they eat barbecued Jedi Master...