Hmm, that’s true.

The entire escape from Naboo-return to Naboo was a giant waste of time. Anakin is the only important thing that happens, but he takes away from the film’s focus. It’s as if there are two films in one.

I think the best thing to do is start the movie on Tatooine as a one off adventure. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan have sent to find a young boy with unremarkable force talent. They find Anakin, mind trick him out of slavery and go on their way (no need for an extended pod race). What follows instead is a race against Maul, who wants to kidnap the boy for his own sinister purposes. Maul could be collecting force sensitive children for a phantom menace.

They return to Coruscant, and here we can have a big reveal of how mighty the Republic is (like the Empire’s Death Star reveal. See? It’s like poetry, it rhymes). The Jedi decide upon further review he is to old to be trained and want no part in him. But Qui-Gon, unlike the reserved Jedi, has positive emotion and won’t give Anakin up for Maul to take.

While this is happening, Palaptine informs the Jedi of the Naboo Crisis. Then 25 minutes or so in we head to Naboo and stay there for the rest of the movie, intercutting the opening and final battle to one. Would be hard to pull off, but that’s the best structure I can think of.