I completely agree. I think a lot can be preserved if it’s given the right context and the movie is paced well. A far more interesting opening would be an invasion (which we actually get to see the impact of), with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan sent to Theed specifically to rescue the Queen, rather than to the belligerents to settle things diplomatically.
One idea I had to remedy the problem of them showing up with Jar Jar, could be to have him already be established as their local guide who helped them navigate the city to reach the Queen. By his following canon appearance he’s become a Junior Representative to the Naboo delegation - specifically a (junior) politician intended to bridge the divide between Coruscant and Naboo, and therefore a perfectly sensible person to serve as local knowledge for two Jedi Knights sent to Naboo to rescue the Queen. So what if he’s already in that role during the Phantom Menace? It wouldn’t conflict with his poor relations with the other Gungans, either, and it would explain him continuing to travel with the Jedi/Padmé party better than just sticking around as he does in the movie. And doing all of this could unlock a trimmed opening that starts on the action where the plot really starts, with the Queen’s street rescue, the hangar breakout, and the blockade attack. That could easily feel like an intro which leads neatly into Act One, the discovery of Anakin - and there are plenty of expository scenes off Naboo which could give the audience that information even once they’ve left the planet.
Edit: Hell, you could even start with them travelling in the bongo then arriving to rescue the Queen, since the characters really introduce themselves to each other then. Then you’d get to see Jar Jar guiding the Jedi through some ‘secret underwater passages’ to traverse the planet without detection from the occupying army, demonstrating that local knowledge.
Good thoughts. I’ve taken the battle droid dialogue (trimmed down) about searching for hidden underwater villages and put it in the mouth of the droid captain in the tank right before we see Qui Gon running. It fills in why they have landed so far from the cities and makes finding Jar Jar feel less random. In addition to trimming Jar Jar forcing himself upon them, one might cut from “Wesa goen underwater, okeyday” to them in the bongo rather than swimming.
I personally would like to see the inclusion or even mention of Dooku in The Phantom Menance to better connect Episode I and Episode II. I believe this would really help sell his history with Qui Gon Jinn and make a larger impact on Attack of the Clones when we see he has left the Jedi Order and is working in opposition of the Republic.
Perhaps digitally add him to the council scenes (does not need to talk) or even have him look on as an attendant at Qui Gon’s funeral. It latter could also be a subtle hint at him be Maul’s successor as apprentice to Palpatine and the camera could now linger on both Dooku and Palpatine during Yoda and Mace Windu’s discussion at the end about who was killed, master or apprentice.
There has been good work incorporating Dooku in council scenes but I really like the idea of him just being at the funeral. I don’t know if standing next to Palpatine (between him and Amidala) is too on the nose but as Qui-Gon’s former master should have a prominent place. Would primarily involve out-of-focus shots of his profile so seems fairly doable.