Also, a thought regarding the ending. I know the four different plot lines in the climax was a problem discussed even during the editing of the actual film. To help solve this, I wonder if you could “resolve” the Gungan battle before our heroes split up in the hangar. It could play out like this:
- When the Gungan battle starts, maybe have it play out up until the droids breach their shields. This would play out as sort of extended opening for the “climax” of the movie.
- Then we cut to our heroes sneaking into the city. This way our heroes are making their move when the droid army is already stuck in battle.
- Have the Gungans begin their retreat before our heroes split up in the hangar. This would be enough to consider this plot line “concluded” in the audiences’ minds I think.
- Cut Jar Jar’s extended antics while he is trying to escape the army.
- We could briefly cut back to the aftermath of the battle and show Jar Jar surrounded when we need to show our heroes at their lowest point.
Following from this, I wonder if there’re any lines we could use to have the people in the hangar hear that the Gungans have been overwhelmed, especially so that Anakin learns it. He’d already know that the plan was to send Naboo pilots up to the droid control ship, but it’d be good for his character if learning that the Gungans are in jeopardy is also a factor in his decision to try and help.
Edit: Or even Padmé, actually. What if the Gungans get captured, Padmé gets captured, and even the pilots in space start failing, and Anakin hears it all from his cockpit (presumably over the comms, with a bit of radio-like audio?), and THEN he gets on up there to help out?