I thought that Ep1 was going to be a lot more political - I seem to remember Terence Stamp, the actor who played Challecor Vallorum in Ep 1, sometime after the cinematic release stating that the many of the scenes he filmed with others didn't make it to the film...
Maybe 20 years from now people will be talking about a 'Lost Cut' of Episode 1 - but I doubt it somehow... a shame, it could have given the many talented Fan Editors something more to work with...