The fall of the Republic and fall of Anakin both have the same problem: we never really get to see them in their hayday.
Just as we hardly get to see the hero Anakin was before he becomes Vader, we never see the Republic in its Golden Age.
The originals are allowed to start in a galaxy consumed by civil war because that was the original starting point, we’re not asked to miss something we haven’t been shown, we’re already invested into this war because of the characters. We root for the good guys because we feel the oppression of the Empire. But once you start making Prequels where you expect audiences to care when the Republic falls, you need to show something worth saving.
Corruption shouldn’t already have taken hold in Phantom Menace. Only on the verge of it.
The movie should open similarly to Gone with the Wind; despite its problematic aspects in terms of historical accuracy, its a masterclass in filmmaking. We need to see the beauty of the world we’re meant to mourn before its lost.
Imagine that the introduction is the opposite of A New Hope’s opening shot: instead of a massive oppressive Imperial ship pursuing a small Rebel cruiser above a barren desrt world, numerous ships of all different shapes and sizes fly freely with grace and enjoyment above a lush Naboo. We see Naboo’s beautiful landscape, families and children enjoying themselves, allow ourselves to get a good feel for its culture and people. Then the Federation comes in, and the conflict begins.