Well I loved it the first time I watched it...

Weren't you high as a kite when you first watched it? ;)

the ONE thing they really should have taken from the OT was to introduce a core group of characters - and stick with them. Introducing background characters purely to be fodder later on is a bit weak. A lot of the Jedi never spoke onscreen or were referred to by name, yet we were meant to feel something for them when things went pear shaped.

I liked the idea of Qui Gon Jin but he was dispatched a bit quick. Ideally I'd have preferred something more in line with Neesons portrayal of Ra's Al Ghul in Batman Begins - maybe less harsh on students though.

If people actually paid to see the phantom menace's sequels. attack of the clones and revenge of the sith, then i would say they gave them more than a chance. Lucas had 3 chances to deliver, we all know the outcome.

Agreed.