I think confused Matthew pointed out why couldn't Anakin's mother be freed after the final battle in episode 1? I mean the kid saved the day and who could honestly refuse a sweet little child's request not of money but to see his mommy no longer be a slave?
Oh, how about some of the events between episodes 1 and 2 so that we know why Anakin goes from being such a sweet happy child to an annoying whiny teenager who's upset about something? What happened? Why did he get so moody? He's like a totally different person, and it doesn't help that Hayden Christensen seems nothing like Jake Lloyd. (Lloyd is now the age of Anakin in episode II, he does not at all look like Hayden did in 2002) Nor does Hayden look at all like Mark Hamill.
So we have a character who is totally different from how we last remember him and we are given nothing to explain why. I thought he wanted to be a jedi. And why was Anakin so obsessive over Padme for those 10 years? Wouldn't it make more sense that he was just happy to see her again and as they went away to hide, he grew more attracted to her? I mean I think a 10 year old can have a crush on an older girl but not nearly as mature and adult as we are told it is in Clones.
Oh and what the hell do the Separatists want? Why can't the Republic just say "Fine, leave if you want." There's a couple of deleted scenes in Clones that I sort of liked. We see Padme suggest to the entire senate that someone tried to kill her likely due to her opinion of the military bill. I thought that builds intrigue and suspense.
We see more of Padme's house and learn a little bit more about her. This is just a little down to earth moment that could have helped us better connect with characters in a movie that is too detached and sterile.
Dooku captures Anakin and Padme and hints that he knows more about who is behind everything. Padme just says something like "you're a bad guy, I'll never join you because we can't split up the republic because... well because. Padme was idealistic about the republic in Episode 1 (she questions Shmi Skywalker "how can there be slavery, with the republic's anti-slavery laws?" then she sees the senate only able to set up a committee to investigate whether there actually is a Naboo invasion.) but maybe by this point in Clones, she might say "You know what Dooku, the Republic is broken. Maybe you're not so far off. I've lost my faith in it too. But why should I trust you?"
But instead of thinking about what would be the most intelligent response to gain a greater sense of what's happening, Padme just says no because the plot demands it. "Is that the script over there, yeah it says I am not supposed to let the republic fall ever."
So I guess I would have liked the prequels better if they weren't as confusing and Lucas was more consistent. At least with Phantom Menace I knew what Lucas was trying to do, hell Jar Jar is so hated but the idea of having a comedic character in an effort to appeal to people who have never really fit in with others in their life before is actually a pretty good idea. It just didn't turn out as intended.
But with Clones, I really don't know what Lucas wanted, it seems like he could not have a firm idea or direction he wanted to take the story.
Does any of my rambling make sense?