zombie84 said:

The difference, overall, is not extreme like the SE of the OT, but the fact that I remember a version of TPM that was better is enough to make me long for it.

I agree with you. TPM, being my favorite prequel (okay, the only prequel I can stand to watch), it kind of annoys me that the better paced theatrical version isn't available. And I definitely agree that it was better. The taxi scene "buggers" up the pacing, as Gaffer mentioned. The podrace sequence feels a lot different, it was already a really long sequence so extending it was a horrible idea. Not to mention, once again we've introduced some serious pacing issues.

George didn't seem to realize that all those scenes that you cut prior to release because they don't "work", still don't work in the living room.