Ryan McAvoy said:
This ^ is very exciting work! Not just switching up a couple of scenes but skillfully weaving seemingly disperate elements together in a bold new and cohesive way. Awesome job. Even in this rough demonstration I can see how everything is going to flow beautifully. You've got me hooked on this project now.
Couple of points...
The suitcase scene ranks as one of the worst in AOTC (Stiff competion I know) so I perhaps wouldn't open with it. However it's mericifully brief in your edit. There is nothing that can't be covered in the crawl. The next scene in the Theed palace has more of a spark.
You could also open with Obi-Wan listening in on Dooku's plan, then cut to Padme talking with the Queen on Naboo. Just an option.
After the geonosis opening are you going to move to the assassination/bombing on Coruscant? and is Padme going to be pro-army in this edit? You could recut this scene to have her proposing an Army after witnessing what Dooku is up to on Geonosis...
The suitcase scene is one of the worst scenes I know, but to keep a better flow I think it is really necessary to keep there. Since I am editing a new reorganized plot, I really have to make sure scenes aren't too awkwardly short, otherwise it will feel like an edit. That's not to say I'm keeping the really bad stuff. Plus, it explains why you now see Padme as a senator. In it's original location, the dialogue was pointless since you knew Padme was a senator and saw her act as one. Here, it makes her being a senator actually make sense and not be completely random. Plus, I think it better sells off the whole Anakin/Padme friendship thing.
Obi-Wan listening in on Dooku's plan and seeing the droid factory is utilized at a latter stage in the film. It's what's used to bring them back to Geonosis for the final battle.
The assassination/bombing plot does continue after the geonosis, though I'm not sure whether to keep the bombing aspect or not. In V3, the bombing is still in the opening, and my current progress has it soon after Geonosis. Though, I'm playing with the idea of not having the bombing and just the creepy bug thing.
You discovered my plan, yes I actually am re-edting the film and specifically that scene to make her pro-army, which is the only way to have that element tied up.