How The Phantom Menace could have been as good as the original Star Wars

When Star Wars directed by George Lucas came out in 1977, it became a smash hit and a top grosser, leading fans of all ages to want to know more about the film resulting in toys, games and stories about the characters in a franchise known as 'the Expanded Universe' and two sequels The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 and Return of the Jedi in 1983, both of which Lucas served as producer on

22 years after the release of the original film, came a new Star Wars film directed by Lucas, The Phantom Menace set 32 years before the events of the original Star Wars. While expected to be as successful as its predecessors, the film actually received mixed reviews and was criticised in many ways. While I am a Star Wars fan and my personal favourite apart from the original films is The Phantom Menace, I have come to realize how the film has shown itself and like many critics, I believe that it could have been better. I wish to give the following aspects in which it could have brought back the enthusiasm of the original films

- The energy field known as the Force was explained in the (first) original Star Wars film. Since The Phantom Menace is the first chapter of the Star Wars saga, it should have been explained here as well in order to further emphasize the meaning of the midi-chlorians explained by Qui-Gon Jinn (the master of Obi-Wan Kenobi) to Anakin Skywalker (who would later become Darth Vader). Although since the midi-chlorians which are intelligent microscopic life forms that are responsible for maintaining life in the Galaxy and providing knowledge of the Force were not introduced in the previous films, it seemed unnecessary to mention them here

- The word 'lightsaber' (The traditional weapon of the Jedi) is never used in the film. Instead it is called 'laser sword' once and it should have been called by the name it has always had

- Yoda's appearance is not faithful to the way he appeared in the original films (Although that was changed when the film was released on Blu-Ray and during the film's 3D re-release)

- Some of the original characters are still there including R2D2, C3PO, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Jabba the Hutt, Bib Fortuna, Anakin Skywalker and Darth Sidious better known as the evil Emperor Palpatine (A scene with Greedo was also filmed but was cut and only shown in the film's deleted scenes). George Lucas could also have brought back the Wookie Chewbacca and created a story for him in the film since this would be before he met Han Solo in the original films although Chewbacca's people, the Wookies do make a small appearance. The tribe known as the Ewoks should also have been given a minor role in the film though it could be that their homeworld Endor was only known by the time of Return of the Jedi

- Darth Maul, the apprentice of the evil Emperor Darth Sidious should have had more screen time with Queen Padme Naberrie Amidala (the mother of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa) and only had three lines throughout the entire movie. He should have had more given that he was a central character in the film

- Probably Jar-Jar Binks' clumsiness is what contributed to the negative aspects about the film so making him a non-clumsy character would have been good (At least for him) although his purpose was to provide comic relief but he could have had a serious side to him and only been funny when he needed to be

- C3PO could have accompanied Queen Amidala's Party from Tatooine to Coruscant where he could have been refurbished and rebuilt to look like he did in the original films

- The dogfights between the pilots of Naboo and the droids of the Trade Federation were not covered in as detail as the dogfights between the pilots of the Rebel Alliance and the Stormtroopers of the Galactic Empire in the original films, making it seem like the Naboo pilots were not interested in engaging the droid ships and more fleeing from them which should not have been the case and the Naboo pilots should have engaged the droid starfighters

- In the first Star Wars film which is the fourth chapter, but first to be produced, Luke Skywalker only leaves Tatooine and follows his destiny to train as a Jedi under Obi-Wan Kenobi when his aunt and uncle are killed by Stormtroopers whereas in The Phantom Menace, which is the first chapter but fourth to be produced, Anakin Skywalker choses to leave Tatooine and train as a Jedi under Qui-Gon Jinn without a family disaster happening to his mother. A tragedy happening to his mother should have been put into the film not only as a reason for him leaving to train as a Jedi (as well as the fact that he wanted that and his mother wanted him to have a better future) but also in order to bring about hints and sensations of the unfortunate villain he would eventually become in the original films, Darth Vader, while leaving to train as a Jedi