Constructive ideas to improve TPM

I saw parts of a fan edit years ago in which Jar Jar was subtitled with a new voice as well as removing his tomfoolery it made a world of difference.

4. Don't kill off Darth Maul, keep him for parts 2 and 3, replacing Count Dooku with Maul. (And Yes I’m aware he’s alive in Solo!)

5. Introduce Anakin earlier, much earlier, just a scene or two would suffice, it’s supposedly his trilogy after all.

Drop the concept of midichlorians.
Drop Jar Jar completely.

1) Have Anakin be a teenager when we meet him. First, this eliminates Jake Lloyd. Second, It makes him more of a peer to Obi-Wan, which is more in line with the way Obi-Wan spoke of him in IV. Third, it would be easier for the audience to see the fear and anger in him that The Jedi Council saw when they refused to train him.

2) Have Padme be 18, and NOT AN ELECTED MONARCH. I guess in a pathetic attempt to be PC, they thought people wouldn't like a hero who was head of a monarchy, despite the fact that people still loved PRINCESS Leia. How about this; her father was a beloved king, but had recently passed suddenly, and Padme was thrust into the role of Queen at a younger age than she ever would have wanted. The people of Naboo were skeptical if she could be a capable leader, like her father, and the Trade Federation saw this as an opportunity to attack. After the war, word of her bravery and leadership spread, and she earned the love and respect of her people. However after 7 years, she was emotionally drained, and relinquished her crown to her younger sister, and planned to live a private life. However the Senator from Naboo suddenly died, and her Queen Sister appointed her to fill his seat and wouldn't take no for an answer.

3) Have Uncle Owen be Anakin's older half brother. Unlike Anakin, he had a father, but he died when Owen was young and before Anakin was conceived. And he would not want Anakin to leave to be a Jedi, partially out of jealously, and part out of fear that Anakin would be killed. This would give more context to him not wanting Luke to leave the farm, and what Obi-Wan says about him.

4) Jar Jar in way less scenes, and in the scenes he's in way less lines.

The problems with The Phantom Menace, in my opinion, go a lot deeper than quick tweaks. You're right: making those changes would probably have picked things up, but the plot and story structure are wonky, the tone is off-balance, and the characters aren't well-planned out. I don't think Lucas knew what he wanted to do with these movies (just "I want to make the Darth Vader origin stories"). He didn't say, "I want to focus on Anakin's temptation and that's my theme," or, "This is a friendship that goes bad," or, "This is the story of a good romance that gets poisoned." Because he knew where he was going in terms of story (The Empire rises!) but not theme (Love? Temptation? Hate?) the movies meander from page one.

If you're looking for a quick patch that would have improved the film disproportionate to its screen time, here's my pitch...

Young Anakin is a bright student, good Jedi prospect, and nice kid (as in the film). The Jedi Council caution Qui-Gon Jinn, but allow him to train the boy (minor change). During the battle for Naboo, Qui-Gon tells Anakin to hide. He does at first, but then follows Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan (minor change - no droid ship battle for Anakin). At the end of the fight, Qui-Gon is dead, Anakin reveals he's there, touching "father" and "son" moment. Darth Maul has Obi-Wan down that pit. He's about to kill him, but then he bisected in half: little, Cherubic Anakin has called Qui-Gon's lighsabre over with Jedi powers nobody knew he had and thrown it through the Sith Lord. Obi-Wan realizes the power and potential evil of this kid.

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Completely remove Jar Jar.
Shorten the pod race...it dragged too long.
Get rid of the Gungans...they were just annoying.
Re-cast Anakin...he didn't work.
No midiclorians.
More Darth Maul.

I think this guy nails it:

https://www.geek.com/geek-cetera/how-would-you-improve-star-wars-the-phantom-menace-1471079/