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In TPM it's like, "save the queen" and then "save the slave" and... it's just all this unneccessary things thrown in the way.
This is a good point well put.
I'd still stress though that the film is bookended just like you say ANH is.
It starts with the forceful occupation of a planet and ends with the liberation of it.
Like I said a few posts back, the main difference between ANH and TPM (apart from quality obviously, none of us are going to dispute that) is that Lucas was more ambitious with TPM.
Without going into it too much, the two main characters in the PT are Anakin and Palpatine.
Taking TPM, Palpatine (and Sidious) motivate the backbone of the plot- the TF invasion, the Jedi rescue, the escape to C., then finally the liberation of Naboo.
the second story is how does a slave boy become a Jedi (as far as Padawan in this case).
I think that Lucas does a pretty good job of intertwining those two main stories into a fairly interesting and cohesive whole.
Even when we become involved in the 'Anakin' part of the story, Lucas is careful to give us constant reminders of what the actual goal is, and what the real motivator of the plot is.
They get a message from Naboo, we go to C. and see Sid and Maul talking about the Queen, Maul lands on Naboo etc.
It never feels to me like Lucas is messing about too much. It feels tight overall.
What spoils that somewhat for me is the extended DVD cut of the podrace, which pads out the run time with pointless diversions.
Why he added that to the DVD, but left out the Padme family stuff from AotC is beyond me.
anyway...
oh and I disagree that ANH or ESB were ever made for adults, or had 'adult humor'. SW has always been aimed at the same rough age group (9-15 year olds). He def. 'lightened up' TPM too much, but he still had those same guys in mind when he wrote it.