The marathon started at 4:30 pm at Jurgen’s house. I’d been up early, taking a private tour of, among other places, the Morris/Jumel mansion in Washington Heights. I had a pint of Cherry Garcia ice cream, a spoon and an open mind. I hated Phantom Menace in the theater — and hated what clips I saw on cable years later. This day. . .I dunno. . . maybe I was ready to like anything. A Gigly/Ishtar double feature may’ve worked, too, who knows? All I can tell you was that I found Jar Jar Binks funny and young Jake Lloyd’s Beaver Cleaver-esque line delivery (eg “Oops!” and “Yippie!”) charming. And Darth Maul kicks ass. I knew that the first time I saw it.