IGN FilmForce Weekend Shopping Guide: The Wrath of Khan Edition
The IGN FilmForce Weekend Shopping Guide for February 15, 2002 was built around The Wrath of Khan. Here is what the entry covered and why sci-fi fans would have found it useful.
In this article
You can find the IGN FilmForce Weekend Shopping Guide entry on The Wrath of Khan in the 2/15/02 edition [1]. The column is a weekend shopping guide that points pop culture fans toward things worth buying with a fresh paycheck. It promises "your spotlight on the things you didn't even know you wanted" [1]. For the next step, see IGN FilmForce Weekend Shopping Guide.
This article covers that one edition, not the whole column. The Star Trek II edition is the focus here, so if you want the Wrath of Khan entry, this is the page you need. For the column's background, the overview article in this cluster is a good starting point.
The rest of this article looks at what that edition recommended and why its picks suit a sci-fi fan who wants a classic to own.
What did the 2/15/02 edition recommend?
This edition was a weekend spending pitch aimed at pop culture fans. It opened by asking what a pop culture geek should do with a fresh paycheck that is burning a hole in your pocket. [1]
The column promised to point you toward things you did not know you wanted. Its goal was to steer readers toward spending that hard-earned cash on entertainment for the weekend. [1]
Ken P. wrote the column, and this week's list was a little lighter than usual. The writer explained that the smaller list was because they still had not recovered from the previous week's splurge. [1]
What the picks look like
The picks mix reading, TV and movies. For example, the column suggested a comic strip, a DVD set of a animated series, and a Muppet marathon built from classic episodes. [1]
The column also introduces The Rutles, a parody of the Beatles that began as a filmed sketch on Saturday Night Live in the '70s. [1] Treat it as a short, personal shopping list rather than a formal review, and skim it for ideas that fit your weekend and your budget.
Why was The Wrath of Khan a fitting pick for sci-fi fans?
IGN's Executive Editor for Movies calls Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan his all-time personal favorite film [2]. That makes it a strong pick for sci-fi fans, though it is one editor's opinion, not an official ranking.
The point is his taste. A film that a movie editor keeps coming back to is a useful signal when several titles on a shopping list look appealing. You get a recommendation with a clear reason behind it.
The pick also suits sci-fi fans who want a classic to own rather than a movie to stream once. Say you already know the franchise and want something for a shelf you can revisit whenever you like. This one works as an anchor for a collection, with other picks added around it.
If you are new to the series, this is a good place to start. A favorite from someone who covers movies for a living gives you a reason to put it at the top of your list, then build the rest of your weekend order around it.
Where can you find the Wrath of Khan entry on IGN?
The Wrath of Khan entry is easiest to find by searching IGN for its full title: IGN FilmForce Weekend Shopping Guide 2/15/02: The Wrath of Khan. Use the whole string rather than just the film name, because a search for "Wrath of Khan" alone can bring up other columns that mention the movie. [1]
The date is the quickest way to confirm you have the right edition.
Don't rely on the "Updated" line near the top of the page. It shows Jun 17, 2012, which is a later update, so it won't tell you which week's picks you're reading. [1]
Once you're on the right page, the picks are listed there. The page holds the complete list for that week, so scroll past the opening pitch to see every item, not only the ones mentioned in the sections that follow. [1]
What should you do next?
Open the 2/15/02 entry on IGN, titled IGN FilmForce Weekend Shopping Guide 2/15/02: The Wrath of Khan, to read the full list of picks. [1] Related reading: IGN FilmForce Weekend Shopping Guide.
The entry is on IGN's site, so search for the full title to find it quickly. Scroll past the opening weekend pitch to reach the recommendations.
If you want to know how the column started and how it changed over time, read the overview article in this cluster next.