A Million More on the Way: Exploring the Economic Exploitation of Technology in Jurassic Park and Attack of the Clones

June 22, 2021 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

The following is an essay I wrote as my final paper for my Film Technology class at Northwestern. Enjoy! Directors George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg transformed the cinema industry in the 1970s, sharing both a friendship and status as leaders in the New Hollywood movement. The 70s saw the pair release blockbusters, Spielberg’s Jaws (1975) … Continue reading A Million More on the Way: Exploring the Economic Exploitation of Technology in Jurassic Park and Attack of the Clones

Pixar installment Soul is worthy of holiday cheer

December 26, 2020 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

2020 has been a strange year for movies. The future of the theater, already in question with the rise of streaming services (and movie ticket costs) and recent developments such as MoviePass, became even murkier in a global pandemic. Many movie theaters closed in March and haven't opened since, including those in my home state … Continue reading Pixar installment Soul is worthy of holiday cheer

Why The Incredibles is the Greatest Movie of All Time

November 10, 2020 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

The following essay is part of an upcoming Riker Scale project. Enjoy! The distinction of favorite movie is a subjective one. Each person is entitled to their own taste in film, and the variety in film opinions is part of what makes talking about movies so fun. At the same time, I firmly believe that … Continue reading Why The Incredibles is the Greatest Movie of All Time

Excerpt: Reviewing the Tenet Experience

October 16, 2020 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

The following is a spoiler-free review of the Christopher Nolan film Tenet. The review is part of an upcoming movie-related project. When I was a kid, I had this game called “Mindflex.” The user would strap on a headset with earlobe clamps and it would supposedly measure the intensity of your brainwaves to control the … Continue reading Excerpt: Reviewing the Tenet Experience

The Duality of Progress in Spielberg’s Jurassic Park

July 20, 2020 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

The following is an essay I wrote as my final paper for my Film History class at Northwestern. Enjoy! Over 25 years after its release, Jurassic Park stands today as a quintessential Hollywood blockbuster, a film with both unprecedented box office success and strong cultural and critical acclaim. Director Steven Spielberg amazed audiences with groundbreaking … Continue reading The Duality of Progress in Spielberg’s Jurassic Park

Star Wars, Ranked

July 11, 2020 ~ jrike10 ~ 1 Comment

My YouTube recommendations list typically is populated by two of my major interests — sports and Star Wars. While there’s plenty to talk about with sports, Star Wars is more niche in comparison, a nine-film saga based on the dreams of one man, George Lucas. As a movie franchise, Star Wars isn’t based in … Continue reading Star Wars, Ranked

The Rich, Delectable Hollywood Year of 2019

June 24, 2020 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

On January 3, just a couple days before heading back to Northwestern for our winter quarter, I took a trip to the movie theater with my dad to watch the Adam Sandler drama Uncut Gems. I enjoyed the flick trip, but little did I know that the first movie theater excursion I took in 2020 … Continue reading The Rich, Delectable Hollywood Year of 2019

The High Ground: Moral Ambiguity in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

June 16, 2020 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

The following essay is my final paper for my Media Contexts class at Northwestern. The prompt was to look at the importance of context in the meaning of any movie, and, naturally, I chose to explore Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Enjoy! Sitting alongside Anakin Skywalker during a pivotal scene in the … Continue reading The High Ground: Moral Ambiguity in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Riker Film: Screen Time

May 18, 2020 ~ jrike10 ~ 3 Comments

Be careful what you wish for...

In turbulent Disney era, Clone Wars triumphs

May 4, 2020 ~ jrike10 ~ Leave a comment

How big is a galaxy? That’s the question Star Wars fans have tackled for decades. Are the original three Star Wars movies “the real Star Wars”, as generations that grew up with Luke and Leia often attest? Or are just the first six, the originals and the prequels, the legitimate ones, like many Star Wars … Continue reading In turbulent Disney era, Clone Wars triumphs