3rd Rock from the Sun

3rd rock from the sun is an old sitcom about 4 aliens on earth trying to "fit in". They were sent here to get information about the humans. I used to watch it here and there when I was a kid, but one night after not knowing what to watch, I decided to give it another try. After that, it totally gave me a different impression than I previously had. 



This comedy is actually very clever and you can learn a lot about humans. It can be very helpful if you are aliens walking among us. However, if you are not, there is a lot of cool and interesting things you can also learn. One of the first things that comes to mind is emotions. They are figuring out emotions for the first time and it is so clever. It is just genius how the writers give light to certain things humans do that we sometimes overlook. 




It just cracks me up to see these characters be clueless about things that seem so simple to us. I remember one episode, the characters come rushing into their home thinking it was the apocalypse or something because everyone was buying food and freaking out. 

HOWEVER, it was just thanksgiving. Once they figured out what thanksgiving was, they tried their best to have a "normal" thanksgiving dinner. And by normal, I mean completely NOT NORMAL. this show is very clever with what they are trying to say, or at least what I think they are trying to say. It makes you appreciate the human race, and be thankful for "human things.













The characters are so innocent and you can't help but love every single one of them. They are all so unique and different and it just give the show loose rains to work with. What I mean by this is that, they do say some offensive things about race, gender inequalities etc. But then you really can't get mad at them because they don't know any better. On the other hand, it also teaches good lessons. In one of the episodes Dick, the commander, was so confused about race. He has a secretary who is african American woman. One day when him, the secretary and one of his co-workers were talking about race and what they were, he was so confused why people are different races and he said that he didm't know the difference between the black and white woman. "All you people look the same" He said. He was meaning that all humans look very similar to him and he didm;t pick up on the difference in skin color. I think that scene is a very important scene. As much as this show makes fun of a lot of stereotypes, it also makes you realize that people really are all the same, and It shouldn't matter what race you are. We are all just humans.

The Mockbuster

     A mockbuster is a movie that is a thinly veiled copy of an actual blockbuster film.  These films are essentially rip offs of real movies and they are even named similarly, and one man has stood out as the creator of these hollywood knockoffs, Shane Van Dyke. Shane is the grandson of the famous Dick Van Dyke. He has created such films as Titanic 2, Transmorphers, Super Shark, an Paranormal Entity.  

     These Films were not cheap to make, most filmed on Red One cameras and with expensive, yet mediocre effects.
      So the question is, why make these movies, why not make a new idea, why make bad copies of already famous movies?  Some people think that these movies are made to trick people. They plan on making their money by DVD sales from people who are confused as to what they are buying. A grandma trying to buy Transformers for her grandson will accidentally buy Transmorphers.  This idea makes sense   when you look at the titles and covers of the movies, they are almost identical to the real version, in color and fonts.

    It seems like an extravagant trick to play on people, but it is happening all the time. Asylum the production company behind nearly all these films also came out with Allan Quatermain and the Temple of Skulls, a clear copy of Indiana Jones. I guess it is safer to expect money from accidental DVD sales of rip offs than from a possible flop of a fresh idea.  I will let you judge for yourself whether or not what they are doing is right, but I find it amazing that anyone would willingly attach their name to such blatant forgeries.