Miracle Mindset

Written By: Ken Hulsey The classic movie monster Creature from the Black Lagoon, developed by Universal Pictures, was the last in a long line of iconic horror characters. By the 1950s, most studios had shifted their focus from horror to science fiction films. Universal followed this trend, with Creature from the Black Lagoon arriving soon after the popular It Came from Outer Space, both starring Richard Carlson in his signature role as the heroic scientist. This was a departure from the typical portrayal of scientists as villainous or misguided. It was a logical move for Universal to blend their established horror brand with the emerging science fiction genre, resulting in the creation of Creature from the Black Lagoon.

 Written By: Ken Hulsey. Retiring from the monster business, Dr. Frankenstein plans to pass the reins to his hapless nephew, Felix, at an upcoming convention attended by an assortment of famous creatures - Frankenstein's monster, Dracula, the Werewolf, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, among others. But when the incompetent and overly kindhearted Felix proves unfit for the role, the monsters hatch a plot to eliminate him and seize control of Frankenstein's latest, and most dangerous, discovery - the secret to total destruction.

 Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey For most of my young life, I believed that somewhere out there was some undiscovered island, secluded jungle oasis, or even a vast underground cavern that had been preserved for millions of years. The main inhabitants of this primeval world would be none other than real living dinosaurs waiting to be discovered by some explorers or a team of scientists .

Written By Ken Hulsey In this hilarious Mel Brooks spoof of Westerns, crafty railroad worker Bart (Cleavon Little) becomes the first black sheriff of the frontier town of Rock Ridge, which is about to be destroyed to make way for a new railroad. Initially, the townspeople harbor racial biases against their unconventional new leader. However, they warm to Bart and his perpetually drunk gunfighter friend (Gene Wilder) after realizing they are the only defense against a wave of thugs sent to rid the town of its population. This ribald and irreverent classic pokes fun at the Western genre and its tropes, sparing no one and nothing.

Written By: Ken Hulsey The film “Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet” may be the most interesting science fiction film to be produced in the 1960s’. Although the film in itself is very well done and features some excellent special effects shots, it’s the film's origin and two different Americanized versions that may be of most interest to fans of this genre. You see, the film was not an American product, but a film made in the former Soviet Union. Although scenes that starred Basil Rathbone and Faith Domergue, filmed by Roger Corman, were inserted into the film for American viewers, the film is still basically “Planeta Bur” (Planet of Storms – 1962) in most respects. In this version, almost all Soviet references were removed from both the film and its credits, although it was hard not to notice the Russian insignias on all the spacecraft. American International must have been very nervous about releasing a Soviet sci-fi film during the middle of the “Cold War.”

 Written by Ken Hulsey A couple of weeks back, I decided to start posting the trailers from some of my favorite movies. Being a child of the 70s, I naturally opted to start my new series in that decade. The first film that I went with was the 1976 action/comedy Silver Streak. Today I decided to feature The Apple Dumpling Gang from 1975, which holds the distinction of being the first film that I ever saw in a movie theater. 

Back in the 1970s, the movies had it all: planes were crashing down from the heavens, towering infernos, tales of world destruction, bad-ass cops, a cowboy in a Trans Am running beer across the south, King Kong, Godzilla, intergalactic wars, car chases, car crashes, and, in the case of todays featured trailer a passenger train crashing trough the Chicago rail terminal.

"Woman... woe-man... whoooa-man. She was a thief, you gotta believe, she stole my heart and my cat. Betty, Judy, Josie and those hot Pussycats... they make me horny, Saturday morny... girls of cartoo-ins will leave me in ruins... I want to be Betty's Barney. Hey Jane... get me off this crazy thing... called love.

Written By Ken Hulsey Monster movie fans often have fond memories of 200-foot-tall creatures like Godzilla, King Kong, Rodan, Mothra, and Varan stomping on buildings as terrified townspeople flee in terror. However, the unsung hero who brought these iconic monsters to life has rarely received credit - Haruo Nakajima, a Japanese actor who donned the heavy rubber costumes from 1954 to 1972 to portray Toho's most famous movie monsters.

Written By: Ken Hulsey In my many attempts to review classic films, I often pass over really great movies, sometimes even passing over some of my personal favorites, to tie themes and past topics together. One such film that I have regrettably passed over, for far too long, is the 1986 action/comedy "Big Trouble in Little China". For those of you out there who know me pretty well, you understand that "Big Trouble" is one of my all-time favorite movies, so the fact that I have chosen it to begin getting back to talking about older films should come as no surprise.

  The Magic of Ray Harryhausen: Master of Stop-Motion Animation in Fantasy Film For fans of fantasy movies, few names resonate as profoundly as Ray Harryhausen. His pioneering work in stop-motion animation has enchanted audiences for decades, creating some of the most memorable moments in cinematic history. From sword-fighting skeletons in "Jason and the Argonauts" to mythical creatures in "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad," Harryhausen's creations have inspired generations of filmmakers and fans alike.

Written By Ken Hulsey  A video from Looper that circulated a few years ago, rather accurately depicts just how popular and life-changing an experience seeing Star Wars back in 1977 actually was.  Before I share that video, I want to share my very own experience. The first ever image that I ever saw from Star Wars appeared on a fellow classmate's school folder. It was a scene from the film that featured two Imperial Stormtroopers in combat. I didn't know anything about the movie; in fact, I didn't even know that the characters I was looking at were called Stormtroopers. In fact, I'm sure that I thought that they were supposed to be robots. It honestly didn't matter. From that one image, I knew that I had to see Star Wars. Those two Imperial Troopers were the coolest thing my ten-year-old eyes had ever seen!

First published in Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy (Magazine) – Fall /Winter 1977 In STAR WARS, Carrie Fisher has a film role that measures up to her fantasy life. She portrays the beautiful Princess Leia, a senator from the planet Alderaan and a rebel-leader working secretly for freedom and justice against the oppressive, evil Galactic Empire.

Mark Hamill Talks About His Experience Making Star Wars From a press conference of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association – By Yani Begakus Mark Hamill – With all the merchandising that’s going on, I really wish they would publish the original screenplay for STAR WARS. It is so thick with ideas – more descriptions and more of everything than was in the movie. There just wasn’t time to get it all in. Yes, it is very simple, and people say there is no storyline – just bad guys chasing you because you have something they want. On one level, that’s true; on another level…you know, even though I am ostensibly the hero, George Lucas has given me a menagerie of supporting creatures – animal, vegetable, and mineral – and everybody’s working together. Men working with machines, working with rodents, working with whatever…I think it’s terrific.

ANOTHER galaxy, another time. The Old Republic was the Republic of legend, greater than distance or time. No need to note where it was or whence it came, only to know that… it was the Republic. Once, under the wise rule of the Senate and the protection of the Jedi Knights, the Republic throve and grew. But as often happens when wealth and power pass beyond the admirable and attain the awesome, there appear those evil ones who have greed to match. So it was with the Republic at its height. Like the greatest of trees, able to withstand any external attack, the Republic rotted from within, though the danger was not visible from outside. Aided and abetted by restless, power-hungry individuals within the government and the massive organs of commerce, the ambitious Senator Palpatine caused himself to be elected President of the Republic. He promised to reunite the disaffected among the people and to restore the remembered glory of the Republic. Once secure in office, he declared...

Written By: Ken Hulsey  In 1984, the animated television series Macross soared to new heights in popularity in Japan. Never before had an animated series captivated the Japanese public like Macross. While shows like Astro Boy , Kimba , Gigantor , Mazinger , and Gundam had amassed devoted young followings, Macross transcended age, class, and gender barriers in a way no anime had before it. Songs from the series, sung by voice actress Mari Iijima as the character Lynn Minmay , were climbing the charts one after another. In fact, Lynn Minmay had become as much of a pop culture phenomenon in Japan as Madonna was in America, despite being a fictional character. Recognizing Macross' widespread popularity, directors Noboru Ishiguro and Shoji Kawamori began work on a big-screen adaptation of the series. A theatrical release would allow for higher production values, crisper animation, and a more mature storyline. The challenge would be condensing the TV series's numerous episodes and...

The Enduring Legacy of King Kong (1933) In the realm of cinematic history, few films have left as profound an impact as " King Kong ," which premiered in New York City in 1933. Often hailed as one of the "100 Best Films of All Time" by Time Magazine, this iconic motion picture not only broke box-office records but also fundamentally shaped the future of filmmaking. Its innovative use of special effects, emotional storytelling, and unforgettable characters has spawned a decades-long fascination with the giant ape and the world he inhabits. "King Kong" arrived at a time when the film industry was ripe for innovation. With groundbreaking visual effects crafted by special effects pioneer Willis O’Brien, the film pushed the boundaries of what was technically possible in the 1930s. O’Brien’s mastery of stop-motion animation was revolutionary; it created a believable and captivating world that drew audiences into the narrative. Even today, viewers can appreciate ...

I, like many others, first became fascinated with the infamous "Fouke Monster" in the 1970s when the film "The Legend of Boggy Creek" was released in theaters and drive-ins across the country. Although I didn't see the movie until it aired as a Saturday afternoon feature on a local TV station in the 1980s, the original trailer had a lasting impact on my young and impressionable mind—it scared the crap out of me. A big, hairy creature reaching through windows to grab young girls (the Fouke Monster doesn't hold a candle to King Kong), girls screaming, guns firing, people chasing the monster, the monster chasing people-all set in what looked like the creepiest place on Earth: Boggy Creek. I hid under my bed until I was ten!  

At the close of the 19th century, the renowned author H.G. Wells gifted us with “War of the Worlds,” a remarkable work that quickly became a beloved classic. Many consider it to be the very first modern science fiction novel, paving the way for stories about extraterrestrial life. This groundbreaking narrative takes a serious look at what an alien invasion of Earth might look like, and it has inspired a plethora of adaptations across various media. From books to comic books, and even radio, the story has seen countless interpretations, including the famous Orson Welles broadcast on Halloween in 1938. It’s also been brought to life on the big screen, with notable films like the classic 1953 version produced by George Pal and the epic rendition featuring Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise from 2005. Moreover, it has made its mark on television with series in different styles, like a reminiscent “X Files” type show in the 80s and the British series “Tripods.” To top it all off, several album...