I think this movie should never have been made. It is wrong in so many ways at once.
It does not fit in with the story as we know it. In the real Thorn Birds, Father Ralph states in plain words that he has not seen Meggie in 20 years. Also, it is obviously (still in the original) the first time he meets her children. I.e., he tells Justine that "last time I saw you you wet on me". He would not have said that, if he had seen her as a teenager, would he..? Also, the children would have remembered him when he turned up again when they were 19 and 21 - as he had played such a large part in their life in this "the missing years" interlude...
It was only stupid to shoot it without anybody of the old cast except Richard Chamberlain. EVERYBODY is wrong! The new Meg is one of the best, strangely enough - she looks quite like Rachel Ward, but she lacks her vulnerability and girlish charm. She is too hard, cold and cynical.
Dane is a disaster - a red-haired, freckled, short-necked, broad-mouthed, and stout child, could never have been the child of the immensely beautiful, photogenic and dark-haired couple Meg and Ralph. No way!
Cardinal Vittorio is another disaster. This actor lacks all the charm and subtlety of Christopher Plummer. And where did the beard come from - Vittorio looks more like a Greek-Orthodox priest in this version!!!
Meg's mother is also wrong: she has suddenly grown religious, and she has less depth than the original. She is just too ordinary.
The new Luke O'Neill is the best - he plays the character in just the same way as Bryan Brown, and also he has the same - Australian - accent. That is very important!
Richard Chamberlain, repeating his role, is what makes it a little worth watching... He is as handsome as always, although older of course, and he really tries his best to get into the character again and keep the movie together. But, strangely enough, he is not really the same old Father Ralph either... He is also more "ordinary" in this new movie. Something of the charm and magic is lacking. (Of course one could argue, that in the new movie he has lost his faith and therefore the aura of holiness...)
I think this "missing years" movie, was only a way to try to suck the last penny out of the original Thorn Birds' popularity. I must say, that I lost respect for Richard Chamberlain when I watched it. He ought not to have lent himself to something like that! Still, that I give the movie three stars instead of just one, is because I think it was a competent piece of entertainment IN ITSELF. If one had not known anything about the original Thorn Birds, this could have been quite a good movie. I especially liked the custody battle, because so many parents the world over will recognize it (unfortunately)... And, as I said, it is always A LITTLE worthwhile just to watch such a handsome man as Chamberlain! :-)
It does not fit in with the story as we know it. In the real Thorn Birds, Father Ralph states in plain words that he has not seen Meggie in 20 years. Also, it is obviously (still in the original) the first time he meets her children. I.e., he tells Justine that "last time I saw you you wet on me". He would not have said that, if he had seen her as a teenager, would he..? Also, the children would have remembered him when he turned up again when they were 19 and 21 - as he had played such a large part in their life in this "the missing years" interlude...
It was only stupid to shoot it without anybody of the old cast except Richard Chamberlain. EVERYBODY is wrong! The new Meg is one of the best, strangely enough - she looks quite like Rachel Ward, but she lacks her vulnerability and girlish charm. She is too hard, cold and cynical.
Dane is a disaster - a red-haired, freckled, short-necked, broad-mouthed, and stout child, could never have been the child of the immensely beautiful, photogenic and dark-haired couple Meg and Ralph. No way!
Cardinal Vittorio is another disaster. This actor lacks all the charm and subtlety of Christopher Plummer. And where did the beard come from - Vittorio looks more like a Greek-Orthodox priest in this version!!!
Meg's mother is also wrong: she has suddenly grown religious, and she has less depth than the original. She is just too ordinary.
The new Luke O'Neill is the best - he plays the character in just the same way as Bryan Brown, and also he has the same - Australian - accent. That is very important!
Richard Chamberlain, repeating his role, is what makes it a little worth watching... He is as handsome as always, although older of course, and he really tries his best to get into the character again and keep the movie together. But, strangely enough, he is not really the same old Father Ralph either... He is also more "ordinary" in this new movie. Something of the charm and magic is lacking. (Of course one could argue, that in the new movie he has lost his faith and therefore the aura of holiness...)
I think this "missing years" movie, was only a way to try to suck the last penny out of the original Thorn Birds' popularity. I must say, that I lost respect for Richard Chamberlain when I watched it. He ought not to have lent himself to something like that! Still, that I give the movie three stars instead of just one, is because I think it was a competent piece of entertainment IN ITSELF. If one had not known anything about the original Thorn Birds, this could have been quite a good movie. I especially liked the custody battle, because so many parents the world over will recognize it (unfortunately)... And, as I said, it is always A LITTLE worthwhile just to watch such a handsome man as Chamberlain! :-)