MovieChat Forums > The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years (1996) Discussion > Not very good

Not very good

posted 17 years ago by thslindal
3 replies | jump to latest

This unneccesary sequel to "The Thorn Birds" is really not very good. In the same way that I had kind of high expectation for the original miniseries and it lived up to them, I didn´t have any expectations for this one because it was a sequel with different actors etc. And yep... I was right this isn´t very good. It may be well made but it´s also kind of soulless in a polished and a dead way while the original may be flawed but it´s just so charming in some unexplicable way that you really don´t care. I really just didn´t care about the characters in this one, not even Father Ralph (because you really know what happenens to him in the end if you watch the original miniseries) and I was just kind of relieved when this one was over because I felt the whole thing was just so embarrasing in a way - they so desperately trying to have a sequel and to create some sort of a story that was supposed to charm you and carrie you away. And all the time it´s just silly and you really don´t care about the characters. Even though they used Henry Mancinis original score (at least some of it) the music in this didn´t even move me one bit while the music in the original miniseries was so beautiful and memorable. Funny how they can just ruin a good thing.

[–] loveology93 17 years ago

I just watched Thorn Birds two days ago and The Missing Years yesterday. All I have to say is every 5 mins my mom and I kept saying 'that never happened' or 'they explained that in the original.' There was just so many errors, Meggie said in Thorn Birds that she never went back to Luke(tho he returns in The Missing Years) and Justine and Dane never meet Ralph until they are 18&19(yet he meets them when they are 9&10 in The Missing Years). Meggie and Ralph werent suppose to see each other for almost 20 years(and its only been 10). Meggie wasnt suppose to know that Dane wanted to be a Priest until Ralph told her when he came after 20 years(Dane doesnt want to upset her and yet in The Missing Years he's always talking how he wants to be a Priest). Luke isnt suppose to know about Dane or the fact that he isnt the father(yet he does). Plus there's the fact that none of the original cast is there(except Richard Chamberlain). I think it would have been a good movie if it was a 'What if?' movie not a 'This Is What Happened.' It was just disappointing and left me wondering Why did they even bother making this?

"Never shield your oddness, but wear your oddness like a shield." -Sarra Manning

[–] madgirl88 15 years ago

Sorry kitten 33 but you're wrong on a few points. Maybe you are refering to the tv series, but I'm reading the book now and Father Ralph does meet Justine and Dane when they are about 9 & 10 years old. It's when he goes back to tell them of Frank's parole. And Dane tells Meggie first that he wants to be a priest, then goes to Rome to learn under Father Ralph. If you are refering to the movie, I'm sorry. It may be different then the book. I haven't seen the movie yet.

Speak English, you stupid little retard!

[–] ilahilda 12 years ago

It was OK. That was a trip when Ralph went to confront Luke in regards to getting Dane back. Luke starting taunting Ralph that he knew that he and Meggie had an affair while she was still married to Luke. In Ralph's mind I bet he thought , "Damn Fee she had to tell this bastard me and Meggie did the wild thing years ago". I'm surprised Ralph didn't tell Dane to step outside to avoid hearing adult talk and then tell Luke. "What's wrong Luke , can't stand the fact a priest gave your wife some good loving". LOL