if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

In my house, The Thornbirds is a go-to classic. I don't know if it is in yours, but if it isn't, rent it during a long weekend and it soon will be.This sprawling epic takes place in Australia, focusing on one family's generational journey, the Clearys. Headed by Richard Kiley and Jean Simmons, the Clearys struggle with their sons and daughter as they run the family ranch with Barbara Stanwyck. As a little girl, the daughter Meggie develops a crush on Father Ralph, who is kind to her and her family. While the main storyline of the epic miniseries is the relationship between Father Ralph and Meggie when she grows up, there's so much more to this wonderful drama than a forbidden romance. Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward play the starcrossed lovers, and after watching The Thorn Birds, it'll be hard to see either of them in anything else. They are Meggie and Father Ralph.This was an enormously successful miniseries, and for good reason. With a huge cast, including Bryan Brown, Piper Laurie, Christopher Plummer, Ken Howard, Mare Winningham, and Earl Holliman, a memorable theme, and a story full of romance, heartbreaking family relationships, religious conflicts, and the drama of finding and forgiving yourself, it's no wonder it won four Golden Globes (with four additional nominations) and six Emmys (with ten additional nominations). I could praise each actor's individual performance, but this review would turn into an essay. But if you're a Jean Simmons fan, she gives the best performance of her career in this miniseries. And if you loved Barbara Stanwyck in her youth, you'll be very touched to see her still feisty at 76 years old, reaching out to the audience and reminding them that there's still a young woman inside of her. Christopher Plummer makes for a very believable Archbishop, and Bryan Brown was so charming, he married his costar Rachel Ward! The Thorn Birds gets its title from the legend of the particular bird. The birds pursue a beautiful rose, knowing there is a deadly thorn attached. They love the rose so much, they can't stand to be apart from it, and they end up impaled upon the thorn. Every character in this decades-long miniseries has a compelling love, one that isn't healthy and practically kills them just by loving it. The love can be a partner, a child, or even God. I won't spoil the plot, but it's a very emotional, tragic story. You'll fall in love, and you'll shake with sobs. If you don't go through an entire box of Kleenex, you need to take some time to find your heart. Then watch it again.

This is approximately my 202nd IMDb review since May, 2002:Dear Rachel Ward,You are loved and appreciated very much. I just saw your interview in "Pioneers of Television: Miniseries". I just loved, loved, loved your performance as "Meggie" in "The Thorn Birds". I feel now, and totally felt then, that you were the absolutely perfect embodiment of Meggie about whom I had read in the novel. Abysmal comments that were made by media reviewers and the author make me totally appalled. All these people were wrong. You were the best Meggie there could have been. You are whom I think of when I think about Meggie from the novel and TV miniseries. You did an excellent, wonderful job. I particularly loved how lovely you looked when you wore the "Ashes of Roses" dress. I also very much liked your scenes with Richard Chamberlain, plus also your scenes with Bryan Brown(e?), who of course became your loving husband in real life.Dear Richard Chamberlain:Happy Birthday!! I loved you very much as Father Ralph de Bricassart (sp.) in "The Thorn Birds". After viewing "Pioneers of Television: Miniseries", I was happy to have heard and seen your interview. I also "loved you very much" in "Shogun". I had previously read both novels before the TV productions. I liked you very, very much as Dr. Kildare. You looked good in those doctor whites. A scene from "Thorn Birds" with Ms. Stanwyck brought back the memory of when you disrobed on the porch after the rain.A current daytime drama is airing a type of "Thorn Birds" story, of a priest questioning his love for the church vs. his love for a woman. I am following this story, and thinking of all of you."The Thorn Birds": wonderful series. Followed generations of a family. Great drama. Happy and sad times. Perfect casting. Beautiful interiors and exteriors.15/10.

One of the best (and first) mini-series ever! I remember watching it faithfully every night while new, going so far as to have to go to my grandmother's house with a friend one night to watch that evening's episode.Richard Chamberlain was the hottest thing then! Rachel Ward, as Meggie, was a little limp then, but I thought that Mare Winningham was incredible as Justine, even though young and around my age at the time. The series stayed faithful to the book, and I have followed Mare Winningham throughout the years and think that she is a great actress and singer also. A super series, and the groundwork for whatever followed.

The Thorn Birds mini-series is an honest-to-goodness adaptation by Carmen Culver of a classic novel by Colleen McCullough. It is sad to note that people who have read the book tend to compare it with the movie. I myself have read the book, and I can say that Ms Culver couldn't have done it better. The thing is, comparing a classic novel to an adaptation, no matter how brilliant it was done, just doesn't add up - a novelist versus a screenwriter is a no contest. Why not see the movie, judge it according to it's merits, and find out for yourself why it was nominated for 10 Emmy Awards and won 6, including Best mini-series made for TV.The Thorn Birds is one of the best things that happened to television in the 80's. It is a timeless classic that was as heartwarming then as it is now, 23 years later.This is one of the best, if not the best, love story of all time.