North and South…Another One Bites The Dust…
Friday, February 15, 2008Posted in: North and South, Now that's what I call romance
KristieJ will be pleased to note that I finally got round to watching North and South last night.
Of course it was fantastic, as I knew it would be. Daniela Denby-Ashe sure has come a long way from Eastenders, and My Family. I did notice that she wasn’t the only Eastenders star in it though. Jo Joyner, (who currently plays Max’s wife, Tanya, in Eastenders) played Thornton’s sister, Fanny, who I thought was highly amusing by the way.
The secondary characters were excellent, and really helped make the film. Pauline Quirke’s Dickson (I’ve met her by the way, lovely lady, and so down-to-earth) was my favourite, but Higgins, definitely ran a close second.
I thought Richard Armitage played Thornton perfectly. All that smoldering passion, and repressed sensuality, was enough to get me in the mood for lurve. Very dark, yet so very fiery underneath his cool facade. I loved how he was willing to put himself out there, in terms of his feelings for Margaret. The scene where he asks for Margaret’s hand in marriage, even though he thinks he doesn’t have a chance with her, was heart-breakingly beautiful. Him and Daniela had enough chemistry to light up the whole of London.
Oh, oh, oh, and the snow scene where Margaret leaves Milton, in the horse and carriage whilst Thornton looks on, and he desperately urges her to “Look back, look back at me.”? Oh my, I just about swooned.
And the scene at the train station? Well, I think that was the most romantic ending to a film ever. I definitely felt the love.
So, what are you waiting for, go and buy the DVD ASAP. I promise, you wont be sorry.
And for all the people who will fall in love with Richard Armitage, you can find lots of lovely pics of him here.
And Kristie, you really should be on some sort of commission luvvie.
Dawn
February 15
10:25 am
I haven’t seen North and South (at first I thought you were talking about the Patrick Swayze epic!), but I love Richard Armitage. Love him in Robin Hood, but I REALLY loved him in The Vicar of Dibley.
Marg
February 15
10:37 am
Definitely great in Vicar of Dibley as well! So glad you enjoyed this!
sula
February 15
12:37 pm
yay! So glad you finally got to see it and so glad that you liked it. Of course, it seems that it’s pretty hard to watch this movie and NOT like it. lol. Richard Armitage really knocked that role out of the park. One can’t help but wonder why he isn’t being cast in more period piece romantic lead roles.
It’s so lovely to watch a movie that feels very much like a (good) romance novel come to life. The train scene makes my heart want to leap right out of my chest. lol.
Kristie(J)
February 15
1:06 pm
KAREN!!!! Doing a copy of Sybil – SQUEEEEEE!!!!!
I always spend about half an hour in the morning, before my workday starts, blog hopping. What a WONDERFUL way to wake up – seeing you loved this too!!
To everything you say – yes, yes, yes!
The secondary characters played their parts wonderfully – Dixon is wonderful – I don’t think I’ve mentioned her anywhere yet – so loyal, so dedicated to Mrs. Hale. And Fanny is quite a hoot. After many viewings *g*, I’ve come to really enjoy her character too – she does offer comic relief. Sinead Cusack who play John’s mother so brilliantly. Higgins – I think most of us have a crush on him too.
And then we come to Margaret. Daniela just lights up the screen doesn’t she? I don’t think they could have cast a better Margaret.
And then of course there is Richard Armitage as John Thornton. I could wax poetic about him for pages and pages. So controlled, yet so passionate. He just breaks your heart in his longing for Margaret doesn’t he? And he is willing to do anything for her – even going against he own morals when he saves her from an inquest. And of course – oh so very gorgeous. He has managed to come to mind now as the hero in just about every romance I read – although he’s best imagined as Derek Craven.
I can’t help it – I’m still squealing in excitement!!!!!!!
MadNad
February 15
1:29 pm
It seems of late, that a lot of my Richard Armitage google alerts, are women falling under the spell of North and South, due to the gentle prodding of KristieJ.
She is a woman on a mission!
Glad you like it Karen, and I hope that it has prompted you to watch other things that Mr Armitage has appeared in.
You should also take a look at the Armitage Army site, it has great pics too, and lots of bio info. There is also a friendly forum attached, so you can join like minded women for a squee fest.
GrowlyCub
February 15
2:17 pm
For those of you in the U.S. with Netflix subscriptions, N&S is available as an instant view!
I’d never heard of it, but it sounds great, so I plan to watch it online this weekend!
P&P, Part 2, is on on PBS this Sunday as well, so it will be a good TV weekend! 🙂
Eve Vaughn
February 15
2:34 pm
I’m sold! I’m ordering my copy this weekend.
Rosie
February 15
2:45 pm
I swear the next time Kristie gets on a mission to get people to read or watch something I’m going to contact the publisher/distributor and tell them to track the sales. There must be some statistic how many sales each one of us represent. I read some where recently (Dear Author?) that publishers had begun equating sales success with blogger response.
So, hell yeah, Kristie should be earning a commission! 😉
Katiebabs
February 15
4:35 pm
I have watched the good old train scene on You Tube about 85 times. I am seriously not joking. Karen, so glad you enjoyed this movie! No one has a bad thing to say about it, and of course the lovely to die for Richard A.
Capo
February 15
4:44 pm
Is there nudity? Have to ask..
Shelby
February 15
4:58 pm
I discovered this movie on Netflix…went out and bought myself a copy ASAP. It’s one of the loveliest, most passionately romantic movies I’ve ever seen. Did anyone else notice the music? It’s not available on disc, and it’s SO beautiful.
As for Richard Armitage–holy hunk of burning love, Batman!! He might be the most exquisite man on this earth. And if you go to the fan websites and read his interviews, he’s the same in real life. Humble and gracious, and no woman is immune. LOL I’m still waiting for my huge crush on him to subside. If I was fifteen, I’d have a life-sized poster of him on my wall.
azteclady
February 15
5:43 pm
I am starting to think that I should get this one… *ducking rotten veggies*
As for Kristie(J), I think she’s earned her commission already, it’s just a matter of getting paid now *wink*
Kristie(J)
February 15
7:13 pm
Shelby: LOL – I’ve noticed Everything about this movie – about the scenery, the music, so much so that even the posters in the background I’ve started to read! So yes, *g* I’ve noticed the music. Interestingly enough – I just listened to the commentary for the first time a short while ago and apparently Margaret and Richard have a love theme – music that plays while they are together. I’m going to have to watch it again darn it all, to pick that out *g*
Elizabeth K. Mahon
February 15
8:01 pm
Welcome to the cult Karen. Your secret decoder ring and lifesize poster of Richard Armitage are in the mail.
Katiebabs
February 15
8:04 pm
Azteclady, you have been my back up lately, and visa versa. Join us and all the magic that is North and South!
azteclady
February 15
8:05 pm
Katiebabs, I’m starting to understand Eve
“See the apple? shiny and pretty” says the sssssibilant voice…
Katiebabs
February 15
8:22 pm
If the devil looked like Richard, I would take that apple and become his queen in Hell. LOL
Michelle
February 15
10:29 pm
My library had this and I was able to borrow it. Hmm, I am easily sucked in, probably will order it from Amazon after I finish watching the movie.
I couldn’t stick with the new Robin Hood version. I loved the older one with Clannad doing the music.
vanessa jaye
February 15
11:46 pm
I went looking for this when Kristie first posted about it on her blog, but i couldn’t find it. Thanks for the reminder, Karen, I’ll have to order it.
Megan
February 16
1:49 am
Ah, swoon.
katiebabs
February 16
2:30 am
No naked Richard in this movie. Well if you count his neck without his cravat.
I am gaga over a man’s neck! What is wrong with me?
Shelby
February 16
4:45 am
Katiebabs, nothing’s wrong with you, honey. When that man takes off his cravat, he might as well be stripping naked. LOL *thud*
Because I’m a romance writer, I watch for subtle details in movies like this, try to figure out what makes characters so appealing or what indicates chemistry and emotion, and I have to say this might be one of the most highly charged, subtly erotic relationships in any movie anywhere. Interestingly enough, I found the exchanges between Margaret and John (especially at the end) sexier than something that clobbers you over the head with explicitness…although that definitely has its place, too. 🙂
This film is a keeper, 100%, and so is Richard Armitage, and I say this not just because he’s exquisite to look at. He’s such an incredible actor. Every nuance of his performance is subtle and deliberate. Really an incredible artist. But does it sound awful that I pray he doesn’t go to Hollywood? That place ruins people. I want him to be wildly successful in his career–how could he not be?–but the whole Hollywood scene just puts me off.
Kristie(J)
February 16
1:35 pm
Shelby: I’m with you in in hoping he doesn’t go to Hollywood too! And for the same reasons you state. In everything I’ve read about him and seen – interviews and such, he’s just so gosh darn self-effacing and sweet and honest and open, I would hate to see him loose that. He is a fabulous actor though in that he can do comedy wonderfully a la Vicar of Dibley. He’s so funny and charming in that. And then he goes to intense and heartbreaking in North and South. And as Guy of Gisbourne – whoo – he makes us root for him even though he kills people! And he has THE best snarl I’ve ever seen. That’s the only things I’ve seen him in so far, but I’d love to get hold of some of the other productions he’s in.
And wowzers – can he do a romantic love scene. That one at the end of North and South is the most romantic I’ve ever seen – anywhere! anytime!
Junec
February 17
11:45 am
Rosie’s comments about increases in sales certainly apply to Bernard Cornwell’s audiobook of Lords of the North – because it is read by Richard Armitage! There is another abridged version by someone else but get the RA version. The news of this was passed round by the Armitage Army and most of us are now listening to it for the upmteenth time. Within 5 minutes of it starting you forget there is just one man reading this. His change of accents for different characters is amazing plus you get that wonderful voice. Strangely enough when I got the next newsletter from Audiobooks it had a bit commenting on the rapid sale of this one and said ‘it seems to have been passed around by word of mouth’!!
It is not the sort of book I would have bought from a bookshop but, having listened to this one, I went out and bought the two previous ones and the follow up novel in normal book form and loved them. The hero is another wonderful role that you can only now imagine Richard playing.
vanessa jaye
February 24
5:42 pm
Finally got my paws on this on Friday. Didn’t even had to order it, there was one lone copy in the stacks in the store.
Kristie(J)
February 24
11:09 pm
Vanessa Jaye: AHa!!! One more to add to the Maybe list! I shall be keeping my eye out for what you think of it *g*
Karen Scott
February 25
7:57 pm
Hey Kristie, I was watching Lark Rise To Candleford last night, and Higgins was in it. A slimmer version of Higgins at that.
Kristie(J)
February 25
11:47 pm
Karen: LOL – I saw that Dawn French is in it too from The Vicar of Dibley fame!! Shades of six degrees of Kevin Bacon *G* Instead it could be six degrees of Richard Armitage.
And speaking of Higgins – I ordered a VHS tape of The Glass Virgin – a movie based on the Catherine Cookson book where he plays the eventual love interest.