I love this movie. i haven't had the chance to read it, but I love history and believe that it is very close to what the working conditions would have been. I love how the characters grow over time and how the pot develops. Highly Recommended if you enjoy any Jane Austen!!!

Powerful, brilliant, captivating adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's masterpiece. The casting is perfect. Each and every actor is where he/she is meant to be. The atmosphere, the spirit are delivered perfectly.Richard Armitage....well, there's no need to say anything. He is The One and Only Mr.Thornton ever :) He seems to step down from the pages of the novel.Daniela Danby-Ashe as Margaret is so breathtakingly beautiful, you can't take your eyes off her luminous face as if chiselled of marble. But her play even more so betters her beauty.And - by the way - the music is outstanding! Enchanting and beautiful, very genuinely creating the atmosphere. The only flaw of the film is that they - for some reason - cut out few of the most crucial dialogs/lines between the leading characters. Well, they are not cut out entirely, but thoroughly changed, and, though are pretty fine in their own merit, would be much better for them to be the exact quotations from the novel. For example the scene of the first proposal and the final scene of reaching the understanding between John Thornton and Margaret. These scenes were made wonderfully....but - if the film-makers followed exactly the dialogs as they were put in the book (especially Thornton's lines and expressive manner) - it would be by far more perfect and breathtaking than it already is. So, my vote "9", not "10" - for these little but crucial (from my point of view) alterations from the original dialogs of the book.

Spoiler at the end!!!The focus of this series is not on romance, but on its beautiful story that is about so much more than just romantic LOVE between two persons. The focus is on its message that you need to look at things from different perspectives and try to understand the other sides as well. It is a heartwarming story, with real and complex characters which are very likable (except for one annoying character - John's sister...I hated her), it has beautiful and well put together romance aspect (if you consider that it is not placed in modern era) filled with those subtle gentle caresses...looks...moments. It also has heartbreaking scenes...it managed to make me cry.Everything developed with just the right speed, it was captivating, direction was excellent, it has beautiful scenery...The actors are absolutely amazing !!! and Richard Armitage is breathtaking.PURE PERFECTIONI could tell you so much more about this, describe things that I LOVED, but that would take away from it - you better see it yourself.This will be REwatched many times!!!! And the book will be read too !!!!*I recommend this* to anyone who likes period dramas but also to ones who are open to new things. My MALE friend watched this with me and he was amazed as well. :)10/10 ISN'T HIGH ENOUGH for this masterpiece!!!!!..............................................................SPOILER :The Last scene in front of the train while they are sitting and he looks at her gently and with so much love...is the most romantic one I've ever seen...and nothing will ever be just as good...BY the end I WAS left starving for more....and more.... - that is maybe the only flaw I found !!!! it needs more kisses and stuff...damn it :(

I enjoyed North & South because of a few things: the beautiful setting and cinematography and the fact that the characters are so believable! The actors are very good and Richard Armitage is fantastic! He is handsome, charming, he has that kind of authority that makes for a great leading male-role. Daniela Denby-Ashe is also worthy of her role, I like her modest, soft beauty, it goes so well with the century portrayed and her role, just perfect.I applaud the makers of this film, it is worth watching and enjoyable. If I am however to comment on something North & South is very much lacking... it is suspense. You just know from the beginning that Margaret is going to end up with Thornton, the whole thing is just postponing THE moment when they declare their love for one another. I would have expected a more intricate design. Too straightforward, you know where it is heading and once it takes you there there is no wow-moment.