Day 20
Favorite kiss: The train station scene of BBC’s North & South miniseries
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It remains as one of my top 20 favorite scenes and trust me, when you see this movie you’ll understand why. Set in the industrial North in the mid-19th century, the story centers on two characters who couldn’t be more different from each other, Margaret Hale from the South and cotton-mill owner John Thornton. Based on Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel, it’s as romantic and enchanting as they come, definitely topple Pride & Prejudice in my book (sorry Mr. Darcy, but Thornton is my favorite literary romantic hero!). Daniela Denby-Ashe portrayed such a sympathetic heroine miss Hale who finally softens Thornton’s heart. When I watched it for the umpteenth time with my girlfriends, we’re all swooning over the way he looks at her, and the slow, scrumptious kiss framed by the camera so beautifully 🙂 I’ve seen a bazillion romantic period movies, but none had a kiss THIS bewitching!
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Day 21
Favorite romantic couple: John Thornton & Margaret Hale, BBC’s North & South
I’ve already listed ten of my all time favorites more than a year ago, as well as my fave unconventionally-romantic movies, but if I have to pick just one, I guess the couple above takes the cake.
A good love story is never contrived or unfaithful, as much as the latter makes for a good drama, it’s not one that usually linger in my mind for long. Slow-burn romance doesn’t get any better than this and trust me, it’s worth the wait!
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Well, let’s hear your pick of favorite on-screen kiss and romantic couple!
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I wouldn’t say that as my favorite on-screen kiss but John Thornton & Margaret Hale is one of my favourite romantic couple. They are both such strong characters that it took them quite a while to get together…mainly because of Margaret who is soo stuborn, she found it hard to admit her feelings to herself.
Mr. Darcy is nice and everything, but I’m with you. I’d choose Thornton too, plus he is a working man unlike Darcy, a man of leisure! Although I was a bit put off by Thornton (the intent I’m sure was was for us to understand how Margaret too was put off) with the scene of him in the beginning hitting his worker. But I understand, it wasn’t in the novel right so I wished they hadn’t include it the series. When I had watched it again I just found it too brutal and unnecessary.
My favourite scene would have to be the Proposal, how fast it went from a proposal to a rejection to a somewhat judgement of the other’s character.
Sorry if this comment is way too long. Can’t help it. Its one of my favourite series. It has one of the best scores in a mini series too I think. And those scenes in the cotton mill…gorgeous.
Oooh I’m glad you’ve seen this movie! Thornton is a working man, YES that’s why I like him more as he’s a much more complex character with real issues we working people can identify with. I find Margaret such a virtuous character, and her stubborn-ness is actually part of her charm, she isn’t the typical period heroine who’s all too concerned about finding a husband!
As for the brutal beating scene, yeah I see your point, but I actually think it serves the movie as it shows the length Thornton would go to protect his mill (thus his family) and given what’s happened to it before (the mill burning down because of careless smoking), I understand where he’s coming from. Plus, it convinces us even more why Margaret had such trepidation about him (“Your daughter and I had met on such unfortunate circumstances…” – I like that line by Thornton, as he did his best to conceal the dread in his voice).
Yes, the scenery and the scores are gorgeous indeed. I especially LOVE the slo-mo of Thornton walking around his mill surrounded by flying cottons that look like snow. Beautifuuuuul!
Thank you for the long comment, please don’t be sorry, I more than welcome it!! 🙂
You know I have to say it (I’m the ScarletSp1der!)…Mary Jane and upside-down Spiderman kissing in the rain!! Everyone knows it, remembers it, recognizes it, and, whether they like it or not, it is memorable!
Those two, however, or not my fav onscreen couple. for that, I’d say The Proposal’s Andrew and Margaret…as that is one of the ONLY romantic comedies in my movie collection. (funny, I JUST now noticed that the commenter before me mentioned The Proposal as well.) Their relationship back and forth kept me entertained and tied into their characters!
Ha…ha.. of course! That’s a great one Scarlet, Darren from the M0vie Blog has it on his list (http://m0vie.wordpress.com/2010/08/22/wet-blogathon-i-wish-it-would-rain-down) You’re right, not the best romantic couple, but that scene was pretty cool.
As for The Proposal, sorry to be a downer, but despite such likable leads, I don’t sense much chemistry between the two. Not crazy about the movie either. I much prefer Sandy and Keanu in Speed, now the kiss at the end was pretty hot on that one, too! 🙂
nice post btw. fun to read! Thanks
I’ve never seen this version of NORTH AND SOUTH and whenever I say that I feel I might get killed by RA fan ladies 🙂
I’m not sure what’s my favourite movie kiss, I’ll have to think about that one. Maybe Drew Barrymoore and Michael Vartan in NEVER BEEN KISSED? Or maybe something sexier…..?
I’d like to see a kiss between Zeta Jones and Karl Urban 🙂 A looooong one 🙂
You haven’t??? Come on Dez, you have GOT to check it out, you’ll love it. Not just because of Richard (though, who am I kidding, he’s awesome in this), but the story is such a compelling and memorable one… it’s so much more than a love story and you’d care for all the characters, even the minor ones.
Yeah, that Never Been Kissed one is cute… Michael Vartan was quite irresistible in this movie though I’m usually just meh about him.
Y’know, Zeta-Jones has a new movie about her being a cougar, right? I think Karl would’ve been awesome instead of Justin Bartha… but I’m thinking they’d be even better in a period romance 😉
yes, Zeta Jones as queen of Cartage and Karl Urban as her general she has hots for 🙂
Believe it or not, don’t know what my fav movie kiss is… will have to start doing some research, maybe?! But all that you say about North and South is totally spot on, kiss included.
Oh I’m disappointed now… I was hoping for some Rufus-related scene you’d share with me… I’m sure there’s more than one 😉
Well, since it’s a Ru kiss you want, I’ll get right to it! But there are so many, heavens, where to start?! Seriously, I will find one you haven’t seen and will love, and report back 😉
Just watched the North & South kiss – WOW! And the background music makes it even more enticing.
Thinking back on it now, and this is a completely different genre, but I could still watch the first Rocky and Adrian kiss scene in a corner of the boxer’s tacky, tacky home over and over – it’s so incredibly charming! I’d upload my clip of it to You Tube, but the studio would have them take it down in a heartbeat… too bad…
Background music?? Oh I think I was too mesmerized to notice, he..he..
Ahh yes, Rocky & Adrian… it is cute indeed, Sly looked so dorky albeit his mighty buff-ness 🙂 She really had no choice but to surrender!
Dorky is the word for it all right, and his verbal banter about his pet turtle and “calling” her brother out the window just before hand is really a stitch. Love the way, as you say, his “buff-ness,” combined with “dorky,” combined with “no choice but to surrender” really adds up to one unforgettable, wonderful kissing scene.
I quite like ripped guys who are kind of goofy (like you know who :)). Rocky is indeed Sly’s best work. Check out my newly updated sidebar with trivia about the roles he turned down. Isn’t that amazing how many offers he got following that movie??
That is incredibly amazing all the roles he turned down. Seems crazy, would be interesting to find out why, and what he choose instead. But decided I just had to watch the kiss scene again. Love how slowly and sweetly it unfolds. First he takes her glasses off and tells her she has nice eyes (sincerely), then takes her hat off and tells her she’s beautiful (sincerely, again), then tells her he wants to kiss her, then kisses her cheek (the one facing away from the camera), then he gives her a very short, light kiss on the lips, and then, finally a long, warm, firm kiss that lasts as their arms entwine and they both slowly sink to the floor, still embracing, still kissing. Oh my, oh my… he certainly had insight into what was needed to win over Adrian, and to write and perform a scene as memorable as that one.
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