denis888 I am Russian but yet I am a huge Civil War of 1861-1865 buff and thus I guess I have watched almost all films and serials on the topic. This 1985 serial based on John Jake's epic book is a must see as it is one of the deepest, best and heartfelt efforts in the genre - it shows excellent depth and admirable attitude to all the main characters who live their lives and face the terrible war. All of the main cast members are a very good choice, with Patrick Swayze and James Read being two greatest stars, but then how can we bypass Kirsty Allie or David Carradine, as well as Hol Holbrook or Johnny Cash/ Each episode is a treat to eyes, and the severity of antebellum as well as war-time America is shown with great candid eye and sober mind. Highly recommended as well as the second Part of the saga, but think twice before ever approaching the third instalment as it is by far the worst.

ashley-92232 As a little girl growing up in Charleston, I can remember all of the fuss during the filming of North and South. It not only lived up to the hype but exceeded it. It is still just as enjoyable to watch 30 plus years later and I can now enjoy it all over again with my children. This is a love story between George and Orry, two best friends who meet at West Point and eventually have to fight for their beliefs opposite each other in the Civil War. It follows their lives and the lives of their families as the world changing war takes place. The acting was excellent, the wardrobe was stunning, and you feel like you are living through this plot. For all of my fellow Patrick Swayze fans, in my opinion this showcases him at his finest. This movie does an excellent job of showing the struggles of both the north and the south without showing favoritism to either. It was a beautiful story showing the horror of slavery but also showing that not all southerners agreed with that of life. You felt deeply for all those involved (well, other than Bent, Justin, and Ashton). Do yourself a favor and watch this right now if you haven't already seen it! You'll be so glad that you did! With that said, I like to pretend that the last book/movie does not exist. I much prefer the ending of the original 1985 series.

montroyal86 When I first watched this first part of the miniseries Book 1 in 1986 as a teenager from Australia I didn't have any interest at all about American history.I started watching these series and got glued to it.I got a good understanding about the basics of American history from this.I found every character was played exceptionally well.All beautifully dressed and I loved them all.The settings,costumes and music would have been a massive challenge but it was done so realistically,you thought you were in the mid 1800's.The well written plot has twists and turns.You have heroes and villains,love affairs,political power games but I think the best part of the movie is the conflicting moral principles of both sides.It makes you think what people went through.Watching the last scene between George and Orry in Book 1,it will make you want to watch Book 2.Book 2 is just as good as Book 1 and answers questions to the storyline of Book 1 through the civil war period.There is a Book 3 part done later but with a lot of the main characters missing it didn't compare.

julienwampire Her views on the slavery were right and undebatable. Although, until to the one period of her life, which made a less radical woman out of her - she was very loud and vulgar worker against slavery. She was a very proud woman who never talked or listened her protester - just for the cause. She has never discussed with them with any respect. Even, if it was a friend of the family or even a person who she loved. And I do not claim that she could talk with her family however, but I think she could treat her protesters with a little more respect, because it could be much better for the cause, for which she fought. Besides, she claimed that the war is a fine way and there is no other and blood must run. That was the sign that the life of another people wasn't so much valuable for her. And that is not a scale of sensibility I prefer , especially in such matters as making decisions about human life or death. She didn't realize how war can be frightening and horrible. But the worst is that she didn't even want to know that. She had her own rules and rights, that was great for her, but that's not so clear when she started to sell her body to help her in her own cause. The viewer can only guess that this kind of behavior was the consequence of hard war's experiences. It was her way to survive until she has murdered her false friend and lover as well.She fought for other people against injustice towards them, she fought for others to kill another. As far as she was unpredictable, she seemed to be sick.In all that cases, I can reasonably claim, she has lost her purpose from her eyes and became a loser for the cause and for herself as well. She was the main reason which led her not towards the good end, whatever it can mean.She only stayed true with her love feelings to her dead husband to the end of her life. That was only the thing which has never changed. That is the one thing that in Christianity can never change – it is the real love which is true itself forever, the most important thing forever.