Viggo Mortensen

Lord of the Rings Trilogy Forum

What do you think of Viggo Mortensen as an actor? Do you think he portrayed Aragorn well?

I am a big fan of Viggo's work. He is such a talented artist in every form, photography, painting, poetry,acting. I think he did a wonderful job of aragorn, although I think he portrayed the ranger side of him better then the side of Elendil. he looks better as a ranger or something. but I think he is a wonderful actor.

I didn't know that he had all those talents. wow. I've never seen him in anything else. I saw GIJane, but I don't remember him.

ya he is an amazing guy, and he also has a great sense of humor from what I've heard. He dosn't like too much publisity though... he was one of the few that didn't even come over to us in L.A.... he just waved from afar.

I don't think that any other actor could've played Aragorn as well as he did. I was impressed.

He just looks exactly like the Aragorn I imagined when I read the books... it's amazing, and to think he wasn't even the first one they offered the role too. That would suck be offered a role and then be told that you were going to be replaced by another actor! but I'm glad they did.

I got the EE DVD of both parts for Christmas (and a very strange look by my parents, though they should know better by now, I'm 42, after all), and I've seen them several times by now.

As an aspiring writer, I thought whom to cast for my characters (a popular discussion in our Writer's Forum), and I had some difficulties with one, an 12th century Norman-descendant Scottish knight, but now I think Viggo could do him. He doesn't even need a stuntman for all those fighting scenes.

I could make use of other members of the LOTR cast als well.

billyisthebest--when i read the books i pictured aragorn sort of like Viggo too. only a little older.

well he is supposed to be older then he looks, but he is one of the Dunadain, and they live to be like 300 or something, so they don't age nearly as fast as other men. In the extended ttt there is a scene with him talking to Eowen and he tells her that he is actually 87... I think they should have left that in the theatrical version, it was a good scene

I agree. I always pictured him in his sixties before I saw the movie. In fact, when I saw FOTR for the first time, I had to ask my friend sitting next to me, if that was the real Strider.

lol! the first time I watched the movie, I wasn't to the part when they are in the Inn at Bree and they stuffed their beds, in the film it looked like they really got stabbed at first.. and, retarded as this may sound, I thought they turned into feathers! haha! the embarressment!

It certainly seemed that way didn't it?

yes and now I look back and it is hilarious how inoccent and unknowing I was... Peter Jackson has created a monster and I like it!

The first time I ever read the book, I had a hard time knowing the difference between elfs, dwarfs, hobbits, etc... Now I know far more about the story than I ever thought possible.

The movie really helped me understand the book better, and then rereading the book, helped me understand the movie better. Crazy!

It scares me how much I know... my friends older brother loves to tease me, and call me Frodo... Like I care! ha ha! I'm honored! lol

I thought Viggo was perfect for the part. He portrayed the powerful Dunadan with a quiet dignity. When I read the books I pictured Aragorn looking just like he did on the film. Perfect casting.

Filmography:


• Hidalgo (2004)

• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

• The Young Americans/Bad Lieutenant - 2 Pack (2002)

• Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

• 28 Days (2000)

• A Walk On the Moon (1999)

• A Perfect Murder (1998)

• Psycho (1998)

• G.I. Jane (1997)

• Albino Alligator (1996)

• Daylight (1996)

• The Passion of Darkly Noon (1996)

• Crimson Tide (1995)

• The Prophecy (1995)

• American Yakuza (1994)

• Floundering (1994)

• Boiling Point (1993)

• Carlito's Way (1993)

• The Crew (1993)

• The Young Americans (1993)

• The Indian Runner (1991)

• The Reflecting Skin (1991)

• Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3 (1989)

• Tripwire (1989)

• Fresh Horses (1988)

• Salvation! (1987)

• Witness (1985)

Thank you

How many of those have you actually seen? just curious.

How many of Viggo's movies have I seen?

Hmmmmmmmm.... 10

is he good in all of them? I can't wait until Hidalgo comes out

From what I can remember, I've never seen him do a bad job... he's just getting better.

i think i've seen a perfect murder, but i don't recall him being present in it...who was he?

He was the guy that had the affair with Gwenyth Paltrow... the wife.

ah ok....its been a long time since i've seen it...he eventually got killed by Michael Douglas right?

i think he did a good job in LOTR...but when you hear him actually speak in interivews...he has a really quiet, monotone voice...its wierd.

Yes, his voice was different in the movie and then in interviews....
I'm sure that he made his voice work that way, for the part... but, it was also like that in GI Jane. Powerful.

He did all his stunts himself and turned into dedicated sword fighter. I'm not bad with that weapon myself, but he would have me down within seconds. And the way he moves - f.e. when he attacks he Ringwraiths at Weathertop - with the grace of a dancer, yet powerful.


*drool*

*passing out bibs*

I think that it's great when an actor goes all out to really LEARN the part that they are playing... to take up that sort of training, so that they can do their own stunts. It truly makes the scenes so much better, because the camera doesn't back out, or cut face shots, etc...

Very true, especially in a role like Aragorn. You need to see him with the sword.

He's a natural with that weapon. It took him only a few weeks to learn the use of a sword, and I know how damn difficult that is.

Viggo really is a ranger at heart...a true outdoorsman...in one interview with Miranda Otto, she talked about how one time Viggo and a few other actors and crew decided to camp out rather than spend 3 hours driving to and from the hotels. he caught and then cooked fish for them.

Yes, and he didn't even get rid of his Aragorn outfit. There's a pic somewhere showing Viggo fishing, in his Ranger's clothes.

Why can't I find such a man (who, I admit, should also happen to like opera).

lol! thanks, I'll take one and the great thing is... he hardly had ANY time at all to reherse for the weathertop scene... because he got there so late. He's so amazing!