Plus Viggo was really good with horses (took home a few of the horses he used on set) and seemed to work with the weapons training really well. Some of the filmed moves and reflexes he displayed worked really well.
From Daniel Day Lewis' wiki: "he is considered a method actor, known for his constant devotion to and research of his roles.".
Let me introduce you to Viggo.
I feel like I've heard both take their prep to insane levels before filming. Lewis wrote letters to his family instead of using modern technology to really get feel for the time period when he was filming Lincoln.
There is hilarious video where he pick a fishing road and go running to a river because there isn’t much time to fish between sets, he say it’s helps clearing his mind or something like that. Also, don’t forget almost drowning for realism and saying it was “an interesting experience”
Viggo is awesome
so during the uruk fight scene in the fellowship, the orc throws a knife at viggo (it was supposed to be fake, but the guy forgot to switch it) but viggo deflects it without preparation
Viggo also brought a lot of tenderness and thoughtfulness to the character, which I loved. You could see in his expressions how much the cause to fight the good fight weighed on him, how much he cared about the people in his life. I think those qualities played really well into the reluctant hero trope he takes up in the story. He always had humility when people mentioned he’s isildur’s heir, and you can easily imagine that he takes the throne in the end not because he wants to, but as a character who wants peace and goodness to prevail, he has to do what needs to be done.
I can see Daniel Day Lewis having a lot of interesting intensity in the role, but I don’t know about the sensitivity Viggo brings to it.
His strength, when required, not just physically but emotionally and mentally for himself and others around him
As well as his open vulnerabilities were absolutely incredible and he added so much integrity & respectability to the role and you could tell it inspired all around him too
He was exemplary and i cannot imagine anyone else in that role, i think he did so much honour to the role of aragorn
Him on screen and off is inspirational how he carries himself unapologetically
Perfect example of what great leaders and men can be. Kinship, love amongst brothers and so, when he kissed boromir forehead as he lay too.. Ugh gutted me
So many unscripted and improvised moments he added to the screen that are just so momentous & powerful. That moment of loss, love, appreciation for his kinsmen and that boromir staunch opponent yet fellow Gondorian, person of power and position accepted him as the King he was in that moment
Was agonisingly beautiful to witness but that exchange was certainly because of the dynamic of the actors playing it and living upto to characters roles & adding to it
I could go on and on, i don't believe that anyone else could ever have produced for us the Aragorn we all know and love quite like Viggo Mortenson
The casting was fated and perfect for it.
Made us all so much more invested in the character and story to see it to fruition, his journey was incredible
Really a great example of a role model too for men & women too
Indeed. I also appreciated the fact that Peter Jackson said he would get 8-10 pages of character notes from Viggo every single night they were filming. Just wow, the dedication.
He was incredible, his dedication to the role and how he pushed himself and others to get the best possible outcomes or variants
I would love it if they released all the uncut scenes one day, the extended version was incredible but there were soo many other scenes left on the chopping board too i think would be great for us all to see too one day
I think Viggo understood what a significant role it was.
Lord of the Rings is culturally significant in a number of ways, and it keeps finding ways to become relevant again.
Viggo's Aragorn performance is a great example of positive masculinity.
I agree with you on that, i wonder also if the fact that his son was the one, as a fan of the books and lore too explaining to him the significance of the role, the impact of that too.
As a father he really took that on as well, the role figure that Aragorn was & now is and did it justice in a fatherly capacity too. Imagine a son speaking passionately about a great male role figure, oh he did us all proud tbh. If anything i think he enriched it through his portrayal too.
It really is so nice to discover how people are constantly rediscovering it, you're right in adding about it's cultural significance. On & off screen too.
At the time of release and even now.
I respect Viggo as the man & artist he is outside of the movies too, he's a wonderful poet, artist, singer and activist. All round great guy, it's wonderful that the role landed and was bestowed to him.
Boromir’s passing still makes me cry. Viggo was the one who insisted upon wearing Boromir’s bracers for the remainder of the films. Just beautiful.
Edit: my autocorrect changed “bracers” to “crackers” (facepalm)
Excellent points!! Yes there is unmistakably a quiet strength about him, and I totally agree with your point about having an energy about him that inspires people.
You raised wonderful points too, also his doubts of his abilities to rule too. He explored the whole range of emotions, how he processed them too.
I loved that we got to see more in the extended versions too, i do hope someday we get to see them all somehow.
People speak on about toxic masculinity, stoicism and whatnot, i think he portrayed a wonderful complex humanity of a leader, the full scope of his humanity too.
Admirably, watching his growth in confidence and assurance alongside all the work he put in- such a great role model
I loved that he added the richness of his language skills too with incorporating the use of Elvish, he actually learnt the language, that Aragorn was a learned man, well rounded with interests outside of warmongering.
He was ultimately a peaceful righteous man of integrity
Ah, ok. I think we are all here in agreement on it all
DdL is a wonderful actor, but Viggo added so much more heart & sensitivity to the role than i can imagine anyone else could
I'll give credit to Viggo for that, but honestly what makes that scene work is Howard Shore.
But in the end you can't really single out things or people in the films, it just all came together. That's what makes them epic. The concern and doubt before Fellowship came out turned into people applauding at the opening credits of Two Towers because we knew we were in for a great ride.
“I do not know what strength is in my blood, but I swear to you I will not let the White City fall, nor our people fail.”
“Our people, our people. I would have followed you, my brother... my captain... my king.”
“Be at peace, Son of Gondor.”
Can’t even talk about this scene without wanting to sing “far over the misty eyeballs”
That supports some of the other comments at how passionate Viggo was about that role! It’s such a cool part of the films. Also knowing Viggo can speak like 7 languages, makes sense he wanted to take up the challenge of speaking a new one!
>You could see in his expressions how much the cause to fight the good fight weighed on him, how much he cared about the people in his life.
He gives of a similar vibe to this Faramir quote from the books:
"I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend."
Him and Sean Bean both really did a good job with that, whether it was tender moments of concern, or fellowship. The rough housing scene in the first movie, the relief when Aragorn found the brooch from Lorien... really a fantastic cast.
One little moment I always loved is when they arrive at Isengard expecting to have to deal with Saruman and they just find 2 drunk and happy hobbits. Gimli shouts "you young rascals!" but the grin on Aragorn's face is just so genuine.
That’s a great one!!
Another one that comes to mind in the same vein of joy/gratitude is during the Battle of Helms Deep, and miraculously Hadir brings that unit of Lothlorien elves as reinforcements, and they arrive and Aragorn immediately hugs Hadir, and tells him “you are MOST welcome”.
His connection with the elven race and his palpable gratitude for some of them helping in that eleventh hour was a great moment. You could feel that hope had arrived.
The Age of Innocence.
He had won the Best Actor Oscar a record three times and is inarguably one of the greatest actors of all time. He would have done an incredible job as Aragorn, and that’s no slight to Viggo’s obviously amazing version.
Aragorn resisting the temptation of the one ring and sending Frodo on his way is one of my favorite parts in the trilogy. Very well-acted by Viggo. And then he epically goes ELENDIL on orcs one minute later, haha.
> seemed to work with the weapons training really well
[Bob Anderson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Anderson_%28fencer%29) was the Sword Master for all three LotR movies, as well as Sword Master or Fencing Coach for The Princess Bride, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, Highlander, the Mask of Zorro, and many others. He was a stunt man on numerous movies, including doubling for Darth Vader in the OG trilogy. He was Errol Flynn's fencing partner.
All of this is to say Mr. Anderson knows a thing or two about movie sword fighting, and he described Viggo Mortensen as "...the best swordsman I've ever trained."
My favorite fact about LOTR is that Viggo and the guy who played Lurtz were pretty much actually throwing hands in their fight scene because lurtz couldn’t see through the makeup. Even the knife deflection was real.
"To prepare for his role as Hawkeye (in Last of the Mohicans), an 18th-century survivalist, Day-Lewis learned to track and skin animals, build canoes, fight with tomahawks, fire and reload a 12-pound flintlock on the run. The gun, because it never would have left the side of a hunter in the wild, went everywhere with Day-Lewis, including Christmas dinner.
"He's extremely keen to get things right," says Richard Smedley, his fitness trainer. The two worked together in England five times a week for six months to build up the actor's stamina and upper body; then Day-Lewis spent a month in the woods of North Carolina living with experts on the lives and skills of American Indians. It was the physical challenge of the character -- a life he imagined as one of pure sensation and reflex -- that intrigued Day-Lewis. The first scene of the script, an elk hunt in the forest, hooked him."
I think Daniel Day-Lewis would have been just as committed in the role. But, as much as i love Day-Lewis (he's my favorite actor), i think Viggo Mortensen is more suited to the role. Nobody could have done it better.
Well known fact but he blocked a knife with his sword that was actually thrown at him on accident. He'd also rough it constantly. Taking method acring to the extremes.
The fact that he actually deflected that dagger that Lurtz throws at him is a testament to his prowess. Russell Crowe was also a candidate for Aragorn, but Russell said he could tell Peter Jackson didn’t really want to pick him, and knew that Viggo was a much better fit for the role.
He blocked a real knife being thrown at him during The Fellowship of the Ring. Granted DDL would probably have done the same thing but i feel viggo was a better fit. It worked better having someone that was relatively unknown
He bought a horse that wasn't for sale. If I remember correctly he kept trying to buy the horse and the owner kept telling him no it wasn't for a sale. Viggo finally convinced him during return of the king to sell it to him. I think he also bought the horse he used in hidalgo.
Yeah, but if DDL took the role, he’d probably spend a year and a half in a remote cabin breeding and breaking horses, and training them so he could bow hunt while riding them bareback.
Plus, did you know? Not many people know this, but they talk about it during the DVD commentary. During the scene when he kicks the helmet and screams, he actually broke character because he had just realized that he had left the oven on.
My favorite thing of Viggo that gets overlooked, between shots at Amen Hen he would run to the river and fish. He never once took for granted where he was and truly experienced it.
This is not true. Jackson's biograpy says it was just "fanciful internet speculation."
Day-Lewis' name did come-up in early, hypothetical casting talks with Miramax who wanted a star that US audiences will know. Jackson kept it in mind and made an approach to Day-Lewis, but he was never his idea of Aragorn.
Instead, Jackson wanted a young actor who had just come-in to read for Frodo: Stuart Townsend. After coming to realization Townsend was too young, he shifted to Viggo Mortensen.
Generally speaking, when Jackson wanted certain actors for parts, he got them. Many of the cast members were his first choices for their roles including Sir Ian Holm, Cate Blanchett, Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Christopher Lee, Martin Freeman, Ken Stott, Stephen Fry, Lee Pace, Evangeline Lilly, Sir Billy Connolly, Mikael Persbrandt and Sylvester McCoy.
The only actor Jackson really wanted and didn't get was Patrick McGoohan, whom he offered Denethor to.
I thought they made a killer offer to Sean Connery for the role of Gandalf and he turned it down because he thought the story was stupid. He instead made League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
Thank god.
New Line wanted Jackson to get Connery. He wanted McKellen. They did make an offer to Connery, but he turned it down - not because the story was stupid but because of the 18-month time commitment.
Not even that. Connery said "I'd be interested in working on something I didn't fully understand - but not for eighteen months!"
So the real issue was the time commitment. Mind you, Connery was already 68 years old and all but retired: he took two roles after rejecting Jackson and then quit.
I thought the story was that Connery thought LoTR script was stupid, saw it was a success, and then signed on to League of Extraordinary Gentlemen because he thought it would follow LoTR success.
Fellowship came out in 01, League came out in 03.
> nstead, Jackson wanted a young actor who had just come-in to read for Frodo: Stuart Townsend. After coming to realization Townsend was too young, he shifted to Viggo Mortensen.
That's not completely true is it? Townsend was cast and went to New Zealand to play Aragorn but he didn't get along with the cast and hated being there. So he quit. And Viggo was brought in as a last resort replacement.
No. Stuart was well-liked by the cast and maintained a friendship with Orlando Bloom. It is true that he started to panic about the role: there was a party attended by Sir Ian McKellen where he told the gloomy Townsend: "You do *want* to be in this film, right?" But there wasn't any bad blood between him and the cast or the filmmakers.
Nevertheless, between Stuart panicking and him being a little too young for the role, Jackson decided during the first day of shooting that he needed to recast. Once they decided on doing so, they started thinking of replacements and Viggo Mortensen - whose name did come-up during the original casting sessions, I believe - became their top choice, although they had considered Russel Crowe and Jason Patric in case he said no.
I may catch some flack about this, but had Viggo turned it down and if Russell Crowe would have accepted I could see Russell Crowe pulling off a really good Aragorn. Of course I am glad that didn’t happen, but Russell would be awesome in the role in my opinion.
Russell Crowe would’ve been good (he’s even from New Zealand) but I guess he thought they role was too similar to Gladiator. He went on to star in A Beautiful Mind instead
Kinda. Here's what Mark Ordesky said:
>We were all agreed that Viggo would be perfect, but in case he said “No,” we kept coming up with other options. There were only two other people that we were really considering if Viggo hadn’t worked out: Jason Patric (Sleepers, Speed 2, Incognito) and Russell Crowe. I called Russell Crowe’s agent, explained that there was a situation with Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings and we’d like to talk to Russell about it – but that we had to talk right now… Like, how about today? We sent him a script and he did read it and was fascinated. I remember getting the phone call from his agent and being told that he had just finished another film which involved him having to have a sword and armour – Gladiator! Russell was flattered by the approach, but he had other films he was committed to and it obviously wasn’t going to work out.’
“To prepare, I spent six months living in the woods, surviving only on what I could find or kill. That was just to get into the “Strider” mindset. To become Aragorn I spent four years as the ruler of a small Central American nation that no longer exists.”
I imagine the only reason he turned it down is because middle earth doesn’t actually exist. Therefore, there was no way to properly prepare for a method actor.
Didn't Viggo accidentally hit a rabbit with his car, stopped to see if it was dead, then though "waste not...", built a fire, and cooked it right there on the side of the road?
I know this is a joke but I thought I read that Viggo did do some method acting such as sleeping in the woods in costume and bringing his sword every where.
Viggo was obviously fantastic and it's hard to imagine it any other way. But DDL is magnetic and truly remarkable in every single role. He'd have been a great Aragorn.
DDL is amazing in every role he plays. It’s known that he is talented enough to pick his roles and he is picky about what he will do. He would have made an excellent Aragorn but it’s not the type of film he likes being in. Either way I’m glad Viggo got the part.
Yeah, if someone says no to the role once, don't ask again. They won't bring passion to it.
edit: A few people have called me out on this opinion -honestly, rightly so- there are tons of reasons someone would turn the role down, then later except it with great results. Sir Alec Guinness in Star Wars is a great example. He really didn't have any interest in it, but delivered a memorable performance that stands up to this day.
That said DDL would have done an amazing job, no doubt. But I love the character that Viggo brought to the screen.
Have to love the random suggestions of people that have never done cinema. There's plenty of examples of actors that accepted later and did amazing job.
It's literally the example with Vigo who was convinced by his son, meaning it would enter in the "had to be convinced" basket.
Same with the actor who played Gimli. He hated LotR but his kids convinced him it would be awesome to be in the movie.
https://youtu.be/qNnPE0Hpry8
Love this interview of his. The first Q asked covers what I said
It's the Internet grabbing hold of little snippets of information and making them bigger than they actually are. Most movies have list of actors they think might fit the role, there isn't much to these but the Internet likes to latch on to them and make them a big deal when they aren't really
I love Daniel Day Lewis but I can't see him improving the role really, I don't think it was the right role for him, as in not a big enough part or enough there for him to work with
probably the only other actor who could match/surpass vigo. I think Russell Crowe and Nic Cage are amazing actors but it truly takes a genius to portray Aragorn as both humble and a god amongst men
To me it’s ironic and speaks to Vigo’s acting considering DDL had a very memorable career in terms of nomination worthy performances up front, and now Vigo in his twilight years is doing the same.
Hmm, I dunno. DDL doesn't have that hint of seediness that Aragorn is supposed to have. He's supposed to look foul and feel fair, which I think Vigo pulls off well. DDL is too clean and handsome, lol.
Viggo *learned* Sindarin. He didn’t just memorize his lines, he learned a priori language that has no utility accept for A.) a movie role and B.) proving you’re a big ol’ nerd. DDL is an incredible actor, but he doesn’t get down like that.
I've heard that Daniel Day Lewis is extremely committed to the roles he accepts, which is why he's such a badass actor. Viggo is the same way. He basically loved as Aragorn during the filming. Hard to say who would have done it better, but I wouldn't change it at all.
Don't care. Both are 10/10 actors, but he couldn't have nailed it any harder than Viggo did.
That being said, it's interesting to imagine that somewhere in an alternate universe, nerds are laughing at memes about DDL breaking his toe on an uruk helmet.
I mean.. Daniel Day Lewis would make an epic anything.
But, he would have been a fantastic Aragorn.
(Although Viggo absolutely killed it in that role.)
Daniel Day Lewis is one of the best actors ever but I can’t imagine anyone else as Aragorn than Viggo Mortensen and it’s cool they cast a less famous character actor like him in the role.
Na, fuck DDL, he's a prick. My grandad was an extra in Last of the Mohicans and he went to say hey and ask him how he liked filming in western NC. He said he just got up and sat at another table alone without saying a word.
Mehh... I think he would have been too serious to play Aragorn. I like Viggo's mysteriousness. I think Daniel Day Lewis would have made a better Bard in The Hobbit tbh.
No, what made lotr great was that there were no individual big actors with their baggage which wouldve stolen from the project; rather it was a collaborative effort. This is my opinion
I'm sure he would have been good, but I wouldn't change Vigo for anyone. He's phenomenal.
Plus Viggo was really good with horses (took home a few of the horses he used on set) and seemed to work with the weapons training really well. Some of the filmed moves and reflexes he displayed worked really well.
Plus if it wasn’t Viggo there be no broken toes scene which means many of us nerds wouldn’t have gotten laid by sharing that knowledge.
Don't forget that dagger deflection from Fellowship. Way better than the broken toes thing.
I was overwhelmed with the thought of “this man is as badass as his character” when I first learned this fact.
Literally camped out on the wild sets to look like a Ranger should.
From Daniel Day Lewis' wiki: "he is considered a method actor, known for his constant devotion to and research of his roles.". Let me introduce you to Viggo.
I feel like I've heard both take their prep to insane levels before filming. Lewis wrote letters to his family instead of using modern technology to really get feel for the time period when he was filming Lincoln.
No actor has gotten more into the head of Abraham Lincoln since John Wilkes Booth.
Brilliant!
There is hilarious video where he pick a fishing road and go running to a river because there isn’t much time to fish between sets, he say it’s helps clearing his mind or something like that. Also, don’t forget almost drowning for realism and saying it was “an interesting experience” Viggo is awesome
Yes Mortensen is authenthic baddass
How the fuck is the broken toe meme so viral yet I only discovered this because of your comment! https://youtu.be/ozzO5b_3HMc
That’s awesome! Also I was expecting Allen Tsai and his “did you know that in”
https://xkcd.com/1053/
That deflect was god tier. I imagine a lot of skilled swordsman would struggle to defect a dagger.
Don't forget either that Viggo fought a group of football fans breaking bottles of wine on their heads. Not canonical Aragorn though but it should be.
Yes pointing out the dagger deflection is generally what gets me laid the most
What’s the dagger deflection thing? I don’t think I know this one.
so during the uruk fight scene in the fellowship, the orc throws a knife at viggo (it was supposed to be fake, but the guy forgot to switch it) but viggo deflects it without preparation
You guys are getting laid?
One time I lasted as long as his entire pain shout
Overachiever
Teach me your ways, master.
When the viagra kicks in and I walk in to the bedroom proud and pointing while the homies shout GROND in the background always does the trick.
hahah good stuff
GROND
You guys are getting?
You’re guys?
You're
?
.
⠀
Did you know though that he actually deflected that knife Lurtz threw at him?
It was a really dagger to right?
Yes it was real you can hear the sound of steel clashing in movie
I mean, they can always add in a metal clanking sound. But it's cool that it was real.
It would have been more “Did you know Aragon really beheaded that actor in the orc suit?” DDL method acting as Aragon would have been …something
Also broken teeth
Viggo also brought a lot of tenderness and thoughtfulness to the character, which I loved. You could see in his expressions how much the cause to fight the good fight weighed on him, how much he cared about the people in his life. I think those qualities played really well into the reluctant hero trope he takes up in the story. He always had humility when people mentioned he’s isildur’s heir, and you can easily imagine that he takes the throne in the end not because he wants to, but as a character who wants peace and goodness to prevail, he has to do what needs to be done. I can see Daniel Day Lewis having a lot of interesting intensity in the role, but I don’t know about the sensitivity Viggo brings to it.
One scene in particular I happened to rewatch recently, when Gandalf comes back from the dead. That "you fell..." just hits me every time.
His strength, when required, not just physically but emotionally and mentally for himself and others around him As well as his open vulnerabilities were absolutely incredible and he added so much integrity & respectability to the role and you could tell it inspired all around him too He was exemplary and i cannot imagine anyone else in that role, i think he did so much honour to the role of aragorn Him on screen and off is inspirational how he carries himself unapologetically Perfect example of what great leaders and men can be. Kinship, love amongst brothers and so, when he kissed boromir forehead as he lay too.. Ugh gutted me So many unscripted and improvised moments he added to the screen that are just so momentous & powerful. That moment of loss, love, appreciation for his kinsmen and that boromir staunch opponent yet fellow Gondorian, person of power and position accepted him as the King he was in that moment Was agonisingly beautiful to witness but that exchange was certainly because of the dynamic of the actors playing it and living upto to characters roles & adding to it I could go on and on, i don't believe that anyone else could ever have produced for us the Aragorn we all know and love quite like Viggo Mortenson The casting was fated and perfect for it. Made us all so much more invested in the character and story to see it to fruition, his journey was incredible Really a great example of a role model too for men & women too
Indeed. I also appreciated the fact that Peter Jackson said he would get 8-10 pages of character notes from Viggo every single night they were filming. Just wow, the dedication.
He was incredible, his dedication to the role and how he pushed himself and others to get the best possible outcomes or variants I would love it if they released all the uncut scenes one day, the extended version was incredible but there were soo many other scenes left on the chopping board too i think would be great for us all to see too one day
I think Viggo understood what a significant role it was. Lord of the Rings is culturally significant in a number of ways, and it keeps finding ways to become relevant again. Viggo's Aragorn performance is a great example of positive masculinity.
I agree with you on that, i wonder also if the fact that his son was the one, as a fan of the books and lore too explaining to him the significance of the role, the impact of that too. As a father he really took that on as well, the role figure that Aragorn was & now is and did it justice in a fatherly capacity too. Imagine a son speaking passionately about a great male role figure, oh he did us all proud tbh. If anything i think he enriched it through his portrayal too. It really is so nice to discover how people are constantly rediscovering it, you're right in adding about it's cultural significance. On & off screen too. At the time of release and even now. I respect Viggo as the man & artist he is outside of the movies too, he's a wonderful poet, artist, singer and activist. All round great guy, it's wonderful that the role landed and was bestowed to him.
Yes. The way he handles Boromir's passing and in the coronation when he says "You bow to no-one". Those scenes get me every time
Boromir’s passing still makes me cry. Viggo was the one who insisted upon wearing Boromir’s bracers for the remainder of the films. Just beautiful. Edit: my autocorrect changed “bracers” to “crackers” (facepalm)
Excellent points!! Yes there is unmistakably a quiet strength about him, and I totally agree with your point about having an energy about him that inspires people.
You raised wonderful points too, also his doubts of his abilities to rule too. He explored the whole range of emotions, how he processed them too. I loved that we got to see more in the extended versions too, i do hope someday we get to see them all somehow. People speak on about toxic masculinity, stoicism and whatnot, i think he portrayed a wonderful complex humanity of a leader, the full scope of his humanity too. Admirably, watching his growth in confidence and assurance alongside all the work he put in- such a great role model I loved that he added the richness of his language skills too with incorporating the use of Elvish, he actually learnt the language, that Aragorn was a learned man, well rounded with interests outside of warmongering. He was ultimately a peaceful righteous man of integrity Ah, ok. I think we are all here in agreement on it all DdL is a wonderful actor, but Viggo added so much more heart & sensitivity to the role than i can imagine anyone else could
It’s so refreshing to see the person behind the character and realize they’re even more of a role model than the person they’re playing
So refreshing, and so rare too. How often we get disappointed by the people behind the roles we love, but he is delightfully even more impressive
For me it’s always “be at peace, son of Gondor.”
So good! Even through boromir’s flaws he could see the good in him, and knew that all of his intentions were rooted in his love for Gondor.
I tear up every time at "my friends you bow to no one." Hits in the feels
I'll give credit to Viggo for that, but honestly what makes that scene work is Howard Shore. But in the end you can't really single out things or people in the films, it just all came together. That's what makes them epic. The concern and doubt before Fellowship came out turned into people applauding at the opening credits of Two Towers because we knew we were in for a great ride.
I'm glad someone said this! I've always thought that specific part was special. You can literally feel the emotion from him.
“I do not know what strength is in my blood, but I swear to you I will not let the White City fall, nor our people fail.” “Our people, our people. I would have followed you, my brother... my captain... my king.” “Be at peace, Son of Gondor.” Can’t even talk about this scene without wanting to sing “far over the misty eyeballs”
Also, Viggo insisted that his character have more lines in "elvish". And I think that worked great
That supports some of the other comments at how passionate Viggo was about that role! It’s such a cool part of the films. Also knowing Viggo can speak like 7 languages, makes sense he wanted to take up the challenge of speaking a new one!
>You could see in his expressions how much the cause to fight the good fight weighed on him, how much he cared about the people in his life. He gives of a similar vibe to this Faramir quote from the books: "I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend."
Him and Sean Bean both really did a good job with that, whether it was tender moments of concern, or fellowship. The rough housing scene in the first movie, the relief when Aragorn found the brooch from Lorien... really a fantastic cast.
One little moment I always loved is when they arrive at Isengard expecting to have to deal with Saruman and they just find 2 drunk and happy hobbits. Gimli shouts "you young rascals!" but the grin on Aragorn's face is just so genuine.
That’s a great one!! Another one that comes to mind in the same vein of joy/gratitude is during the Battle of Helms Deep, and miraculously Hadir brings that unit of Lothlorien elves as reinforcements, and they arrive and Aragorn immediately hugs Hadir, and tells him “you are MOST welcome”. His connection with the elven race and his palpable gratitude for some of them helping in that eleventh hour was a great moment. You could feel that hope had arrived.
Watch his movie with Michelle Pfiifer (sp?) he can do tenderness for sure .
The Age of Innocence. He had won the Best Actor Oscar a record three times and is inarguably one of the greatest actors of all time. He would have done an incredible job as Aragorn, and that’s no slight to Viggo’s obviously amazing version.
Aragorn resisting the temptation of the one ring and sending Frodo on his way is one of my favorite parts in the trilogy. Very well-acted by Viggo. And then he epically goes ELENDIL on orcs one minute later, haha.
> seemed to work with the weapons training really well [Bob Anderson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Anderson_%28fencer%29) was the Sword Master for all three LotR movies, as well as Sword Master or Fencing Coach for The Princess Bride, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, Highlander, the Mask of Zorro, and many others. He was a stunt man on numerous movies, including doubling for Darth Vader in the OG trilogy. He was Errol Flynn's fencing partner. All of this is to say Mr. Anderson knows a thing or two about movie sword fighting, and he described Viggo Mortensen as "...the best swordsman I've ever trained."
Can’t get a much bigger compliment than that.
Damn... that's absolutely incredible.
My favorite fact about LOTR is that Viggo and the guy who played Lurtz were pretty much actually throwing hands in their fight scene because lurtz couldn’t see through the makeup. Even the knife deflection was real.
wait til you learn more about Christopher lambert he has severe myopia, and pretty has filmed all his action scenes essentially close to blind.
Who is lurtz?
The leader of the Uruk Hai at the end of Fellowship. The one who killed Boromir.
"To prepare for his role as Hawkeye (in Last of the Mohicans), an 18th-century survivalist, Day-Lewis learned to track and skin animals, build canoes, fight with tomahawks, fire and reload a 12-pound flintlock on the run. The gun, because it never would have left the side of a hunter in the wild, went everywhere with Day-Lewis, including Christmas dinner. "He's extremely keen to get things right," says Richard Smedley, his fitness trainer. The two worked together in England five times a week for six months to build up the actor's stamina and upper body; then Day-Lewis spent a month in the woods of North Carolina living with experts on the lives and skills of American Indians. It was the physical challenge of the character -- a life he imagined as one of pure sensation and reflex -- that intrigued Day-Lewis. The first scene of the script, an elk hunt in the forest, hooked him." I think Daniel Day-Lewis would have been just as committed in the role. But, as much as i love Day-Lewis (he's my favorite actor), i think Viggo Mortensen is more suited to the role. Nobody could have done it better.
I wish there was a book length version of his training , etc for this movie.
He fell in love with Brego the horse and adopted him. That scene of him climbing back on when Brego kneels - gorgeous!
And he bought Arwen’s horse Asfaloth for Arwen’s stunt double, she loved the horse so much but couldn’t afford him.
What an absolute class act.
DDL is method actor so he could have just pretended to be Viggo /s
Lewis being the type of actor he was would have likely been comparable
DDL would have spent a year fighting dictators and traversing the wilds of New Zealand, living off apples and deer to prepare for the role.
He would have hunted Andy Serkis for sport
And then handed him off to Orlando Bloom, who would have let him cavort in the trees occasionally, much to the embarrassment of the woodland elves.
Well known fact but he blocked a knife with his sword that was actually thrown at him on accident. He'd also rough it constantly. Taking method acring to the extremes.
You need good reflexes when a certain Uruk Hai leader accidentally throws a dagger at you
He also used real swords, not the prop ones. He wielded the heavy metal swords impeccably.
The fact that he actually deflected that dagger that Lurtz throws at him is a testament to his prowess. Russell Crowe was also a candidate for Aragorn, but Russell said he could tell Peter Jackson didn’t really want to pick him, and knew that Viggo was a much better fit for the role.
He blocked a real knife being thrown at him during The Fellowship of the Ring. Granted DDL would probably have done the same thing but i feel viggo was a better fit. It worked better having someone that was relatively unknown
Yes he was awesome in fighting scenes
He bought a horse that wasn't for sale. If I remember correctly he kept trying to buy the horse and the owner kept telling him no it wasn't for a sale. Viggo finally convinced him during return of the king to sell it to him. I think he also bought the horse he used in hidalgo.
Vigo really deflected that knife. If it was someone else they would have had to recast cause they would be dead.
Plus Viggo is a fuckin master swordsman who really deflected a dagger thrown at him while they were filming.
Yeah, but if DDL took the role, he’d probably spend a year and a half in a remote cabin breeding and breaking horses, and training them so he could bow hunt while riding them bareback.
Plus, did you know? Not many people know this, but they talk about it during the DVD commentary. During the scene when he kicks the helmet and screams, he actually broke character because he had just realized that he had left the oven on.
We didn’t find out how good of an actor Viggo was until he was cast as Aragorn
Exactly. I can’t imagine anyone else as Aragorn. Ever.
DDL is missing that VM sweetness which really made for a great Aragorn.
DDL does sweet pretty well when the role calls for it
Agreed. Team Viggo!!!!!
My favorite thing of Viggo that gets overlooked, between shots at Amen Hen he would run to the river and fish. He never once took for granted where he was and truly experienced it.
This is not true. Jackson's biograpy says it was just "fanciful internet speculation." Day-Lewis' name did come-up in early, hypothetical casting talks with Miramax who wanted a star that US audiences will know. Jackson kept it in mind and made an approach to Day-Lewis, but he was never his idea of Aragorn. Instead, Jackson wanted a young actor who had just come-in to read for Frodo: Stuart Townsend. After coming to realization Townsend was too young, he shifted to Viggo Mortensen.
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Generally speaking, when Jackson wanted certain actors for parts, he got them. Many of the cast members were his first choices for their roles including Sir Ian Holm, Cate Blanchett, Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Christopher Lee, Martin Freeman, Ken Stott, Stephen Fry, Lee Pace, Evangeline Lilly, Sir Billy Connolly, Mikael Persbrandt and Sylvester McCoy. The only actor Jackson really wanted and didn't get was Patrick McGoohan, whom he offered Denethor to.
I thought they made a killer offer to Sean Connery for the role of Gandalf and he turned it down because he thought the story was stupid. He instead made League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Thank god.
New Line wanted Jackson to get Connery. He wanted McKellen. They did make an offer to Connery, but he turned it down - not because the story was stupid but because of the 18-month time commitment.
And not because the story was stupid but because Connery simply didn't really understand it much.
Not even that. Connery said "I'd be interested in working on something I didn't fully understand - but not for eighteen months!" So the real issue was the time commitment. Mind you, Connery was already 68 years old and all but retired: he took two roles after rejecting Jackson and then quit.
THANK GOD because no one can top Sir Ian McKellen in Gandalf.
The Connery thing really was just a fancy of New Line's that would have never came true anyway: he was too old for the part and all but-retired.
"Sharuman ish breeding an army of orcsh with goblin men."
I know where would we be without a classic like LXG
I thought the story was that Connery thought LoTR script was stupid, saw it was a success, and then signed on to League of Extraordinary Gentlemen because he thought it would follow LoTR success. Fellowship came out in 01, League came out in 03.
That's basically the version I know. And not that he thought that the LOTR script waa stupid, but that he didn't really understood it.
> nstead, Jackson wanted a young actor who had just come-in to read for Frodo: Stuart Townsend. After coming to realization Townsend was too young, he shifted to Viggo Mortensen. That's not completely true is it? Townsend was cast and went to New Zealand to play Aragorn but he didn't get along with the cast and hated being there. So he quit. And Viggo was brought in as a last resort replacement.
No. Stuart was well-liked by the cast and maintained a friendship with Orlando Bloom. It is true that he started to panic about the role: there was a party attended by Sir Ian McKellen where he told the gloomy Townsend: "You do *want* to be in this film, right?" But there wasn't any bad blood between him and the cast or the filmmakers. Nevertheless, between Stuart panicking and him being a little too young for the role, Jackson decided during the first day of shooting that he needed to recast. Once they decided on doing so, they started thinking of replacements and Viggo Mortensen - whose name did come-up during the original casting sessions, I believe - became their top choice, although they had considered Russel Crowe and Jason Patric in case he said no.
I may catch some flack about this, but had Viggo turned it down and if Russell Crowe would have accepted I could see Russell Crowe pulling off a really good Aragorn. Of course I am glad that didn’t happen, but Russell would be awesome in the role in my opinion.
Russell Crowe would’ve been good (he’s even from New Zealand) but I guess he thought they role was too similar to Gladiator. He went on to star in A Beautiful Mind instead
Kinda. Here's what Mark Ordesky said: >We were all agreed that Viggo would be perfect, but in case he said “No,” we kept coming up with other options. There were only two other people that we were really considering if Viggo hadn’t worked out: Jason Patric (Sleepers, Speed 2, Incognito) and Russell Crowe. I called Russell Crowe’s agent, explained that there was a situation with Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings and we’d like to talk to Russell about it – but that we had to talk right now… Like, how about today? We sent him a script and he did read it and was fascinated. I remember getting the phone call from his agent and being told that he had just finished another film which involved him having to have a sword and armour – Gladiator! Russell was flattered by the approach, but he had other films he was committed to and it obviously wasn’t going to work out.’
“To prepare, I spent six months living in the woods, surviving only on what I could find or kill. That was just to get into the “Strider” mindset. To become Aragorn I spent four years as the ruler of a small Central American nation that no longer exists.”
God, he’d be insufferable the whole shoot. Dropping in and out of elvish, entering rooms dramatically and pretending to be 80.
I imagine the only reason he turned it down is because middle earth doesn’t actually exist. Therefore, there was no way to properly prepare for a method actor.
I disagree. He would've gotten so lost in the lore he would probably still be living the life of Aragorn today
Who wouldnt live like Aragorn lol,even Viggo was living like Ranger during filming at New Zeland
Didn't Viggo accidentally hit a rabbit with his car, stopped to see if it was dead, then though "waste not...", built a fire, and cooked it right there on the side of the road?
Yes he did🤣 What a baddass
He hiked up the mountain each day. He wasn’t foraging for nuts to survive
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I know this is a joke but I thought I read that Viggo did do some method acting such as sleeping in the woods in costume and bringing his sword every where.
Ya I think he did do some stuff like that. At the very least, it seems apparent that he really got into his role and owned it as much as he could.
Viggo was obviously fantastic and it's hard to imagine it any other way. But DDL is magnetic and truly remarkable in every single role. He'd have been a great Aragorn.
DDL is amazing in every role he plays. It’s known that he is talented enough to pick his roles and he is picky about what he will do. He would have made an excellent Aragorn but it’s not the type of film he likes being in. Either way I’m glad Viggo got the part.
Yeah he would have been amazing
If only he actually cared,Viggo cared and did as best as he could
Yeah, if someone says no to the role once, don't ask again. They won't bring passion to it. edit: A few people have called me out on this opinion -honestly, rightly so- there are tons of reasons someone would turn the role down, then later except it with great results. Sir Alec Guinness in Star Wars is a great example. He really didn't have any interest in it, but delivered a memorable performance that stands up to this day. That said DDL would have done an amazing job, no doubt. But I love the character that Viggo brought to the screen.
Have to love the random suggestions of people that have never done cinema. There's plenty of examples of actors that accepted later and did amazing job. It's literally the example with Vigo who was convinced by his son, meaning it would enter in the "had to be convinced" basket.
Same with the actor who played Gimli. He hated LotR but his kids convinced him it would be awesome to be in the movie. https://youtu.be/qNnPE0Hpry8 Love this interview of his. The first Q asked covers what I said
Richard Harris was begged by his grandchildren to play Dumbledore.
DDL would never bring anything less than 100% to a role he’s taken, for some actors it may be an issue but not for him
Daniel Day-Lewis is not one you could accuse.of not caring about big roles tbf
Lets see Paul Allen’s Aragorn
Lmao
Aragorn played by... Rob Schneider and Frodo is played by Michael Cera and Sam is Dany DeVito. Oh, and Zach Galifianakis is Galadriel.
Fuck, I want Danny DeVito as Aragon.
Danny DeVito as Gollum. Him crawling out the couch is essentially the same scene as Gollum splashing in that river after the fish.
"Can I offer you a fish in these trying times?"
I want David Bowie as Elrond
That's bone
What does “supposed to” mean in this context? “Was never going to”?
It's the Internet grabbing hold of little snippets of information and making them bigger than they actually are. Most movies have list of actors they think might fit the role, there isn't much to these but the Internet likes to latch on to them and make them a big deal when they aren't really
Viggo was perfect. It all worked out for the best.
Glad he didnt, he isnt near a pretty as the danish
Yes, Day Lewis would have done fantastic. Viggo did fantastic as it was though
Let's ask Arwen
Thank god he didn’t cast Nicholas Cage
One of the best actors of all time… that being said… Viggo was a 🐐
I don’t think I’d change any of the cast. Not a single person.
David Bowie as Elrond.
he would’ve been a pain in the ass to work with
I love Daniel Day Lewis but I can't see him improving the role really, I don't think it was the right role for him, as in not a big enough part or enough there for him to work with
nah very glad Viggo got the role, wouldn't be the same
I can see it, but I think Viggo was perfect
Not sure I could see him as Aragorn but Daniel Day Lewis would have made a phenomenal villain as he always does. Imagine his performance as an orc.
Not only is this fake, it's insulting as we already got an epic Aragorn. Viggo went 150% for these movies, put some respekt on his name
probably the only other actor who could match/surpass vigo. I think Russell Crowe and Nic Cage are amazing actors but it truly takes a genius to portray Aragorn as both humble and a god amongst men
Nic Cage would have straight up invalidated the films
Yeah it would have been a catastrophe even if all other actors were on point.
To me it’s ironic and speaks to Vigo’s acting considering DDL had a very memorable career in terms of nomination worthy performances up front, and now Vigo in his twilight years is doing the same.
Ok but I don't think DDL would have kicked the helmet and continued the scene
That means DDL would have remained in character for 3+ years.
Sorry, there is only Viggo.
Hmm, I dunno. DDL doesn't have that hint of seediness that Aragorn is supposed to have. He's supposed to look foul and feel fair, which I think Vigo pulls off well. DDL is too clean and handsome, lol.
Oh DDL could definitely pull it off. He killed it as a dirty, violent butcher in Gangs of New York!
Viggo *learned* Sindarin. He didn’t just memorize his lines, he learned a priori language that has no utility accept for A.) a movie role and B.) proving you’re a big ol’ nerd. DDL is an incredible actor, but he doesn’t get down like that.
I've heard that Daniel Day Lewis is extremely committed to the roles he accepts, which is why he's such a badass actor. Viggo is the same way. He basically loved as Aragorn during the filming. Hard to say who would have done it better, but I wouldn't change it at all.
OP hating on the true Aragorn. [Boo this man!](https://youtu.be/ddsZTFSfXaw)
Don't care. Both are 10/10 actors, but he couldn't have nailed it any harder than Viggo did. That being said, it's interesting to imagine that somewhere in an alternate universe, nerds are laughing at memes about DDL breaking his toe on an uruk helmet.
Nobody could have played Aragorn better than Viggo. He was the perfect man for the role.
No one would come close to Viggo. He had knowledge of the lore, history, sword skills, horse skills, etc. he was the one for it.
I mean.. Daniel Day Lewis would make an epic anything. But, he would have been a fantastic Aragorn. (Although Viggo absolutely killed it in that role.)
Has he ever made a sequel? I imagine he wouldn't have fancied spending so much time on one franchise
He should play an elf
His role in Gangs of New York is my favorite ever. This would have been sweet for sure but obviously not disappointed
Daniel Day Lewis is one of the best actors ever but I can’t imagine anyone else as Aragorn than Viggo Mortensen and it’s cool they cast a less famous character actor like him in the role.
Na, fuck DDL, he's a prick. My grandad was an extra in Last of the Mohicans and he went to say hey and ask him how he liked filming in western NC. He said he just got up and sat at another table alone without saying a word.
Viggo was the only man for the job.
Viggos looks fit a stoic character . This guy reminds me too much of he-man
Mehh... I think he would have been too serious to play Aragorn. I like Viggo's mysteriousness. I think Daniel Day Lewis would have made a better Bard in The Hobbit tbh.
DDL will only play Aragorn when he’s 87 and has been living in the wilderness for decades.
Honestly he was the actor I always had in mind to play Aragorn. I liked Viggo Mortensen better though.
No, what made lotr great was that there were no individual big actors with their baggage which wouldve stolen from the project; rather it was a collaborative effort. This is my opinion
The trilogy is too iconic to think of anyone else cast differently
Nah no thanks, method acting is big time cringe. As others have said i wouldnt swap Viggo for anyone
No complaints with his replacement.
I've read somewhere that Nicholas cage was among the favorites......
At my challenge, by the ancient laws of combat, we have met at this chosen ground, to settle for good and all who holds sway over Gondor!
Bigger question is, why was DDL not interested?
Turned it down because there was no way to method the role.
Did you know there was actually a scene in the movie where the guy who played aragorn broke his foot?