[Sans-Culotte]

Peter Jackson probably groans every time Viggo opens his mouth. I quite enjoyed the LOTR movies, even though Viggo turns my stomach. However, of all the protagonists, I found Viggo to be only adequate in his portrayal. Most, like McKellan, Wood, Bloom, Bean, Rhys-Davies, Blanchett etc were ideal. Viggo did well enough in the first movie in depicting the dark, moody "Strider" part of Aragorn, but I found him weak when it came time to assume the mantle of kingship. His speech before the last battle was sure no Crispin's Day classic....

From what I have read, Jackson was rather haphazard in the choice of Mortensen. Apparently the original Aragorn was judged to be too young, so they turned to Mortensen. He must have found him to be a mumbly, whiny actor. I guess he figured with the right costume and makeup and editing, he could make an Aragorn out of anyone. Probably has more to do with keeping the cast "no name" so as to save payroll money.

[XJarhead]

I agree completely with your view of Mortenson as Aragorn. Broody poetic wanderer, maybe. Charismatic King of legend, no chance.

He was probably too old, and too well known for the part, but I always thought Liam Neeson would have made a perfect Aragorn. He's taller and more imposing than Mortenson, for starters. He had the part exactly right in Rob Roy, and wouldn't have to fake an accent either.

[Mamzelle]

When I read about the problems PJ was having casting Aragorn, I wondered why he didn't use Sean Bean, who was already on his way for Boromir.

[CalKat]

If Jackson could make an Aragorn out of anyone with the right costume and makeup and editing, then why didn't he just stick with the original Aragorn?

[Tench_Coxe]

"His speech before the last battle was sure no Crispin's Day classic...."

More like a 'Crispin Glover's Day' classic.

[XJarhead]

[beckett]

Excellent analysis. I agree completely that Mortensen was quite weak in his speech before the last battle. It wasn't Shakespeare's Henry V speech that crossed my mind in comparison, however, although that's a good choice, too, but rather Mel Gibson's brilliant turn in Braveheart. The Scots would have buried the army from Middle Earth.