Changing accents?

[Neferchoirwen]

I appreciate it, though, that Sam's accent in the films didn't use an all-too-typically-naive Yorkshire accent. I thought that Sam used the Yorkshire accent after I read the books and seen the films. Much to my surprise, that is.

[Kath]

One of my favourites is when he says "it has no other master!".
He just sounds so odd, like he needs a drink or something.

[Elennar Starfire]

Hmm, I didn't notice! But that might be because I do that rather often myself...switch accents without meaning to, or even noticing. I only know I do it because people point it out to me...

[The Only Real Estel]

One of my favourites is when he says "it has no other master!".

Actually, it sounds to me like he needs some nasal decongestant.

[Evisse the Blue]

I didn't notice the accent thing with Viggo, till you guys mentioned it, but I did notice it with Sean Astin. He is trying so hard to speak with a British accent, but most of the times it comes out wrong, somehow forced. Elijah does a much better job of it.

But I agree that sometimes Viggo's voice has a ... nasal quality, to quote Estel. And sometimes, like when he says "he's been stabbed by a Morgul blade", his voice sounds high pitched somehow. This also happens during his speech in ROTK and any time he tries to yell out things.

[mark12_30]

Viggo is ultra-softspoken... Wwhich, the way they've re-defined Aragorn for the films, is actually rather appropriate. This exiled, forgotten guy who spends his time tramping the woodland paths, is suddenly pressed into leadership-- and he's not used to it.

THink about it-- he's nore used to acting, and being considered as, a thug! "A little more caution from you, that is no trinket you carry." "I avoid being seen if I wish..." All very whispery, sotto-voce, kind of gangsterish, shadowy. "He's one o' them rangers."

And now, here we are, at the Council of Elrond, and this roguish woodland ranger-- who happens to have an elvish girlfriend, a mother with some real bloodlines, and the respect of some nearby elves-- is suddenly taking part in his (first?) Grand Council.

Upstart.

No wonder Boromir was unimpressed!

He really does grow in to his role. Book-Strider gives plenty of speeches, often starting with his long list of names.... but not Movie Strider. How many "rally the troops" speeches does Movie-Strider actually give? I can think of three. Okay, four!

1. Just outside Moria after Gandalf falls: "Soon these hills will be swarming with orcs. Get them up!"

2. After Boromir dies: "I will not abandon Merry and Piipin to torture and death. We travel light. Let's hunt some orc." (some like this line, some don't.)

3. Elves in Helm's Deep

4. Before the Gate...

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by Evisse the Blue

I did notice it with Sean Astin. He is trying so hard to speak with a British accent, but most of the times it comes out wrong, somehow forced. Elijah does a much better job of it.

As an Englishman myself, I thought that Sean did a better job than Elijah. Although Sean had the more difficult job, being as he was required to put on a "regional" English accent.

Originally Posted by Neferchoirwen

I thought that Sam used the Yorkshire accent after I read the books and seen the films.

Actually, it was more West Country than Yorkshire.

And while we're on accents, while I thought that Billy Boyd gave a great performance, I just can't get used to Pippin having a Scottish accent. Merry's West Country burr seems to me to be much more appropriate for a Hobbit. And it would make more sense if their accents were similar (although there is, I suppose, scope for regional variations within the Shire). Apparently Billy was orginally supposed to have the same accent as Merry but he couldn't maintain it with sufficient consistency, so they let him carry on with his natural accent.