Geralt's Beard

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

Now THAT is a beard.

Actually that's one of the good examples The film was a bit disappointing regarding this. Thorin with such a short beard? That just looked weird. I don't even mention some others.

 

[wichat]

Groomed dandies...
Guess which one the women prefer...

Hard to chose? No problemo, there's always time for every one of them />/>

 

[Mataresa]

Actually that's one of the good examples The film was a bit disappointing regarding this. Thorin with such a short beard? That just looked weird. I don't even mention some others.

Look at the older designs for him:

What the hell were they thinking using the one with hardly any beard. -.-

EDIT: Source is www.thehobbitblog.com

 

[Daywalker30]

Look at the older designs for him:

What the hell were they thinking using the one with hardly any beard. -.-

EDIT: Source is www.thehobbitblog.com

That's because they had to differentiate the 13 dwarves, otherwise they'd look pretty much the same and then people would complaining about that they can't tell them apart.

either way I like the bearded Geralt and I hope there are several styles you can choose from.

 

[Mataresa]

That's because they had to differentiate the 13 dwarves, otherwise they'd look pretty much the same and then people would complaining about that they can't tell them apart.

either way I like the bearded Geralt and I hope there are several styles you can choose from.

Well but I always felt that way about the dwarves. I feel they are supposed to be a bunch in the books rather than individuals, with maybe a few exceptions. Bilbo is supposed to be overwhelmed by all the dwarves and the chaos. And don't tell me you can't find 13 different beard styles and hair colours.

 

[Chewin3]

either way I like the bearded Geralt and I hope there are several styles you can choose from.

Wonder if there will be any exaggerated styles. I wouldn't mind running around Skellige looking like Santa Claus and shouting "You have been very naughty!"

 

[sfinx]

Spoiler

Sorry but I really don't like this concept. This beard and old face suits to Vesemir, but how many years after W2 are we talking about? 50 - 100 years (maybe more)? He looks so old - IMO much older than Vesemir in W1. As Triss said - it is imposible to see physiological changes in few years.

Triss knew that, biologically, this was
impossible - witchers aged, certainly, but too slowly for an ordinary mortal, or a magician as young as her, to notice the changes.

In W2 he looks like 35 - 45 years old man, here he looks like 60+ (de Aldersberg or something like that).

Really nice image, but FOR ME it's just for some views of his far future, not for Geralt's presence.

 

[ReptilePZ]

Sorry but I really don't like this concept. This beard and old face suits to Vesemir, but how many years after W2 are we talking about? 50 - 100 years (maybe more)? He looks so old - IMO much older than Vesemir in W1. As Triss said - it is imposible to see physiological changes in few years.


In W2 he looks like 35 - 45 years old man, here he looks like 60+ (de Aldersberg or something like that).

Really nice image, but FOR ME it's just for some views of his far future, not for Geralt's presence.

Umm... not sure you understood that part in the book. There, Triss was talking about how Geralt looked older even though it SHOULD be impossible.

He had changed. He gave the impression of having aged. Triss knew that, biologically, this was
impossible - witchers aged, certainly, but too slowly for an ordinary mortal, or a magician as young as
her, to notice the changes. But one glance was enough for her to realise that although mutation could hold
back the physical process of ageing, it did not alter the mental. Geralt's face, slashed by wrinkles, was the
best evidence of this. With a sense of deep sorrow Triss tore her gaze away from the white-haired
witcher's eyes. Eyes which had evidently seen too much.

 

[goopit]

As Triss said - it is imposible to see physiological changes in few years.

He just shaved A LOT so we never really see it grow out till now. Just look at movie stars they're clean shaven in their movie but by the time the movie comes out they grow a full beard in a month or something.

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

That's because they had to differentiate the 13 dwarves, otherwise they'd look pretty much the same and then people would complaining about that they can't tell them apart.

Firstly this is not true. Even with beards they can look distinctive. Secondly, Tolkien described them having distinctive hoods of different colors, which was largely ignored in the film.

Look at the older designs for him:

What the hell were they thinking using the one with hardly any beard. -.-

EDIT: Source is www.thehobbitblog.com

That's way better! A pity they didn't use this.

 

[sn00p.156]

I really hope they'll keep the beard, he looks badass, not that he wasn't before but...

 

[username_3594660]

I think there would be an option to shave it in the barbers', just like we can change his hair style in TW2.

 

[GuyNwah]

Sorry but I really don't like this concept. This beard and old face suits to Vesemir, but how many years after W2 are we talking about? 50 - 100 years (maybe more)? He looks so old - IMO much older than Vesemir in W1. As Triss said - it is imposible to see physiological changes in few years.


In W2 he looks like 35 - 45 years old man, here he looks like 60+ (de Aldersberg or something like that).

Really nice image, but FOR ME it's just for some views of his far future, not for Geralt's presence.

A white beard ages a man, by a lot of years. A salt-and-pepper beard like George Clooney's or a skunk stripe like I have doesn't age your appearance as much as a white beard does. Adding the beard alone makes that big a difference in our perception of him.

 

[FoggyFishburne]

Firstly this is not true. Even with beards they can look distinctive. Secondly, Tolkien described them having distinctive hoods of different colors, which was largely ignored in the film.



That's way better! A pity they didn't use this.

Daywalker is right. You're wrong.

The Hobbit is an adaptation. It's a story retold in a visual medium - namely cinema. You cannot expect the same representation of the dwarves in the book to be in the movie. Different coloured hoods might have been enough for the book, but it's definitely not sufficient enough to give the dwarves any kind of visual characterization in a completely different medium. Besides, the purpose of the dwarves wouldn't be preserved just because they all have beards. That's shallow aesthetic design. One needs to reinforce their purpose by other means because it's a different medium.

I'm so sick and tired of seeing people be so adamant that a work of art has to be portrayed in the same exact fucking way in an adaptation or whatnot. If you do not understand the medium in question and how the storytelling works and how you engage the audience and how you distinguish different characters in order to establish a connection to the viewer etc etc, then you are not competent enough to have an opinion on the issue. I don't know shit about math. Not a single thing. So I don't pretend like I do.

One idea with having that many dwarves was to alienate the reader and invoke a sense of adventure and being in a new place. You're in a party with a bunch of people that you don't know, trying to reclaim a treasure you've never heard off and about to face a dragon you never would want to. This is a juxtaposition to the quiet, predictable and knowable life that Bilbo is used to. The fact that you don't know who these dwarves were reinforced the feeling that Bilbo was in a situation he's not used to. YOU, the reader, was equally clueless about who these dwarves were and how they looked as Bilbo was. He's a damn hobbit that enjoys eating and smoking dem weedz. Tolkien, being a genius, understood that he had to invoke the sense of "being away from home" as clearly as possible within the medium he was working with. To achieve the same result in a visual medium, you obviously have to employ different storytelling techniques.

If the dwarves all looked the same with bushy beards and ridiculous hoods it would for one: look really fucking boring. Two: Confuse the audience. Which would not represent nor reflect Tolkiens intent with the dwarves. Like I mentioned, the intent was to enforce a sense of not knowing or understanding the situation you find yourself in as of this moment. One could remember all of the dwarves names and small details about them and thus not be confused about them anymore. But one would still not know WHO they are as they are not characterized at all, thus enforcing the sense of being away from home. Home being a place which you are familiar with.

If the audience hadn't read the book, they'd think they were all clones. Or generic, unimportant characters. You need to be able to visually distinguish the main characters for, again, obvious reasons. I'm not going to insult your intelligence and explain the most fundamental storytelling rules, I assume you understand the most basic principles at work here. To invoke the sense of alienation and reinforce the fact that Bilbo is out of his element, you employ other techniques. It could be everything from colour palate, mise-en-scene, cinematography, auditory design, dialogue, acting, etc. It's a much more complex medium (as I'm sure you're aware of) and to do a proper adaptation to a different medium one needs to employ different techniques.

Can't believe I have to explain this shit but hey ho....

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

Work of art can be adopted, but without trimming dwarven beards, since it goes strongly against the lore of the settings. Usually Jackson does a decent job even when deviating, but his decision about beards was a seriously weak part.

 

[volsung]

In W2 he looks like 35 - 45 years old man, here he looks like 60+ (de Aldersberg or something like that).

Really nice image, but FOR ME it's just for some views of his far future, not for Geralt's presence.

Is this the face of a 35 year old?

Anyway, Geralt's mutation makes him age visibly slower than normal human beings. It also likely lengthens his lifespan. We had a discussion about his age on a different thread a while ago. Geralt is not as young as you think. And as Guy said, white hair makes people look a lot older. Add a white beard and he just aged 20 years probably.

Also Geralt has lived and seen much, and he is tired. I think the beard may also represent maturity, wisdom and maybe even seniority. Since we are supposed to be playing as a seasoned witcher and not a young apprentice I'd say the beard is very appropriate. In fact I hope the game will let the beard grow during gameplay (unless we shave it). Maybe by the end Geralt will have a true dwarven beard

 

[sfinx]

Umm... not sure you understood that part in the book. There, Triss was talking about how Geralt looked older even though it SHOULD be impossible.

I think - here is the point..

He had changed. He gave the impression of having aged. Triss knew that, biologically, this was impossible, mutation could hold back the physical process of ageing, it did not alter the mental.

I see big difference between "impresion" and actual look of older man, so I think - she just saw his aging in his eyes and in his eyes and some wrinkles. But not in general.
Two times there was mentioned, that physical process of aging was holded. But that picture gives me impression of many years, between last game and this.

Is this the face of a 35 year old?

Spoiler

this is:

walpaper (or what was that) must seems very brutal and action - scars deeper, face darker,...

We had a discussion about his age on a different thread a while ago. Geralt is not as young as you think.

I know that - I've read that saga so many times. I know how old is Yennefer and how does she look like, I know how old should Geralt be. But that really doesn't change anything. He can't looks quite young in one game and few years after older than Vesemir.

And as Guy said, white hair makes people look a lot older. Add a white beard and he just aged 20 years probably.

That is true. I hope there will be choice to shave him and see his actual age.

Maybe by the end Geralt will have a true dwarven beard

Hope he wont cry, when I shave him

 

[RSIK_4]

I think that says everything.

it looks good actually......

 

[Mataresa]

Daywalker is right. You're wrong.

The Hobbit is an adaptation. It's a story retold in a visual medium - namely cinema. You cannot expect the same representation of the dwarves in the book to be in the movie. Different coloured hoods might have been enough for the book, but it's definitely not sufficient enough to give the dwarves any kind of visual characterization in a completely different medium. Besides, the purpose of the dwarves wouldn't be preserved just because they all have beards. That's shallow aesthetic design. One needs to reinforce their purpose by other means because it's a different medium.

I'm so sick and tired of seeing people be so adamant that a work of art has to be portrayed in the same exact fucking way in an adaptation or whatnot. If you do not understand the medium in question and how the storytelling works and how you engage the audience and how you distinguish different characters in order to establish a connection to the viewer etc etc, then you are not competent enough to have an opinion on the issue. I don't know shit about math. Not a single thing. So I don't pretend like I do.

One idea with having that many dwarves was to alienate the reader and invoke a sense of adventure and being in a new place. You're in a party with a bunch of people that you don't know, trying to reclaim a treasure you've never heard off and about to face a dragon you never would want to. This is a juxtaposition to the quiet, predictable and knowable life that Bilbo is used to. The fact that you don't know who these dwarves were reinforced the feeling that Bilbo was in a situation he's not used to. YOU, the reader, was equally clueless about who these dwarves were and how they looked as Bilbo was. He's a damn hobbit that enjoys eating and smoking dem weedz. Tolkien, being a genius, understood that he had to invoke the sense of "being away from home" as clearly as possible within the medium he was working with. To achieve the same result in a visual medium, you obviously have to employ different storytelling techniques.

If the dwarves all looked the same with bushy beards and ridiculous hoods it would for one: look really fucking boring. Two: Confuse the audience. Which would not represent nor reflect Tolkiens intent with the dwarves. Like I mentioned, the intent was to enforce a sense of not knowing or understanding the situation you find yourself in as of this moment. One could remember all of the dwarves names and small details about them and thus not be confused about them anymore. But one would still not know WHO they are as they are not characterized at all, thus enforcing the sense of being away from home. Home being a place which you are familiar with.

If the audience hadn't read the book, they'd think they were all clones. Or generic, unimportant characters. You need to be able to visually distinguish the main characters for, again, obvious reasons. I'm not going to insult your intelligence and explain the most fundamental storytelling rules, I assume you understand the most basic principles at work here. To invoke the sense of alienation and reinforce the fact that Bilbo is out of his element, you employ other techniques. It could be everything from colour palate, mise-en-scene, cinematography, auditory design, dialogue, acting, etc. It's a much more complex medium (as I'm sure you're aware of) and to do a proper adaptation to a different medium one needs to employ different techniques.

Can't believe I have to explain this shit but hey ho....

But they could find 12 different beards, but not 13? And they had great beard designs as I posted in the picture, that would differentiate him still from the others. And a dwarf without a beard is just weird to me. A beard should be the dwarfs pride and honour.

 

[kendr5227]

Geralt is no spring chicken. He may not seem old, but as mentioned above he has seen much... too much.This article sheds some light onto what sort of age he represents in the Witcher 3.