well, if you're gonna compare the perfectly-taken, full-makeup + effects + filer beard photo to a candid, non-edited clean-shaven photo, it's going to be a real fucking mystery as to which will look better. -.-
Muchly. I don't think Viggo Mortensen was that hot even as Aragorn - take away the majestic scruff, makeup, lighting, and strategic camera angles and you're left with the greasy creeper from behind the dumpster.
I personally think he is/was actually quite handsome and this is only a bad picture of him, also taken into account that he got older and some people just don't age well, but to be honest, what you said about the makeup and camera angles and lighting etc is basically a rule for 99.9% of celebrities.
Depends on the facial expression really. People say "the most beautiful thing is a smile" but some people just look a lot better with a serious expression or a little smile/smirk, like Viggo or me. When I smile wide I look like crap because my lips and my teeth are big.
https://pmcdeadline2.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/viggo-mortensen.jpg?w=970
Ones like this would be more accurate as to what he looks like..
http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/79/590x/545125_1.jpg
Or this