Alan Rickman as Severus Snape v3

[Bunny]

Originally Posted by inkling7

Close your eyes and Rickman's/Snape's voice is like a velvety dark chocolate with a hint of chilli in it - just the way the Aztecs might have liked it - yummy....

... just as if it has come out of the freezer as well ...

Originally Posted by inkling7

Then look at the understated way Rickman portrays Snape and any other character he plays.........

For me it is his ability to convey so much, by appearing to do so little, that conveys so much menace.

[inkling7]

But I LIKE very cold chocolate - you suck on it and it takes longer to eat and digest. I enjoy Rickman's Snape in a similar way - the impression lingers on - understated but as Bunny said able to convey so much.....

[wickedwickedboy]

I felt Alan did not portray Snape effectively because he was not brimming enough. Snape in the books seems ever on the point of a cosmic explosion, and it served to build a very good foundation for Jo's good or evil twist. But Alan toned that down to the extent where he doesn't come across as evil at all; but just an embittered professor like any other, but firmly on the good side - thus, the ambiguity is lacking to me. Actually when I saw Sweeny Todd, I felt like I was watching him try to play Snape in the role of a Judge . Also he is not unattractive enough to properly portray the book character. The casting crew should have taken a leaf from the book of LOTR on how to properly cast. Hermione suffered the same problem in the opposite direction and Lupin and Sirius were just too old for the roles, so it would seem that the casting crew was the culprit here.

Alan is not a bad actor, I just didn't like him in HP - but his understated, slightly bored charisma worked great for Sweeny Todd.

[Pearl_Took]

Originally Posted by inkling7

Close your eyes and Rickman's/Snape's voice is like a velvety dark chocolate with a hint of chilli in it - just the way the Aztecs might have liked it - yummy.... Then look at the understated way Rickman portrays Snape and any other character he plays.........

Sorry, please excuse me while I just fangirl a little.

Originally Posted by wickedwickedboy

I felt Alan did not portray Snape effectively because he was not brimming enough. Snape in the books seems ever on the point of a cosmic explosion, and it served to build a very good foundation for Jo's good or evil twist.

I would disagree that Book Snape is forever brimming on the point of an explosion: he is often very cold, soft-voiced and controlling. Also, I thought that Alan conveyed the man's inward bitterness extremely well in the Occlumency sequences in the film, which will stand Film Snape in good stead for the 'is he, isn't he evil' set-up in HBP.

But Alan toned that down to the extent where he doesn't come across as evil at all; but just an embittered professor like any other, but firmly on the good side - thus, the ambiguity is lacking to me.

Do the non-Potter audience automatically see Film Snape as a good guy though? The HP readers have the benefit of hindsight there. Personally, I think that Alan has played up the ambiguity to the hilt.

Actually when I saw Sweeny Todd, I felt like I was watching him try to play Snape in the role of a Judge .

Well, that is quite typical of Alan's style as an actor. And the Judge in that film had a sexual coarseness and depravity which is utterly lacking in Canon Snape. I found the Judge a revolting character, but utterly fascinating as well.

Also he is not unattractive enough to properly portray the book character. The casting crew should have taken a leaf from the book of LOTR on how to properly cast.

It is rare for me to criticise any aspect of the LotR films from a production POV, since the production values were absolutely stellar and the casting decisions really excellent, but some fans did feel that Elijah Wood was far too young and pretty to play Frodo. I myself am more critical of some of the decisions made concerning Frodo's characterisation in the script (which had nothing to do with Elijah but everything to do with Peter ) but I can see where those fans are coming from. Book Frodo is 'taller than some and fairer than most' but he was not described by Tolkien as a gorgeous little Renaissance angel. Also, he was far more mature in the book than he comes across in the films.

But I digress.

I agree with you about Film Hermione.

As for casting Snape, I cheered when I heard about Alan's casting, because nobody can snark like he can.

[thehollow]

I think the toned down Snape in the movies is more due to the script than the actor himself. His voice is perfect for the character, though..I mean, it's explained in the book many times that he talks 'silky' or in a 'whisper' which Rickman does perfectly.

[lily_potter73]

some fellow fans say that he's got a problem in his jaws, but I never noticed, maybe it helps him in Snape's role, Jkr says Snape barely moves his mouth while talking. Alan is really perfect for Snape. He made me like snape even more!

[Severely Snapped]

Originally Posted by Pearl_Took

And the Judge in that film had a sexual coarseness and depravity which is utterly lacking in Canon Snape.

Thank God for Fanon Snape, then, who totally makes up for it!

And the "oh, he's not unattractive enough" thing is pointless, because it's completely subjective. Except for his age and his weight, Rickman in costume looks just as Snape is described: pale/sallow, black eyes, long black hair, hawkish nose. Graceful. Silky voice. And - wonder of wonders! - he's NOT repulsive! I must have missed that part in the books where Jo described Snape as a wart-infested hunchback with three heads.

Originally Posted by lily_potter73

some fellow fans say that he's got a problem in his jaws, but I never noticed, maybe it helps him in Snape's role, Jkr says Snape barely moves his mouth while talking. Alan is really perfect for Snape. He made me like snape even more!

Supposedly Rickman himself has debunked the jaw story, but that's an excellent point about Snape barely moving his lips! I never caught that before.

Originally Posted by the_hollow

I think the toned down Snape in the movies is more due to the script than the actor himself.

I agree. I think Rickman has done the best he can with what they've given him, but what they've given him frankly hasn't been very much. Or very good. (Funny, I just ranted about this on the HBP movie thread, too!) They've toned him down (watered him down, really) so much that a lot of the essential, really intriguing conflicts in Snape's character - explosiveness/control, insecurity/arrogance, childishness/gravitas, antagonist/protector, petty diva/steely soldier, etc. - have been completely lost.

I think Movie!Snape worked well early on, when we didn't know as much about the character, when most of us thought he was a kind of black-haired Lucius Malfoy - a "typical" Slytherin, no doubt a pureblood, probably from money and just "slumming" at Hogwarts for whatever reason (remember all those early fanfics featuring Snape Manor? ) The icy, posh, aloof persona worked then. It doesn't work so well now. I see no trace in Movie!Snape of the bullied, dirty, neglected half-blood kid - one of Jo's "abandoned boys" - who was raised by Punch and Judy in a Muggle slum. And that kid is just as much an essential part of Snape as the capricious teacher or the clever spy, the scary ex-Death Eater or the trusted right-hand man - Book!Snape so clearly carries him around in his head and his heart every day.

And what really irks me - this is my understanding, anyway - is that Rickman KNOWS these things about the character, that's he's talked about Snape's insecurities, his awful childhood, how much he wants to be appreciated and respected by someone, anyone - but he hasn't had a chance to show it. At all. Which, IMO, is a criminal waste of both a fascinating character and a terrific actor.

[Severus_Snape77]

Alan Rickman does Snape so well. I wouldn't have any other actor play Snape.
His tone of voice, his menacing way of saying things. His cold humor. He pulls it off amazingly.

[PureBloodGirl]

I saw the picture of Snape and McGonagal a couple of days ago and I have to say, Alan Rickman looks pretty darn good for a man who's in his 60's.

[Shaylinmine]

He is Perfect. Bloody Brilliant. I love him. I can not picture Tim Roth as Snape. Maybe as Lupin, Not Snape.

[Headless_Nick]

Originally Posted by wickedwickedboy

I felt Alan did not portray Snape effectively because he was not brimming enough. Snape in the books seems ever on the point of a cosmic explosion, and it served to build a very good foundation for Jo's good or evil twist. But Alan toned that down to the extent where he doesn't come across as evil at all; but just an embittered professor like any other, but firmly on the good side - thus, the ambiguity is lacking to me.

If you ask me, not going over the top was a wise choice on Alan Rickman's part. If he went over the top mean, he'd come off cartoon-ey. The way he plays the part, with a constant poker face that only changes to sneer at Harry and taunt him, one gets sucked into watching him, wondering how he's going to act next. The way he plays it, he could be on either side of the metaphorical fence and there wouldn't be too much of a surprise either way. All that's needed is a hint that he's on Voldie's side, or him appearing to talk on friendly (as far as Snape can be "friendly") terms with Death Eaters and it would be believable without turning Snape into a comic book style character.

[Leslie33]

I agree with Headless_Nick in that if Rickman went "Over the top", he'd be cartoonish, more like a Jim Carey dumb, slap-stick character. It wouldn't fit in this movie. He'd be the joke of the movies, someone you wouldn't feel for, etc.

Rickman plays his excentricities perfectly. He's got his body language and facial expressions down perfectly. He can speak volumes with the slightest smile, raise of the eyebrows. He's got the subtleties down perfectly. Seriously, no one else could pull it off like Rickman does.

[vampiricduck]

I just think the man hit the nail on the head with Severus Snape. I mean, if you look at his other roles, both obtuse and fantastic, with particular notes given to the Sheriff of Nottingham, Rickman could have hammed the part into an unrealistic madman. I think the quiet menace and careful wording are excellent.

I cannto wait to see his performance in later films. I really am excited about it, because I think he was the one really really really pivotal actor who really hit perfection on the head.

[walcnevar]

I remember when I very first watched Philosopher's Stone I wasn't sure about Rickman's portrayal of Snape but when it sunk in I just fell in love with him and I think he is totally suited to the role. He just makes his scenes so entertaining. I'm looking forward to HBP when he has to shout, Alan doesn't shout often, I want anger

[vampiricduck]

You know what? I think you're right. My favourite line in the entire book of Half Blood Prince is "Don't call me coward!", so the fact that I get to listen to it (hopefully!!) in the movie should be a great moment for me.

I was just thinking that the costuming really works very well, and definitely works for Snape. The dark, billowing thing he has going on is really brilliant.

[Dadda]

I love the way Alan portrays Snape. I personally think he is brilliant. I can not picture anyone else as Snape.

His tone of voice, his menacing way of saying things.

I agree with you Severus_Snape77. I like when he says to Harry- " Don't lie to me " in GoF...

[bellatrix93]

Alan is the Snape I pictured, he made me love Snape a little bit. He's perfect for the role.

[walcnevar]

Originally Posted by lily_potter73

some fellow fans say that he's got a problem in his jaws, but I never noticed, maybe it helps him in Snape's role, Jkr says Snape barely moves his mouth while talking. Alan is really perfect for Snape. He made me like snape even more!

When he was younger he had a severe speech impediment which is probably why he started acting later in his life

[Pearl_Took]

Originally Posted by Severely Snapped

Thank God for Fanon Snape, then, who totally makes up for it!

And the "oh, he's not unattractive enough" thing is pointless, because it's completely subjective. Except for his age and his weight, Rickman in costume looks just as Snape is described: pale/sallow, black eyes, long black hair, hawkish nose. Graceful. Silky voice. And - wonder of wonders! - he's NOT repulsive! I must have missed that part in the books where Jo described Snape as a wart-infested hunchback with three heads.

You should visit these boards more often.

[Alora]

Originally Posted by Leslie33

Rickman plays his excentricities perfectly. He's got his body language and facial expressions down perfectly. He can speak volumes with the slightest smile, raise of the eyebrows. He's got the subtleties down perfectly. Seriously, no one else could pull it off like Rickman does.

I couldn't agree more Alan Rickman is pure perfection in this role, you completley hate him but at the same time his voice and everything about the way he acts enchants you