[The Saucepan Man]

It seems to me, though, that many of the "Gimli humour" parts in the films do serve to emphasise the reconciliation between Legolas and Gimli that characterises their roles in the Books.<P>The exchange between them on the battlements of Helm's Deep is the banter of two friends, and Gimli's concern over Legolas learning of him being tossed is akin to the concern that one friend might feel over another learning of an embarrassing episode.<P>As I said, I think that it is over the top, but there is a basis for it in the Books.<P>Probably Gimli's worst moment is falling off the horse on the way to Helm's Deep. That was truly gratuitous. But then again, he managed to get the horse sufficently under control to get it into a position whereby Legolas could do a wholly unrealistic back (breaking) flip onto it.