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Lalwendë · 04-10-2005, 06:54 AM

I think what got to me in the portrayal of Gimli was that at times the humour was just toilet humour, and that doesn't have a place in Tolkien. Gimli is supposed to be a Dwarf, one of a noble race on Middle Earth, not just a butt of jokes. When he belched after Theoden had spoken I found it distasteful - not that I'm squeamish about that kind of humour at all, just that Gimli wouldn't have done that kind of thing as it was disrespectful. I did get a bit fed up with the 'short' jokes, although when they were well delivered they were amusing, such as the "shall I get you a box" line at Helm's Deep, which was very Morecambe & Wise, though again probably not appropriate for the situation.

The humour which was brought out with the Hobbits was well written and as gentle as it ought to have been. I liked how humour was delivered through simply filming different characters pulling faces, laughing or behaving 'hobbity'. This was subtle and gentle. And Merry and Pippin made a good comic pairing, although on occasions when they needed to be serious it was hard to divorce them from their double act routine.

As to why the humour was brought across in the way that we saw it, I think again it was down to the 'need' to pull in a big audience, and for those sections of the audience more used to the "I'll hit you over the head until you laugh, dammit" comedy of the Farrelly Brothers, the more crude gags work a treat.

Having watched TT with a family sat by me, I can say that the 11 year old boy who was in the seat next to mine was guffawing like a donkey at the burping. Yes, it's sad really, they did put this humour in to get a quick response, and I wonder how many people felt like cringing when they saw it?

04-10-2005, 06:54 AM	#3
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	I think what got to me in the portrayal of Gimli was that at times the humour was just toilet humour, and that doesn't have a place in Tolkien. Gimli is supposed to be a Dwarf, one of a noble race on Middle Earth, not just a butt of jokes. When he belched after Theoden had spoken I found it distasteful - not that I'm squeamish about that kind of humour at all, just that Gimli wouldn't have done that kind of thing as it was disrespectful. I did get a bit fed up with the 'short' jokes, although when they were well delivered they were amusing, such as the "shall I get you a box" line at Helm's Deep, which was very Morecambe & Wise, though again probably not appropriate for the situation. The humour which was brought out with the Hobbits was well written and as gentle as it ought to have been. I liked how humour was delivered through simply filming different characters pulling faces, laughing or behaving 'hobbity'. This was subtle and gentle. And Merry and Pippin made a good comic pairing, although on occasions when they needed to be serious it was hard to divorce them from their double act routine. As to why the humour was brought across in the way that we saw it, I think again it was down to the 'need' to pull in a big audience, and for those sections of the audience more used to the "I'll hit you over the head until you laugh, dammit" comedy of the Farrelly Brothers, the more crude gags work a treat. Having watched TT with a family sat by me, I can say that the 11 year old boy who was in the seat next to mine was guffawing like a donkey at the burping. Yes, it's sad really, they did put this humour in to get a quick response, and I wonder how many people felt like cringing when they saw it? __________________ Gordon's alive!