Gimli and the Steward's Chair

[The Only Real Estel]

Besides, if that is the scale double instead of JRD, then I have to ask why have Gimli sitting in Denethor's chair? Why not just let him stand up along with the rest of the characters instead?

Hmm...that's a good question. If fact, since it was his scale double, why not start discussing why you think PJ even put Gimli in the chair at all? Since that's what all the rest of us have been doing the whole time . And yes, I'm quite sure that it was Gimli double in the chair, he does quite a bit of work in the movies. 'JRD' is only there for his closeups, 99% of the time. Anyway, if they wanted to have the over 6 feet tall JRD in the chair, they'd have to make an oversized one to get the scale issue right, so they'd be working just as much as they would have to to make up Bret (the 4'9 guy) & stick him in the normal-sized chair.

The Last Debate chapter in the book was absolutely heart-breaking for me. In the film Gimli rounds it off with that terrible line ("Small chance of success, what are we waiting for !?") and the scene completely misses the point.

Yes, thanks to Gimli's line, they get sent off on a comical note, instead of an all-or-nothing, likely suicidal trek. It pretty well ruined the drama/dispair of the moment.