The mis-interpretation of dear Gimli - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

MatthewM · 02-10-2007, 10:23 PM

We all know that Gimli got it pretty bad in the films as the scapegoat for and of a ton of the jokes. Why do you suppose they did this? Because of his height compared to Legolas and Aragorn at the Breaking of the Fellowship? I mean, he really only truly becomes a clown-like character after the Fellowship is broken.

Why do you think PJ did this? I will say some jokes Gimli cracks or takes are funny, but I think it was overdone to the point where it daunted his character. With relationships such as Pippin and Gandalf for some comedy, why do you suppose Gimli got it so bad?

Legate of Amon Lanc · 02-11-2007, 02:38 AM

Actually, no one knows that PJ suffers from Napoleon syndrome...

davem · 02-11-2007, 04:05 AM

Oh, I suppose they felt they needed 'comic relief' & Gimli was the obvious choice. It was the most irritating thing about the movies for me. One of my favourite moments in the whole book is when Gimli leaps to the rescue of Aragorn & Eomer - 'Baruk Khazad! Khazad Aimenu!'.

PJ has him trip & fall into a puddle. 'nuff said.

Boromir88 · 02-11-2007, 11:11 AM

Most of the clowning was by John Rhys-Davies and Jackson just went along with it.

I do agree that in The Fellowship of the Ring, Gimli was very well done. He had some parts that made me chuckle, he played a little comic relief, but I never lost the feeling that I had no idea who this dwarf was.

By TTT this is different, yes he still has his good parts, but he's brought down to ridiculous comic relief and is a completely different character. And from my understanding a lot of it was John Rhys-Davies' doing, who liked to 'clown' around a lot.

Sir Kohran · 02-11-2007, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davem

Oh, I suppose they felt they needed 'comic relief' & Gimli was the obvious choice. It was the most irritating thing about the movies for me. One of my favourite moments in the whole book is when Gimli leaps to the rescue of Aragorn & Eomer - 'Baruk Khazad! Khazad Aimenu!'.

PJ has him trip & fall into a puddle. 'nuff said.

Now whilst I agree that Gimli's 'comedy' was often cringe-worthy, I'm going to have to seriously disagree on your last point - in the film, he doesn't 'trip & fall into a puddle' - looking at the scene again (I assume you're talking about Helm's Deep), when the wall explodes, Aragorn is thrown off the wall and knocked unconscious, and the Uruks come through the gap at him. Gimli then jumps onto them from the wall and kills a few, holding them off long enough for Aragorn to get back up and regroup the Elves. Gimli gets struck down into the water, but the Elves shoot the Uruks before they finish him and then attack. During the fighting, Aragorn helps Gimli out of the water. I don't see him doing anything stupid there. Sure, it was a bit different to the books but he still jumps into the fray and saves one of his friends.

davem · 02-11-2007, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir Kohran

Sure, it was a bit different to the books but he still jumps into the fray and saves one of his friends.

You may be right. My brain had turned to mush by that point.

Knight of Gondor · 02-11-2007, 03:13 PM

I think it was just elements of Gimli's Dwarven personality that strike us as funny. While legions of Uruk-hai are pouring into the Deeping Coomb, Gimli is taking pride at his one-by-one elimination. (The contest itself was kind of amusing, and it was direct from the book.)

His pride was a little insulted when Aragorn dryly remarked "I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength."

He was a bit annoyed that his Dwarvish stamina was failing him in Emyn Muil, hence his frustrated remarks "Keep breathing! That's key!...Breath!" and such.

His own dry humor in the throne room of Denethor ("Certainty of death! Small chance of success! What are we waiting for?") was just his own "bring it on" attitude.

What other comic relief are you talking about?

02-10-2007, 10:23 PM	#1
MatthewM Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 628	The mis-interpretation of dear Gimli We all know that Gimli got it pretty bad in the films as the scapegoat for and of a ton of the jokes. Why do you suppose they did this? Because of his height compared to Legolas and Aragorn at the Breaking of the Fellowship? I mean, he really only truly becomes a clown-like character after the Fellowship is broken. Why do you think PJ did this? I will say some jokes Gimli cracks or takes are funny, but I think it was overdone to the point where it daunted his character. With relationships such as Pippin and Gandalf for some comedy, why do you suppose Gimli got it so bad? __________________ "Loud and clear it sounds in the valleys of the hills...and then let all the foes of Gondor flee!" -Boromir, The Fellowship of the Ring

02-11-2007, 02:38 AM	#2
Legate of Amon Lanc A Voice That Gainsayeth Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In that far land beyond the Sea Posts: 7,431	Actually, no one knows that PJ suffers from Napoleon syndrome... __________________ "Should the story say 'he ate bread,' the dramatic producer can only show 'a piece of bread' according to his taste or fancy, but the hearer of the story will think of bread in general and picture it in some form of his own." -On Fairy-Stories

02-11-2007, 04:05 AM	#3
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	Oh, I suppose they felt they needed 'comic relief' & Gimli was the obvious choice. It was the most irritating thing about the movies for me. One of my favourite moments in the whole book is when Gimli leaps to the rescue of Aragorn & Eomer - 'Baruk Khazad! Khazad Aimenu!'. PJ has him trip & fall into a puddle. 'nuff said. __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

02-11-2007, 11:11 AM	#4
Boromir88 Laconic Loreman Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: USA Posts: 7,518	Most of the clowning was by John Rhys-Davies and Jackson just went along with it. I do agree that in The Fellowship of the Ring, Gimli was very well done. He had some parts that made me chuckle, he played a little comic relief, but I never lost the feeling that I had no idea who this dwarf was. By TTT this is different, yes he still has his good parts, but he's brought down to ridiculous comic relief and is a completely different character. And from my understanding a lot of it was John Rhys-Davies' doing, who liked to 'clown' around a lot. __________________ Fenris Penguin

02-11-2007, 03:13 PM	#7
Knight of Gondor Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 744	I think it was just elements of Gimli's Dwarven personality that strike us as funny. While legions of Uruk-hai are pouring into the Deeping Coomb, Gimli is taking pride at his one-by-one elimination. (The contest itself was kind of amusing, and it was direct from the book.) His pride was a little insulted when Aragorn dryly remarked "I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength." He was a bit annoyed that his Dwarvish stamina was failing him in Emyn Muil, hence his frustrated remarks "Keep breathing! That's key!...Breath!" and such. His own dry humor in the throne room of Denethor ("Certainty of death! Small chance of success! What are we waiting for?") was just his own "bring it on" attitude. What other comic relief are you talking about? __________________ Eagerly awaiting the REAL Return of the King - Jesus Christ! Revelation 19:11-16