[Diamond18]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>What made me angry was, in my theatre at least, people laughed at him during his Smeagol/Gollum speech. The one where he overcomes the bad side (Gollum side).<P>I wanted to tell every last one of them to shutup.<P>Why did PJ make this slightly humorous?<P>Did any of you see the same reaction? Did you have that reaction yourself? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Yes, just about everyone in my theater laughed at him...but not every scene. I think it was only the Gollum/Smeagol debate, the Coney scene, and the Forbidden Pool. But it was a good sort of laugh...a loving laugh, as if the audience was fond of him rather than derisive. It's the kind of laughter that might lead to tears when he dies. I read a quote from one of the movie people somewhere (forgive the vagueness of my reference!) that said, "If the audience cheers when Gollum dies, we will have failed." If the audience laughs when he dies, that will also be a failure.<P>I found Gollum amusing in the book, and laughed often, but in the positive way I mentioned above. It was the kind of laughter that made me sad to see him perish. I think it's right to laugh at him a little, as long as it isn't a cynical laughter.<P>I don't think PJ made him humorous, I think Gollum can be found humorous by those who pity him. Remember Frodo would often smile fondly at him while Sam never did. Sam wasn't amused by Smeagol.<p>[ December 22, 2002: Message edited by: Diamond18 ]