Is Gimli not quite inept in the LotR films? He increasingly becomes a bit of a joke, with his Scottish, no Welsh!, no wait... insert 'regional' accent alongside his tales of Dwarvish women, almost indistinguishable from Dwarf men...
I totally agree we need to take these dwarves seriously though. They are flawed but quite charming in the book.
I think part of the cowarice is the dwarves are homeless to a extent, fish out of water, a bit shaken. They did live in the Blue Mountains, but that would not be their true home.
I think they need to be shown as bumbling selfish cowards to contrast with the fierce, brave and grim dwarven warriors defending their home in the battle of the five armies.
They also need to be able to be shown as repenting a bit at the end. Where they see that there just might be things more valuable than gold and gems, things less tangible.
I think the best place to preview Thorin's better qualities would be the fighting in the caves of goblin town after the death of the great goblin. Where Gandalf and Thorin hold back the hoards as the others flee.
I totally agree we need to take these dwarves seriously though. They are flawed but quite charming in the book.
I think they need to be shown as bumbling selfish cowards to contrast with the fierce, brave and grim dwarven warriors defending their home in the battle of the five armies.
They also need to be able to be shown as repenting a bit at the end. Where they see that there just might be things more valuable than gold and gems, things less tangible.
I think the best place to preview Thorin's better qualities would be the fighting in the caves of goblin town after the death of the great goblin. Where Gandalf and Thorin hold back the hoards as the others flee.