[cornelis]

Had the whole crowd giggling

Gollum sugarcoated? Giggles of embarrassment? Gollum, in Tolkien, is a serious matter.

[BADROTOFINGER]

Not sugar-coated, Gollum had genuine personality, some of the humor coming out in his schizophrenic episodes. I guess you just have to see it...JFK

[anka]

not sugarcoated.
i think most of the laughs came from some of the 'uninitiated' who don't understand the significance of gollum/smeagol. for me (hope i'm not being facetious), there were a couple of un-comfortable laughs and genuine pity felt for the character.
when gollum and smeagol are arguing and gollum calls smeagol a murderer... heartbreaking