[quote=“Col. Crazy Kenneth”]
IN LOTR, how did the big fucking elephant monster that Legolas killed and quipped to the dwarf guy about it, advance the story? It didn’t. But it was hella fun.
[/quote]
Character moments and world building are part of the story too. It might not have altered the main plot in a huge obvious way but it was part of what turned two uneasy allies into friends.
Plus, conflict and conflict resolution are a pretty big part of telling a compelling story. The big fucking elephant monster created conflict. Legolas killing it was conflict resolution. It’s the same as those movies where the main character has to fight an extremely large man. LOTR just happens to take place in a world where giant elephants exist.
I think Spielberg is just saying what most of us think. It’s annoying as hell when film makers use CGI when a live on set solution is an option. If Peter Jackson could create a live action “giant elephant monster” that looked believable and was affordable, I’m sure he would have.