'a diversion'

Question

There is a line from LOTR trilogy.Legolas says "A diversion"I know diversion means distraction to cause someone unnotice something happen in the background, my question is why is this line funny to some people I just don't get it. Thanks-Terr

Marius Hancu · Accepted Answer

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Anonymous · Answer

Hi, it's just a simple line as it is, he said 'a diversion', I vaguely remember in the scene, the companion was possibly being ambushed by the enemy or the like(I don't recall much details), and Legolas said that when they appeared. It would be apparent to me that he said that to alert the rest of companion there they had been 'diversed' or distracted by something happened earlier.

As simple as it sounds, the line has been circulating around as a laughter for quite a while in the movie's fandom, they keep on coming but I don't know what is it so funny about it, and hope people who's already aware of the line fill me in (I see possible cultural difference when it come to jokes). Please this is, as i do realize, not standad type of english related question so answer only if you already know the answer. -Terr

Mister Micawber · Answer

I wish you could recall more specifics; I don't remember that line.  Perhaps it is funny because the 'diversion' seems quite inadequate  or because it seems more like a major attack than a mere diversion.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

The following LOTR movie dialogue is from http://imdb.com/title/tt0167260/quotes

There's nothing obviously funny about what Legolas says. Perhaps it was the way he said it, or perhaps he slipped on a banana skin and fell down when he said it. If he did, I must have missed that part.

http://imdb.com/name/nm0005212/: He's suffered a defeat, yes, but... behind the walls of Mordor, our enemy is regrouping.
http://imdb.com/name/nm0722636/: Let him stay there. *Let him rot!* Why should we care?
: Because 10,000 Orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom. I've sent him to his death.
http://imdb.com/name/nm0001557/: No. There is still hope for Frodo. He needs time... and safe passage across the plains of Gorgoroth. We can give him that.
: How?
: Draw out Sauron's armies. Empty his lands. Then we gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate.
http://imdb.com/name/nm0881631/: We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms.
: Not for ourselves. But we can give Frodo his chance if we keep Sauron's Eye fixed upon us. Keep him blind to all else that moves.
http://imdb.com/name/nm0089217/: A diversion.
: Certainty of death, small chance of success... What are we waiting for?
: Sauron will suspect a trap. He will not take the bait.
: [knowingly] No, I think he will.

Best wishes, Clive

Terr3 · Answer

Hi, I think Clive's interpretation should be the closest to the truth if not by perfection. I was thinking the simple line was led to some reference I don't know of, but now I think the line maybe just of overly simplistic, a good-for-nothing dialogue in which make it possibly laughable(although I really dont find it that way). I have to admit I'm not too much of a fan that I hadn't paid much attention to small details in the movies so I'm a bit slow to get the meaning of this. Thanks all. -Terr

'a diversion'

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