Part 4/7:
One particular point of contention is the decision to render the dwarves as CGI characters rather than casting professional dwarf actors. As Critical Drinker articulated, the lack of realism caused by this choice has resulted in characters that fall into the “Uncanny Valley,” making the CGI dwarves visually jarring when juxtaposed with live-action actors. This decision was reportedly reversed after initial backlash, with Disney opting for CGI under pressure, leading to further discussion about creative choices in mainstream cinema.