The Hobbit: Galadriel's Most Controversial Moment

gamerant.com:

Galadriel is probably the most iconic elf in Middle Earth (with the possible exception of Legolas and his amazing archery skills.) She has lived in Middle Earth for thousands of years, and built the beautiful kingdom of Lothlorien almost single-handedly with the aid of her elven ring of power. She has amazing abilities, like being able to see the past, the present, and an infinite number of possible futures in her mirror. Galadriel is revered by everyone in the stories for her incredible powers and her wisdom.

But just how far do those powers stretch? There is a brief glimpse of them presented in Peter Jackson’s film adaptation of the Lord of the Rings, in the scene in which Frodo offers her the one ring, and she must pass the test of being able to refuse it. An incredible, awe-inspiring light emits from her, and a darkness seems to rise up inside that gives her a suddenly much more threatening, terrifying persona. This motif is repeated in Peter Jackson’s later movie adaptations of The Hobbit, but the latter reiteration has become one of Galadriel’s most controversial scenes. Many fans felt that the depiction of her power was over-dramatized and unrealistic.

LOTR: Why Didn't Gandalf Warn The Others About The Balrog In Moria?

The first moment that hints at Galadriel's power is an extended scene in which Gandalf is held captive in an iron cage in Dol-Guldur. A large orc is torturing him, trying to prise information out of him about the location of the other two elven rings of power. The orc forces Gandalf’s hand onto a platform and raises his axe, intending to cut Neya, Gandalf’s ring of fire, off of his fingers. At this moment, Gandalf seems to sense a presence, and he turns to see Lady Galadriel floating up the stairwell