Don't forget that even biggest
Oliphaunt, can be knock down by a single swing with the
sword on the back of his knee.
Oh trust me, I'm not forgetting much of anything about the
Oliphaunts.
Other than like the
balrogs, the
dragons and
great worms, the relative power of the various groups, etc. they're all misrepresented by the movies, and most fandom.
What's been done with them (in one respect) has as much attachment to
Tolkien's text as does bunnies pulliing a sled filled with a bird-poop covered
Radagast. (note - "in one respect". At least Oliphaunts really were in the text. But PJs Oliphaunts weren't, other than in name.)
That said, I don't want to be or seem too negative about it.
Oversized oluphaunts with troops and troop platforms on their backs smashing things and people, and having big pokey spikes on their oversized tusks, DO make for terrific spectacle, and pull the viewers (and dollars) in. So PJ knew what he was doing..! (As does the
Rohirrim thing coming soon apparently, too.)