THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING makes its eagerly awaited May 25 bow on DVD (New Line Home Ent., $29.95), though not as eagerly awaited as the year-end extended version. You get a gorgeous transfer of Peter Jackson's Oscar-winning theatrical cut on disc one, while just a few extras on disc two, most notably three docs, including the National Geographic special, BEYOND THE MOVIE, and six featurettes: "Aragorn's Destiny," "Minas Tirith: Capital of Gondor," "The Battle of Pelennor Fields," "Samwise the Brave," "Eowyn: White Lady of Rohan" and "Digital Horse Doubles."
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
