Into the West - 1:19pm

Kicking off this week's news is...some little movie called The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (perhaps you've heard of it?) This small-budget, little seen chamber drama will see two new releases this year - a two-disc special edition on May 25th featuring the theatrical cut of Peter Jackson's Oscar-winning opus, and later this year, a four-disc extravaganza featuring the usual extended version and commentary with every name listed in the credits, etc.

For the full scoop click to check out the press release, but in brief, expect the two-disc edition to feature behind-the-scenes specials, featurettes, theatrical trailers, TV spots, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy super-trailer, a preview of the upcoming The Lord of the Rings based video game from Electronic Arts and a link to exclusive online content about the motion picture trilogy. Available in separate anamorphic widescreen and full screen versions, retail will be $29.95 each. You can also check out a preview of the two-disc set's menus at our multimedia gallery. And watch this space for more updates and a full review of the set in the coming weeks...

Total Recall - 1:19pm

are the latest new announcements from Paramount Home Entertainment, including the full specs for John Woo's Paycheck, which hits DVD on May 18th. Starring Ben Affleck and Uma Thurman, this special edition will be made available in separate 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and full screen releases, each with Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks, audio commentaries with Woo and screenwriter Dean Georgaris, seven deleted and extended scenes, the "Paycheck: Designing the Future" and "Tempting Fate: The Stunts of Paycheck" featurettes, and theatrical trailers. Retail will list for $29.95.

Also just in from Paramount are four new TV on DVD releases. At last making its DVD debut on May 25th is Herman Wouk's The Winds of War. This epic miniseries will get the full special edition treatment, including remastered 4:3 full screen transfer, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround remix and four featurettes: "Making The Winds Of War," "A Novel For Television," "Cast and Characters" and "On Location." Containing the complete 879-minute miniseries, this box set will list for $89.95. Also on tap for the 25th are Cheers: The Complete Third Season and Frasier: The Complete Third Season. Both are remastered in 4:3 full screen and Dolby 2.0, and Cheers includes the featurettes "Virtual Vera Shrink-Warped: Introducing Frasier Crane" and "Carla's Whipping Boy," plus "Nicholas Colasanto: His Final Season" which features interviews with Ted Danson, George Wendt and Rhea Perlman, and "Cheers Bar Tour," an interview with production designer Dahl Delu, while Frasier is also loaded with extras, including "The Crane Brothers Remember Season 3," "A Conversation with Art Director Roy Christopher," "Bulldog Crazy," " The Mystery Of Maris: The Breakup Begins" featurettes, plus "Celebrity Voices," a look at the season's many guest star appearances. Retail is set at $49.95 each.

Affair of the Necklace - 1:19pm

Just in from Artisan Entertainment (soon to be usurped by Lion's Gate) are two new special edition announcements. Making its DVD debut on May 4th is the acclaimed drama The Girl with the Pearl Earring, starring Lost in Translation's Scarlet Johansson. Presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and Dolby 5.1 surround, extras include an audio commentary by director Peter Webber and the "Anatomy of a Scene" TV special, plus trailers. Retail will be $26.95.

Also just announced from Artisan is a new special edition reissue of the Alan Parker thriller Angel Heart, starring Mickey Rourke and a young Lisa Bonet. This cult favorite includes a new remastered anamorphic widescreen transfer, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track, audio commentary with Parker and a second commentary with Rourke, the "behind the movie" documentary "Bois Caiman: The Voodoo in Angel Heart," a new interview with Rourke and other vintage cast interviews, additional behind-the-scenes footage and theatrical trailers. Retail will be a nice priced $19.95.