Unfortunately, our big news today is terribly sad. The acclaimed Australian cinematographer Andrew Lesnie has died. You’ll know his work from all six of director Peter Jackson’s Middle Earth films, including The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (for which he received an Oscar), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. I think I speak for all fans when I say that this work alone represents an amazing legacy for Lesnie. But Lesnie also worked on such films as Babe, King Kong (2005), Happy Feet, I Am Legend, and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. His final project was Russell Crowe’s The Water Diviner, which is now playing in theaters around the world. Lesnie was just 59. He will surely be missed. You can read more here at Variety, and also read Peter Jackson’s remembrance of his longtime friend here on Facebook.

On a personal note, I certainly hope Warner announces the extended edition of The Battle of the Five Armies on Blu-ray soon, not for commercial reasons but simply because I’m now more eager than ever to revisit this series in a marathon viewing to appreciate Lesnie’s amazing visuals once more in HD. Meanwhile, I can only say this: Thank you, Andrew.

That’s all for now. Back tomorrow. Stay tuned...

- Bill Hunt