BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — E.T. could not do it. Neither could Luke Skywalker or Dorothy Gale. Yet Frodo Baggins and his hobbit, elf and wizard pals are on the verge of claiming Academy Awards respectability for the land of make-believe. Fantastical tales have a long and dismal Oscar history, but “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King” looks ready to change that, taking front-runner status for best picture with a leading 11 Oscar nominations. [More]