I waited. And it was worth every day.

The Extended Fellowship will shock you with how long Peter Jackson and Co. can stretch out those "over 30 minutes." They're everywhere. A new line here, a longer scene there. Plus several completely new bits. Just about every chapter has been enhanced in some way. Spoiler alert.

I'm amazed at how well the new bits flesh out some important backstory. There's more development of the initial antipathy between Aragorn and Boromir. More explanation of Arwen's fated Choice of Luthien (Aragorn sings!) More snide remarks concerning elves versus dwarves. A bit more about the Grey Havens and elves "leaving these shores."

And lots of additions just for fun. Isildur putting on the ring. Gandalf revealing Gollum was once called Smeagol. Ted Sandyman and others at the Green Dragon! Plus a whole new Bilbo-led introduction. Galadriel's gifts. Gollum floating a log right into a rock. What a difference just a few little shots can make.

No, we don't get Tom Bombadil, but we do get a respectable version of Celeborn! He's *not* a dope! He actually has lines and acts like a real elflord!

They cut Gimli's warning while at arrowpoint on the borders of Lothlorien. "These woods are perilous! We should turn back" or something like that. In the theatrical version, Aragorn convinces Haldir to take the Fellowship to Lorien then and there. In the extended version, it takes a whole 'nother day... including a hilarious nighttime bit with Aragorn and Haldir arguing in elvish. The original scene had to be trimmed to allow for the new stuff.

Remember when Lucas added the Jabba scene to the Special Edition of Star Wars, and the "new" Han/Jabba conversation was virtually identical to the Han/Greedo conversation? Star Wars: 0, Lord of the Rings: 1. Whoops, almost forgot... Lucas actually chose to have Han step on Jabba's tail. Star Wars: negative 1,000.

This is the definitive version of the movie. If I were you, I'd consider a trade-in on the older DVD.