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Superman extended cut is fun but proves that less is more
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If you enjoyed the antics of Ned Beatty, left, and Gene Hackman as Otis and Lex Luthor, respectively, in "Superman" (1978), a new three-hour version on Blu-ray is for you. - photo by Chris Hicks
These days it's not uncommon for major studio movies to be reworked, extended and generally altered by filmmakers from what was originally released in theaters.

The innovation of DVD and Blu-ray discs in this century has afforded an opportunity for studios to release multiple versions of movies by adding a few deleted scenes or, in some cases, allowing the director to fiddle with the entire film.

The ubiquitous directors cut is today as much a marketing tool as it is a filmmakers artistic choice. (Some would say more.)

But back in the day which is to say, before George Lucas began tinkering with his original Star Wars trilogy and Ridley Scott came up with five different versions of Blade Runner there was the rare but not unheard-of practice of restoring deleted footage to extend a movie for broadcast television.

One reason you dont see these versions on video today is that we now have high-definition TV screens that give us widescreen images and stereo sound. When widescreen/stereo theatrical movies went to television back then, the soundtrack had to be monaural and the picture had to be reduced to pan and scan, with the image sliding back and forth to focus on pertinent action or dialogue on a squarish frame.

Take, for example, Superman, or Superman: The Movie if you prefer the advertising title over the title that appears on the film.

When Christopher Reeves debut as the Man of Steel landed in theaters in December of 1978, it had a running time of 143 minutes eight minutes of which was the closing credits (the longest in movie history at the time).

Normally, a film of this length would have been shown over an entire three-hour prime-time evening, squeezing in as many commercials as feasible and possibly deleting a couple of scenes.

In this case, however, ABC aired the three-hours-plus Superman in two-hour blocks over two nights in February 1982, which allowed for even more commercials.

And now, that version is coming to home video for the first time in Superman: The Movie: Extended Cut & Special Edition 2-Film Collection (DC/Warner, 1978, two discs, two versions of the film, bonus features for the Special Edition).

What really makes this interesting is that Warner Bros. has gone back to the extra footage and restored it to its original widescreen and stereo format, so that it runs uninterrupted (and without commercials, of course) for more than three hours, just as it would play in a theatrical release. Only in this case its a hi-def Blu-ray release.

The 40 minutes-plus of footage that had been left on the cutting-room floor does have an impact on the pacing, making the overall experience more sluggish than either the original 143-minute release or the 151-minute Special Edition version included in this set.

But it nonetheless includes some nice gags and little moments that are fun to watch, ranging from the expanded sequences on Krypton to scenes of Clark Kent (Jeff East) as a teenager and more of Lana Lang (Diane Sherry) to extended scenes in the frozen Fortress of Solitude to more banter in the Daily Planets newsroom.

A lot of the extra footage, however, revolves around Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman), his bumbling assistant Otis (Ned Beatty) and Lexs floozy Miss Teschmacher (Valerie Perrine) in a series of farcical sequences that many including yours truly consider to be the films weakest link. And by that I mean in its shorter, original form.

In fact, theres so much more of this trio in the Extended Cut that a real case could be made that its the poster child for the argument that less is more.

Having said that, however, there is a simple remedy the fast-forward button on your remote.

Superman is still a great movie, and for me it was fun to watch this longer version and if youre a fan or a collector or a completist, you may feel the same way.
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New Medicare cards are in the mail and scammers are on the prowl
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun mailing new Medicare Health Insurance ID cards. The program no longer uses Social Security numbers to identify people. - photo by Lois M Collins
The federal government is beginning to send out new ID cards to the 58 million Americans who benefit from Medicare. But since many of the people who will receive them don't know they're coming or why, scammers are already gearing up to take advantage.

An AARP survey shows as many as three-fourths of Americans 65 and older have no idea the cards are coming, so some individuals may be duped with claims that they're supposed to pay a fee or provide personal information that will be used, instead, to defraud them.

The new cards are the first reissue in years, and the most striking part of the redesign is that the cards no longer carry the beneficiary's Social Security number. Congress mandated the removal of that number as an identifier for Medicare beneficiaries by next April. Instead, the card has a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier number, an 11-digit combination of numbers and letters.

The new Medicare cards are now being mailed out in batches, starting with the Eastern seaboard and moving west. Most Medicare beneficiaries will receive their cards over the next six months, as long as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has their correct mailing address. Once the cards are in hand, people can share the new identification number with their health care providers. During a transition period, either card is valid.

The old cards, which used Social Security numbers as the personal identification number, should be destroyed.

AARP recently launched an education campaign to warn consumers about scams related to the new Medicare cards.

The membership organization's "Fraud Watch" consultant, Frank Abagnale reformed con man, scammer and the subject of the movie and book "Catch Me If You Can" tells senior citizens the only time they need to carry the actual Medicare card is to health care appointments. Otherwise, it should be left in a safe place. If they want to carry one in their wallet or purse, he says, make a copy and black out the first seven numbers.

Since the cards were announced, scammers have already:

  • Called seniors and asked for their bank account information so that money on their old card could be returned. There is no money on the old card and CMS never asks for personal information over the phone.
  • Offered to send the new card after Medicare beneficiaries pay a $25 fee to cover expenses related to the card. The card is free.
  • Said the card will be mailed out as soon as the older person verifies his or her Social Security number, mailing address and other personal information. CMS already knows the beneficiary's Social Security number and it's no longer being used in conjunction with health care.
AARP and the Federal Trade Commission will hold a free online seminar about the cards and the fraud attempts they have spawned on Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. EDT. Register at: www.aarp.org/FraudWebinar. CMS also offers a "frequently asked questions" guide to the new cards.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network says consumers can sign up for its Watchdog Alert emails that deliver breaking scam information, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with volunteers trained in fraud counseling. Abagnale also hosts a weekly podcast for AARP, called The Perfect Scam.
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