The Corner Penthouse

This is not really a review, but more of a specifications and bonus features list intended to give all of you the details on exactly what you will find in several of Warner Bros. "4 Film Favorites" DVD sets. All of the info below was originally written in July 2010.

Warner Brothers/New Line's "4 Film Favorites" is a series of two-disc sets consisting of four films that are part of a series/franchise or center around a common theme. Each disc is dual-sided, with the contents of each side being a bit-for-bit copy (a "disc image") of a previous DVD release. (Note: More recent releases in the series simply put four DVDs into the case instead of re-pressing them as dual-sided discs.) Usually the very first DVD release of a film is used as the master for each side, which could be either single-layer or dual-layer. If the DVD master that is used first came out at the infancy of DVD production (the late 1990s), there may be little to no extras, and even a poor film transfer when compared to a later re-release. Also, if that original release was a two-disc set, or a dual-sided disc (see: Lethal Weapon 4), only Disc 1 or Side A will be used. The "4 Film Favorites" line is priced with the budget-conscience consumer in mind, with Target having the lowest price at 9.99 each (occasionally on sale for 8.99). Other stores will inevitably be priced higher, though I don't recommend paying more than ten dollars for each two-disc set.



BATMAN
* Year: 1989
* Runtime: 2:06:10
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: February 8, 1997
* Region: 1
* Layers: 1
* Audio Languages: English, French
* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish, French
* Extras: Cast & Crew Bios & Filmographies (Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Willians, Michael Gough, Jack Palance, Tim Burton), Production Notes (8 screens).

BATMAN RETURNS
* Year: 1992
* Runtime: 2:06:23
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: April 9, 1997
* Region: 1
* Layers: 1
* Audio Languages: English, French
* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish, French
* Extras: Cast & Crew Bios & Filmographies (Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, Michael Murphy, Tim Burton), Production Notes (Special Effects, Hero & Villains [Batman, The Penguin, Catwoman], The Screenwriter, The Composer).

BATMAN FOREVER
* Year: 1995
* Runtime: 2:01:31
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: April 24, 1997
* Region: 1
* Layers: 1
* Audio Languages: English, French
* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish, French
* Extras: Cast & Crew Bios & Filmographies (Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, Nicole Kidman, Chris O'Donnell, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, Joel Schumacher), Production Notes (Additional Actors, Behind The Scenes, New Villains New Hero, Bob Kane).

BATMAN & ROBIN
* Year: 1997
* Runtime: 2:04:45
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: September 23, 1997
* Region: 1
* Layers: 1
* Audio Languages: English, French
* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish, French
* Extras: Cast & Crew Bios & Filmographies (Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, Uma Thurman, Alicia Silverstone, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, Elle Macpherson, Stephen Goldblatt, Akiva Goldsman, Peter Macgregor-Scott, Joel Schumacher), Production Notes (Bob Kane And The Birth Of Batman, Creating The New Story, Friends And Foes, Recreating Gotham City, The Batmobile, The Redbird, The Freezemobile, Special Effects, The Costumes, Special Makeup).



BLADE
* Year: 1998
* Runtime: 2:00:07
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: February 25, 2002 (Nero InfoTool gives this date, but it should be 1998 or 1999)
* Region: 1
* Layers: 2
* Audio Languages: English
* Subtitle Languages: English
* Extras: Commentary by Wesley Snipes and others (Stephen Dorff, David S. Goyer, Theo Van De Sande, Kirk M. Petruccelli, Peter Frankfurt), Isolated Score with Commentary by composer Mark Isham, "La Magra" Featurette, "Designing Blade" Featurette, "The Origins Of Blade" Featurette, "The Blood Tide" Featurette, "House Of Erebus" (explanation of the twelve Vampire Glyphs), "Pencil To Post" Sketch Gallery, Cast & Crew Bios & Filmographies (Wesley Snipes, Stephen Dorff, Kris Kristofferson, N'Bushe Wright, Donal Logue, Stephen Norrington, David S. Goyer, Peter Frankfurt, Theo Van De Sade, Kirk M. Petruccelli, Mark Isham), Theatrical Trailer, DVD-ROM Content (Entire Screenplay).
* Notes: The back of the case incorrectly lists "Real Time Storyboards While You Watch The Movie" as an extra.

BLADE II
* Year: 2002
* Runtime: 1:56:43
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: October 14, 2003
* Region: 1
* Layers: 2
* Audio Languages: English
* Subtitle Languages: English
* Extras: None

BLADE: TRINITY
* Year: 2004
* Runtime: 1:52:46
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen, 4:3 Fullscreen
* DVD Production Date: February 25, 2005
* Region: 1
* Layers: 2
* Audio Languages: English
* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish
* Extras: None
* Notes: This is the R-Rated Theatrical cut (an Unrated cut also exists). This is actually Disc 1 from what was originally a two-disc set. The back of the case incorrectly lists 2 commentaries and an isolated score track as extras.

BLADE: HOUSE OF CHTHON
* Year: 2006
* Runtime: 1:28:40
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: February 7, 2008
* Region: 1
* Layers: 2
* Audio Languages: English
* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish
* Extras: Commentary by director Peter O'Fallon, Commentary by writers David Goyer and Geoff Johns, "Turning Blade" Documentary, 8 Spike TV Promos, DVD Ads (The Butterfly Effect 2, Undisputed II: Last Man Standing, Tenacious D In The Pick Of Destiny, Pan's Labyrinth, The Number 23, Superman: Doomsday, Doctor Strange).
* This is the feature-length premiere episode of the "Blade: The Series" television series that aired on Spike in 2006. This is also Disc 1 in the Blade: The Series - The Complete Series DVD set.



RUSH HOUR
* Year: 1998
* Runtime: 1:37:42
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: June 3, 2004 (Nero InfoTool gives this date, but it should be 1998 or 1999)
* Region: 1
* Layers: 2
* Audio Languages: English
* Subtitle Languages: English
* Extras: Commentary by director Brett Ratner, Isolated Score with Optional Commentary by composer Lalo Schifrin, Deleted Scenes, "A Piece Of The Action: Behind The Scenes Of Rush Hour" Featurette, Theatrical Trailer, "Whatever Happened To Mason Reese?" Short Film (with Optional Commentary by Brett Ratner), Heavy D "Nuttin' But Love" Music Video (with Optional Commentary by Brett Ratner), Dru Hill "How Deep Is Your Love" Music Video (with Optional Commentary by Brett Ratner), Cast & Crew Bios & Filmographies (Chris Tucker, Jackie Chan, Tom Wilkinson, Julia Hsu, Elizabeth Pena, Tzi Ma, Brett Ratner, Roger Birnbaum, Arthur Sarkissian, Jonathan Glickman, Jim Kouf, Ross LaManna, Adam Greenberg, Robb Wilson King, Sharen Davis, Mark Helfrich, Lalo Schifrin), DVD-ROM Content.
* Easter Eggs: Use your Remote Control to go to Title 4, then advance to Chapter 3 of the Disc and you will see "Evil Luke Lee", an early short film by director Brett Ratner (with optional commentary by Brett Ratner). This short is normally accessible only through the DVD-ROM content.

RUSH HOUR 2
* Year: 2001
* Runtime: 1:29:58
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: December 12, 2005
* Region: 1
* Layers: 2
* Audio Languages: English
* Subtitle Languages: English
* Extras: Commentary by director Brett Ratner and Writer Jeff Nathanson, Infinifilm Fact Track (branch out to featurettes during the film), "Jackie Chan's Hong Kong Introduction" Featurette, "Culture Clash: West Meets East" Featurette, "Language Barrier" Featurette, "Attaining International Stardom" Featurette, "Kung Fu Choreography" Featurette, "Making Magic Out Of Mire" Featurette, Evolution Of A Scene: Chicken Chop" Featurette, Evolution Of A Scene: "The Bomb" Featurette, Evolution Of A Scene: "Slide For Life" Featurette, "Fashion Of Rush Hour 2" Featurette, Visual Effects Deconstruction: Embassy Explosion Scene (4 Angles - plus an introduction by Visual Effects Supervisor Kevin Lingenfelser), 9 Deleted Scenes (with Optional Commentary by Brett Ratner), Outtakes, "Lady Luck" Short Film (with Optional Commentary by Brett Ratner), 3 Theatrical Trailers, Cast & Crew Filmographies (Jackie Chan, Alan King, Brett Ratner, Roselyn Sanchez, Chris Tucker, Harris Yulin, Zhang Ziyi), DVD-ROM Contest.
* Easter Eggs: (1) Go to Scene Selection and flip through to the Chapters "7-8". Highlight the Question Mark above the Dragon on the left and press Enter for a "Lord Of The Rings: Fellowship Of The Ring" trailer. (2) Go to Scene Selection and flip through to the Chapters "15-16". Highlight the Question Mark above the Number 7 on the left and press Enter for another "Lord Of The Rings: Fellowship Of The Ring" trailer.

RUSH HOUR 3
* Year: 2007
* Runtime: 1:30:42
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen, 4:3 Fullscreen
* DVD Production Date: January 16, 2008
* Region: 1
* Layers: 2
* Audio Languages: English
* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish
* Extras: Theatrical Trailer, "Be Kind Rewind" Trailer, "Blade: House of Chthon" Trailer, "Ocean's Thirteen" Trailer.
* Notes: The back of the case incorrectly lists a commentary track, which is only an extra on Disc 1 of the 2-Disc Edition. The master used here is from the 1-Disc Widescreen/Fullscreen Edition.

MONEY TALKS
* Year: 1997
* Runtime: 1:35:42
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: February 27, 2002 (Nero InfoTool gives this date, but it should be 1997 or 1998)
* Region: 1
* Layers: 1
* Audio Languages: English, French
* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish, French
* Extras: Theatrical Trailer, Cast Bios & Filmographies (Chris Tucker, Charlie Sheen, Paul Sorvino, Heather Locklear), Clips of Chris Tucker in "Friday" and "House Party 3" are hidden in his filmography, A clip of Charlie Sheen in "National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1" is hidden in his filmography.



If you buy this release and the 4 Film Favorites - Cop Comedy Collection, you will essentially get the entire Police Academy - The Complete Collection box set for a fraction of the price - along with National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1 as a bonus movie (it's the fourth film on the Cop Comedy Collection). If you also buy the Police Academy - 20th Anniversary Special Edition, which is selling for about five bucks as I write this, and slip that disc into the 4 Film Favorites case, you will truly complete the set.

POLICE ACADEMY
* Year: 1984
* Runtime: 1:36:18
* Video Format: 4:3 Fullscreen (open matte)
* DVD Production Date: September 2, 1997
* Region: All
* Layers: 1
* Audio Languages: English
* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish, French
* Extras: Cast & Crew Bios & Filmographies (Steve Guttenberg, Kim Cattrall, Bubba Smith, George Gaynes, G.W. Bailey, Neal Israel & Pat Proft, Hugh Wilson), "An Idea Hatched" two screens of text notes, "On Location" two screens of text notes, Trailers for all 7 Police Academy films.
* Notes: The back of the case incorrectly lists the format and extras from the 2004 "20th Anniversary Special Edition". The PA1 trailer is missing the narration, the first six trailers are 4:3 fullscreen, the last is 4:3 cropped letterbox.

POLICE ACADEMY 2: THEIR FIRST ASSIGNMENT
* Year: 1985
* Runtime: 1:27:00
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: January 15, 2004
* Region: 1, 4
* Layers: 1
* Audio Languages: English, French
* Subtitle Languages: English, French, Spanish
* Extras: "Accidental Heroes: The Best Of" Featurette, Theatrical Trailer.

POLICE ACADEMY 3: BACK IN TRAINING
* Year: 1986
* Runtime: 1:23:37
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: January 20, 2004
* Region: 1, 4
* Layers: 1
* Audio Languages: English, French
* Subtitle Languages: English, French, Spanish
* Extras: "All Washed Up: Floating Memories" Featurette, Theatrical Trailer.

POLICE ACADEMY 4: CITIZENS ON PATROL
* Year: 1987
* Runtime: 1:27:07
* Video Format: 4:3 Fullscreen
* DVD Production Date: January 23, 2004
* Region: 1, 4
* Layers: 1
* Audio Languages: English, French
* Subtitle Languages: English, French, Spanish
* Extras: "Remembering A Lofty Investigation" Featurette, Additional Scenes, Theatrical Trailer, Easter Egg.



If you buy this release and the 4 Film Favorites - Police Academy 1-4 Collection: 4 Film Favorites, you will essentially get the entire Police Academy - The Complete Collection box set for a fraction of the price - along with National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1 as a bonus movie (it's the fourth film on the Cop Comedy Collection). If you also buy the Police Academy - 20th Anniversary Special Edition, and slip that disc into the Police Academy 1-4 Collection case, you will truly complete the set.

POLICE ACADEMY 5: ASSIGNMENT MIAMI BEACH
* Year: 1988
* Runtime: 1:29:41
* Video Format: 4:3 Fullscreen
* DVD Production Date: January 23, 2004
* Region: 1, 4
* Layers: 1
* Audio Languages: English, French
* Subtitle Languages: English, French, Spanish
* Extras: "Mistaken Identity: Case Reopened" Featurette, Theatrical Trailer.

POLICE ACADEMY 6: CITY UNDER SEIGE
* Year: 1989
* Runtime: 1:23:47
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: January 19, 2004
* Region: 1, 4
* Layers: 1
* Audio Languages: English, French
* Subtitle Languages: English, French, Spanish
* Extras: "Unholy Alliance: A Retrospective" Featurette, Theatrical Trailer.

POLICE ACADEMY: MISSION TO MOSCOW
* Year: 1994
* Runtime: 1:22:33
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: January 21, 2004
* Region: 1, 4
* Layers: 1
* Audio Languages: English, French
* Subtitle Languages: English, French, Spanish
* Extras: "Underneath The Mission" Featurette, Theatrical Trailer.

NATIONAL LAMPOON'S LOADED WEAPON 1
* Year: 1993
* Runtime: 1:22:30
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen, 4:3 Fullscreen
* DVD Production Date: April 19, 2002
* Region: 1
* Layers: 2
* Audio Languages: English
* Subtitle Languages: English
* Extras: Theatrical Trailer, Cast/Crew Filmographies (Emilio Esteves, Samuel L. Jackson, Jon Lovitz, Tim Curry, Kathy Ireland, William Shatner, Gene Quintano). Trailers for "The Long Kiss Goodnight" and "Menace II Society" are hidden in the Samuel L. Jackson filmography.



THE MATRIX
* Year: 1999
* Runtime: 2:16:13
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: August 2, 1999
* Region: 1
* Layers: 2
* Audio Languages: English
* Subtitle Languages: English
* Extras: Commentary by Carrie-Anne Moss and visual effects supervisor John Gaeta and editor Zach Staenberg, Music-Only Track with Commentary by composer Don Davis, "Making The Matrix" Featurette, Cast & Crew Bios & Filmographies (Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano, Joel Silver, The Wachowski Brothers), "Follow the White Rabbit" Feature (giving access to 9 behind the scenes featurettes at various points in the movie), DVD-ROM Content.
* Easter Eggs: (1) The Red Pill on the bottom of the Special Features screen leads you to the "What Is Bullet Time?" featurette. (2) In the Wachowski Brothers section of Cast And Crew, there is another Red Pill, taking you to the "What Is The Concept?" featurette.

THE MATRIX RELOADED
* Year: 2003
* Runtime: 2:18:09
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: July 14, 2003
* Region: 1
* Layers: 2
* Audio Languages: English, French
* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish, French
* Extras: None
* Notes: This is actually Disc 1 from what was originally a two-disc set.

THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS
* Year: 2003
* Runtime: 2:09:06
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: February 2, 2004
* Region: 1
* Layers: 2
* Audio Languages: English, French
* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish, French
* Extras: Theatrical Trailer, "The Matrix" Teaser Trailer, "The Matrix Reloaded" Teaser Trailer, "The Animatrix" Teaser Trailer, DVD-ROM Content.
* Notes: This is actually Disc 1 from what was originally a two-disc set.

THE ANIMATRIX
* Year: 2003
* Runtime: 1:41:00
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: May 1, 2003
* Region: 1, 2, 3, 4
* Layers: 2
* Audio Languages: English, Japanese
* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish, French
* Extras: Commentary by director Yoshiaki Kawajiri on "Program" (in Japanese, with English subtitles), Commentary by director Mahiro Maeda on "The Second Renaissance Part 1" (in Japanese, with English subtitles), Commentary by director Mahiro Maeda on "The Second Renaissance Part 2" (in Japanese, with English subtitles), Commentary by director Takeshi Kokie on "World Record" (in Japanese, with English subtitles), "Making Final Flight Of The Osiris" Featurette, "Making The Second Renaissance Parts 1 And 2" Featurette, "Making Kid's Story And Detective Story" Featurette, "Making Program" Featurette, "Making World Record" Featurette, "Making Beyond" Featurette, "Making Matriculated" Featurette, "Scrolls To Screen: The History And Culture Of Anime" Featurette, "Enter The Matrix: In The Making" Video Game Featurette, Directors & Segment Producers Biographies (Peter Chung, Andy Jones, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Takeshi Koike, Mahiro Maeda, Koji Morimoto, Shinichiro Watanabe, Michael Arias, Hiroaki Takeuchi, Eiko Tanaka).



OCEAN'S 11
* Year: 1960
* Runtime: 2:07:17
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: September 10, 2001
* Region: 1
* Layers: 2
* Audio Languages: English, French
* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish, French
* Extras: Commentary by Frank Sinatra Jr. and Angie Dickinson, Interactive Las Vegas Then and Now Map Casino Vignettes, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Excerpt Featuring Guest Host Frank Sinatra and Angie Dickinson, Cast & Crew Filmographies (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, Angie Dickinson), 2 Theatrical Trailers.
* Easter Eggs: (1) On the Special Features menu, press LEFT to highlight a poker chip on the pile. Press Enter to view a clip about the Las Vegas Gambling Museum. (2) On the "Map Of Vegas" menu, watch The Sands casino video. After viewing the video, select it again to see a different video showing the implosion of the casino in November 1996.

OCEAN'S ELEVEN
* Year: 2001
* Runtime: 1:56:27
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: March 7, 2002
* Region: 1
* Layers: 2
* Audio Languages: English, French
* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish, French
* Extras: Commentary by Matt Damon and Andy Garcia and Brad Pitt, Commentary by director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Ted Griffin, "The Making Of Ocean's Eleven" Featurette, "The Look Of The Con" Featurette, Cast Filmographies (George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts), 3 Theatrical Trailers, "Are You In Or Out?" DVD-ROM Game.

OCEAN'S TWELVE
* Year: 2004
* Runtime: 2:05:10
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: February 8, 2005
* Region: 1
* Layers: 2
* Audio Languages: English
* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish, French
* Extras: Theatrical Trailer.

OCEAN'S THIRTEEN
* Year: 2007
* Runtime: 2:01:59
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: August 29, 2007
* Region: 1
* Layers: 2
* Audio Languages: English, Spanish, French
* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish, French
* Extras: Additional Scenes, "Vegas: An Opulent Illusion" Featurette, "Jerry Weintraub Walk And Talk: The Producer Takes Us On A Casino Set Tour" Featurette.



SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE
* Year: 1978
* Runtime: 2:22:57
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: December 5, 2006
* Region: 1, 2, 3, 4
* Layers: 2
* Audio Languages: English, French
* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish, French
* Extras: Commentary by executive producer Ilya Salkind and producer Pierre Spengler, Teaser Trailer, Theatrical Trailer, TV Spot.
* Notes: This is actually Disc 1 from what was originally a four-disc set. This is the PG-Rated Theatrical cut of the film (an Extended cut also exists).

SUPERMAN II
* Year: 1980
* Runtime: 2:07:20
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: August 1, 2006
* Region: 1, 2, 3, 4
* Layers: 2
* Audio Languages: English, French
* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish, French
* Extras: Commentary by executive producer Ilya Salkind and producer Pierre Spengler, "Superman's Souffle" Deleted Scene, Theatrical Trailer.
* Notes: This is actually Disc 1 from what was originally a two-disc set. This is the PG-Rated Theatrical cut of the film (a "Richard Donner Cut" also exists).

SUPERMAN III
* Year: 1983
* Runtime: 2:04:54
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: July 19, 2006
* Region: 1, 2, 3, 4
* Layers: 2
* Audio Languages: English, French
* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish, French
* Extras: Commentary by executive producer Ilya Salkind and producer Pierre Spengler, "The Making Of Superman III" Vintage TV Special, 11 Deleted Scenes, Theatrical Trailer.

SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE
* Year: 1987
* Runtime: 1:29:42
* Video Format: 16:9 Widescreen
* DVD Production Date: July 25, 2006
* Region: 1, 2, 3, 4
* Layers: 2
* Audio Languages: English, French
* Subtitle Languages: English, Spanish, French
* Extras: Commentary by screenwriter Mark Rosenthal, 15 Deleted Scenes, Theatrical Trailer.

That is all.