Police Academy 1-4 Collection: 4 Film Favorites

Years ago I used to own the Police Academy box set but had to sell the darn thing as I was a broke college student (those were sad years). The Police Academy films were never art but I enjoyed them for what they were - dumb comedies with fun characters. Now I am happy again because Warner Bros re-released the Police Academy films in 2 separate value packs (The first four are available in this collection called "4 Film Favorites: Police Academy 1-4 Collection" and the last three are in the set "4 Film Favorites: Cop Comedy Collection" packaged with Loaded Weapon 1). The packaging of these value packs isn't nearly as cool as the original releases (despite the dreaded snap cases) but overall the price for these collections is unbeatable.

All four films are presented on 2 double sided discs. I don't like double sided discs as they are easy to damage but then again the price makes me forgive this. Be warned though as the top of the second disc can come with some scuffs because the drawer the first disc sits on rubs against the top of the second disc.

Warner Bros did screw up on the details on the back. The back states that Police Academy 1 is in 16X9 widescreen and is loaded with special features - the same as the special edition release. This is not true. The edition they used for this DVD set is the original out-of-print full screen edition. This didn't upset me too bad because some of the sequels are also only available in full screen...however this screw up could make a lot of buyers mad. You have been warned. This isn't the first time Warner has screwed up on the details on the cover art. The Dirty Dozen/Kelly's Heroes double feature proclaimed Dirty Dozen was anamorphic. It wasn't. The 4 Film Favorites: Martial Arts release proclaimed the films were full screen and on double sided discs. They were actually widescreen and on single sided discs (for once a mistake in the favor of the purchaser!). For people who need to know Parts 2 and 3 are anamorphic widescreen and Part 4 is Full Screen.

There you go, Police Academy 1 ISN'T widescreen as proclaimed on the box and the discs are double sided....but for the price one can't beat this collection. Make sure you pick up the second set to complete the series!

Below is a review of this product: 4 Film Favorites - Police Academy 1-4 Collection. Amazon may display this review on the page of another version of this product, for which this review may not apply. After reading this review, please click on the link so that you can be assured that the product this review applies to is the same one you thought it was for.
--------------------------------------------------

### ABOUT THE 4 FILM FAVORITES SERIES ###

Warner Brothers/New Line's "4 Film Favorites" is a line 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. 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.

### ABOUT THE POLICE ACADEMY 1-4 COLLECTION ###

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.

The first two reviews are correct: the version of the first film is the out of print fullscreen edition without the extras. However, the rest are the same as the released versions, along with Police Academy 4 still being (bafflingly so) a fullscreen version.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 16 reviews  3.9 out of 5 stars