The Drive-In Movie. How many of you remember the days when you could pile up in the car with your friends and go to the Drive-In to see movies in the great outdoors? Most often it was a double feature, and they’d usually show the first movie a second time later in the evening. Heck, I even remember going to a Drive-In to see all five “Planet of the Apes” movies. Got there at 6:00 pm and didn’t leave until almost 6:00 am. As the years progressed, and kid became unruly to the point of dangerous, Drive-Ins became a place to go if you wanted to get shot by some brainless gang member (as if there is any other kind). Eventually, the Drive-In all but died out. I will always long for the day of its return. In the meantime, the creative folks at Elite Entertainment have decided if we can longer go to the Drive-In, they’ll bring the Drive-In to us. Last year they debuted a new series called the “Drive-In Discs.”

On these discs, you’ll find a terrifically bad double feature of films, complete with all the trimmings. They include cartoons, countdown clocks, concession stand ads, and even an intermission. But as if that wasn’t all, Elite decided they wanted to make the Drive-In experience even more realistic with the creation of the most advanced sound technology ever derived for the DVD market. Distorto Sound!

That’s right, Distorto Sound is offered on a secondary track for those who wish to enhance their Drive-In experience. Distorto Sound delivers the soundtrack of the film to only the front left speaker of your stereo system. It’s the next best thing to hanging one of those metal speakers on your window. Of course, the fun doesn’t stop there. Distorto Sound also sends occasional ‘sounds of the Drive-In’ to your other speakers, giving you the sensation that you are really there. But if you REALLY want the full experience, I found it fun to actually watch the DVD in your car, if you have the ability to do so.

Currently Elite has released their third disc in the set. It includes the 1960s films “I Bury The Living” (‘Out of a Time-Rotted Tomb Crawls an Unspeakable Horror…’) and “The Hand” (‘From War Torn Burma to the Asphalt Jungles of the Big City – His Revenge was The Crime of the Century…’). Neither of these movies were Academy Award winners, but both are perfectly suited for a night of popcorn and mosquitoes at the Drive-In.

Specifications: Widescreen (1.85:1) Enhanced for 16x9 Televisions
Studio: Elite Entertainment
Release Date: 8/19/2003
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Drive In - Volume 3 an A.