2 'classics' on DVD; 'Bug's Life' is reissued

A couple of Disney classics . . . "classics" being a relative term . . . have been issued on DVD for the first time, and a reissue of a Disney/Pixar collaboration benefits from the double-disc "special-edition" treatment.

"The Love Bug" (Disney, 1969, G, $29.99, 2 discs). I had never sat through "The Love Bug" in its entirety before; I had only seen snippets when my children watched it oh so many moons ago.

In fact, one of my adult sons was visiting last week, saw the "Love Bug" box on my TV and said, "Oh man, I haven't seen 'The Love Bug' in years!" And he probably won't again until he has children of his own.

Although "The Love Bug" may not hold up well against the "Matrix" or "Terminator" films in this high-tech modern society of ours, it does have something in common with them: it's a story of machinery developing a life — and mind — of its own.

In this case, as it is named by Buddy Hackett, it's "Herbie," a Volkswagen Beetle that becomes an unlikely racing champ for driver Dean Jones and his mechanic-girlfriend Michele Lee. At least, Herbie's a winner when he's not being sabotaged by the villain and Lee's former employer, David Tomlinson.

All of this is broadly played, with silly slapstick and over-the-top shouting matches and lots of car chases. In other words, it's for very young children — and they'll probably enjoy it, despite any "Pokemon"-style distractions.

Which begs the question, why was "The Love Bug" given the two-disc treatment, with so many extras (including an audio commentary)?

Who makes these decisions? "The Absent-Minded Professor" is released in a poorly colorized, bad pan-and-scan version, and "The Love Bug" gets all this? The mind boggles.

Oh, well. At least it's not in a box set with all three sequels! But I can see that marketing opportunity on the horizon.

Extras: Widescreen, cartoon: "Susie the Little Blue Coupe," audio commentary (with Jones, Lee and Hackett), making-of documentaries, promotional films, deleted scenes, trailers, etc.