Rating: 
Summary: Classic Disney Fun
Review: This movie lacks the special effects of current movies, and it may be hard for today's youth to relate to it, but it's a lovely bit of nostalgia that has stood the test of time. I was born more than 20 years after this movie was made, but I take delight in Fred MacMurray, who always puts his heart into a performance, but does a particularly nice job here as Professor Ned Brainard. He portrays the role spledidly and brings enthusiasm and inoccence to the character.
You can also find stellar performances from the supporting cast. Disney has always had a nack for establishing minor characters so that you get sucked into their world, and all of these people become real.
When watching this movie you have to take into consideration the era it was made in, and the limits they had to work with, if you go into it looking for special effects you will be sorely dissapointed. Instead watch it with a certain degree of imagination at the ready, and have fun rooting for Professor Brainard as he tries to win back his lady-love and displaying his true American Patriotism, and still finding time to outsmart the villains. The rivalry between Ned and Shelby Ashton is highly entertaining, and you'll laugh out loud when watching Alonzo Hawk get his come-upance.
I never had the opportunity to see the black and white version, but I think it would be the better alternative. The colorization in this VHS version is rather obvious and somewhat distracting, but it doesn't detract from the content of the movie itself, and the film is still highly enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Disney Fun
Review: This movie lacks the special effects of current movies, and it may be hard for today's youth to relate to it, but it's a lovely bit of nostalgia that has stood the test of time. I was born more than 20 years after this movie was made, but I take delight in Fred MacMurray, who always puts his heart into a performance, but does a particularly nice job here as Professor Ned Brainard. He portrays the role spledidly and brings enthusiasm and inoccence to the character.
You can also find stellar performances from the supporting cast. Disney has always had a nack for establishing minor characters so that you get sucked into their world, and all of these people become real.
When watching this movie you have to take into consideration the era it was made in, and the limits they had to work with, if you go into it looking for special effects you will be sorely dissapointed. Instead watch it with a certain degree of imagination at the ready, and have fun rooting for Professor Brainard as he tries to win back his lady-love and displaying his true American Patriotism, and still finding time to outsmart the villains. The rivalry between Ned and Shelby Ashton is highly entertaining, and you'll laugh out loud when watching Alonzo Hawk get his come-upance.
I never had the opportunity to see the black and white version, but I think it would be the better alternative. The colorization in this VHS version is rather obvious and somewhat distracting, but it doesn't detract from the content of the movie itself, and the film is still highly enjoyable.
Rating: 
Summary: A Disney Classic of High-Flying Fun!
Review: Walt Disney's 1961 live-action comedy "The Absent-Minded Professor" gets the DVD treatment and although the film itself is a gem, the DVD producers were a little "absent-minded" in their execution. To be true to its original theatrical presentation the film needs to be presented in widescreen format and in its original hues of glorious black and white. Disney Home Video needs to discover a happy balance between targeting the general "kid" audience and the mature film fans. The recent "Back to the Future" DVD accomplishes this task beautifully - - without insulting either audience. It seems to me that Disney doesn't have a great deal of respect for many of its classic live-action films when it comes to DVD. Although "Pollyanna," Swiss Family Robinson" and "The Parent Trap" received very nice treatments, "Babes in Toyland" and "Blackbeard's Ghost" were just downright slapped-together and thrown on the shelf (why wasn't "Babes in Toyland" presented in widescreen and stereo?) So, par for the course, there are no extras whatsoever on the DVD version of "The Absent-Minded Professor," which is a shame. Disney has plenty of material in the vaults to give this film at least a moderate special treatment. Granted, it's not a masterpiece like "Mary Poppins," but it's at least deserving of equal DVD treatment to modern films like "The Santa Clause" and "The Rookie." Aside from that, stick any fun-loving child or nostalgic baby-boomer in front of this film and they will be thoroughly entertained. The casting is perfect, the effects still hold-up and the script is charming. For any faults this film might have, it is still far superior to ill-fated and very un-funny "Flubber," starring Robin Williams.
Rating:
Summary: A Disney Classic of High-Flying Fun!
Review: Walt Disney's 1961 live-action comedy "The Absent-Minded Professor" gets the DVD treatment and although the film itself is a gem, the DVD producers were a little "absent-minded" in their execution. To be true to its original theatrical presentation the film needs to be presented in widescreen format and in its original hues of glorious black and white. Disney Home Video needs to discover a happy balance between targeting the general "kid" audience and the mature film fans. The recent "Back to the Future" DVD accomplishes this task beautifully - - without insulting either audience. It seems to me that Disney doesn't have a great deal of respect for many of its classic live-action films when it comes to DVD. Although "Pollyanna," Swiss Family Robinson" and "The Parent Trap" received very nice treatments, "Babes in Toyland" and "Blackbeard's Ghost" were just downright slapped-together and thrown on the shelf (why wasn't "Babes in Toyland" presented in widescreen and stereo?) So, par for the course, there are no extras whatsoever on the DVD version of "The Absent-Minded Professor," which is a shame. Disney has plenty of material in the vaults to give this film at least a moderate special treatment. Granted, it's not a masterpiece like "Mary Poppins," but it's at least deserving of equal DVD treatment to modern films like "The Santa Clause" and "The Rookie." Aside from that, stick any fun-loving child or nostalgic baby-boomer in front of this film and they will be thoroughly entertained. The casting is perfect, the effects still hold-up and the script is charming. For any faults this film might have, it is still far superior to ill-fated and very un-funny "Flubber," starring Robin Williams.
Rating: 
Summary: great movie, lousy DVD
Review: WHat a wonderful movie. THis movie was the forst of Disney's over the top family slapstick comedies, and it was a raving success. Filmed in glorious black andwhite, it is the original Flubber story. The sequel to this movie is "Son of FLubber", also good fun. Thjis movie has hilarious antics, crazy stunts, and it is good clean fun for kids and adults. I reccommend you buy this in the vhs version.
Too bad the DVD version is ruined since they artificially added color to the film, and made it fullscreen instead of Widescreen. Come on Disney, how do you take such a great movie and dump it like a piece of Junk. The lack of widescreen or quality sound is really sad for a company that makes more money than any other at re-releasing it's old material.
Also no extras? Not even some outakes, gallery stuff, theatrical trailers, cartoons. I refuse to buy any of the new disney DVD if they are not in widescreen, and tons of people I know from disney clubs and message boards feel the same way. If you want to see a disney classic film treated right on DVD, try the "Vault Disney Collection" DVD's on sale at Amazon, they are practically perfect in every way.
Rating:
Summary: Why did they Colorize this movie ?
Review: When I started watching this movie I was struck by the number of people who had beautiful blue eyes and then I realized it wasn't real. There really aren't that many people with beautiful blue eyes without being colorized. This film won a academy award for black and white cinematography. Oh well, it's been colorized now. It's a shame.
Rating:
Summary: A Milestone In Film Making
Review: When this film was made in 1961, a material almost identical to Flubber was being developed by NASA for the Gemini Space Program. To avoid a threat to our national security, the release of "The Absent-Minded Professor" was delayed for six months until Walt Disney agreed to delete two scenes showing Fred MacMurray discussing its applications and uses. The missing scenes have been restored in magnificent color, and the movie seems to have a better flow than the theatrical version.
Rating: 
Summary: 1 Star for this version 5 Star for the memories
Review: Why do they still do it? Colorize movies that is. I remembered this movie from my childhood days and loved it ever since. Occasionally seeing it on TV still gives me pleasure. I bought the DVD and only after getting it home I found out it has been colourized. It went back to the store for a refund immediately mainly for that reason. Another minor reason it is not widescreen. Poor judgement on Disney's part. I refuse to buy anything colourized. What would you do if they colourized "It's a Wonderful Life or High Noon or Psycho" Would you watch it? No one in their right mind would.
Rating:
Summary: 1 Star for this version 5 Star for the memories
Review: Why do they still do it? Colourize movies that is. I remembered this movie from my childhood days and loved it ever since. Occasionally seeing it on TV still gives me pleasure. I bought the DVD and only after getting it home I found out it has been colourized. It went back to the store for a refund immediately mainly for that reason. Another minor reason, it is not widescreen. Poor judgement on Disney's part. I refuse to buy anything colourized. What would you do if they colourized "It's a Wonderful Life or High Noon or Psycho" Would you watch it? No one in their right mind would.
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