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Flatland the Film
 
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Flatland the Film

Starring: Greg Trent, Chris Carter Director: Ladd P. Ehlinger Jr, Ladd Ehlinger Jr Format: DVD
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)


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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Flatland the Film
46% buy the item featured on this page:
Flatland the Film 4.1 out of 5 stars (44)
Flatland: The Movie
24% buy
Flatland: The Movie 4.0 out of 5 stars (20)
$35.99
Donald in Mathmagic Land
9% buy
Donald in Mathmagic Land 4.9 out of 5 stars (10)
$10.99

Product Details

  • Actors: Greg Trent, Chris Carter, Linda Meigs, Ashley Blackwell, Mark Slater
  • Directors: Ladd P. Ehlinger Jr, Ladd Ehlinger Jr
  • Producers: Karen Guelfo
  • Format: NTSC, Widescreen, DVD-ROM, Limited Edition, Full length
  • Language: English
  • Region: All Regions
  • Run Time: 98 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000NJ60FM
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #19,377 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Ladd Ehlinger Jr.s feature length animated adaptation of Edwin Abbott's 1884 "Flatland." Screenwriter: Tom Whalen. Composer: Mark Slater. DVD-R Format. With penetrating satire, Flatland the Film takes us on a mind-expanding dimensional journey through an animated adaptation of Abbots 19th century novel. A Square, Attorney-at-Law, inhabits a world that is flat and two-dimensional. Together with his wife Frau A Square, he tries to raise his children -5 pentagons and A Hexagon- as best he can in a rigid society governed by tyrannical triangles and pompous priest circles. It is three days until the much anticipated year 3000 in the Southern Republic of Flatland and A Square has a job to do. He must meet with his latest client, A Line, the first female Flatlander to be arrested for the taboo practice of Chromatism - the act of coloring ones sides in order to resemble a higher class of geometrical figure. During this meeting an entire rebellion of Chromatists is launched, and A Square must shield his family from the horrors of urban Flatlander war. Within this turmoil, a mysterious visitor from the third dimension arrives: A Sphere, CEO of Messiah, Inc. Flatlanders, according to A Sphere, must learn that there is another dimension called height. A Square must spread the word as his Apostle of the Three Dimensions. But having been flat his entire life, A Square is unable to comprehend these three dimensions. Out of desperation, A Sphere pulls A Square out of Flatland altogether to show him the true nature of Spaceland, and the universe. And in so doing, he risks the very fabric of space-time itself, potentially destroying all of creation. Will A Square make it home to Flatland? Will he be able to understand the Third Dimension? Will he be able to spread the gospel of the Third Dimension to his fellow Flatlanders - or will he be executed for blasphemy? The answers to these questions and more are to be found in Flatland the Film!

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Customer Reviews

44 Reviews
5 star:
 (26)
4 star:
 (7)
3 star:
 (3)
2 star:
 (5)
1 star:
 (3)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (44 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
52 of 57 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Don't get too comfortable in your own space!, March 7, 2007
Literally. Flatland by Edwin Abbott Abbott was a little gem of a book which could not be pigeon-holed into a specific genre over a hundred and fifty years ago and as a result ended up on Science Fiction shelves. Combining Geometry and Philosophy (and even Religion), it was an allegory on the human condition, describing a very rigidly-structured Society where square pegs aspired to fit through round holes.

The plot focuses on A. Square, who is led to a series of epiphanies on the Nature of Reality itself to the realization that not only is there an existence beyond his two-dimensional plane in the form of a 3-dimensional universe, but that further dimensions are implied. He learns that appearances are not necessarily all they seem.

Difficult to conceptualize in its reading, Llad Ehlinger, Jr. has managed to graphically express this evolution of the mind. Despite these worlds being populated exclusively by geometric shapes, we are drawn into the story and feel A. Square's transformation as though it were our own, which it hopes to be. Flatland itself is appropiately extremely two-dimensional, yet has endearing qualities. From our hero's perspective, he is at first confused, then exhilarated as he is lifted into the three-dimensional world. We are taken along for the dizzying ride. This is only the beginning for A. Square, who then postulates other worlds with both less and more dimensions. Ehlinger has a sequence which can only be an homage to 2001: A Space Odyssey as multi-dimensionality is explored.

As if this were not a big enough task to tackle, Ehlinger expands the storyline by applying some of the original concepts of Governments to their logical path to War. Flatland, both the book and the movie, can be appreciated at many levels. By adding an extra layer, Ehlinger has actually simplified the book.

I enjoyed this movie. It is mind-bending and thought-provoking, with a graphic element integral to its message. A potentially too-heavy treatise is lightened by very humorous details, such as the warbled battle cries of female lines in Flatland, who need to both sway and make noise at all times in order to be seen when not approached from their sides, so as not to pierce unobservant polygons! There is more than meets the eye to this unusual independently filmed and marketed movie. One viewing may not be enough.
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21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Twist on an Old Story, April 27, 2007
By Michael Plytage (East Stroudsburg, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
The Author took the story the book by Abbott and wrote a compelling more modern story. It was a great movie, from what I understand the author made this movie pretty much on his own. You need to expect that this film is completely computer generated, don't expect super Hollywood special effects, but even the animation was top notch. One thing I was a little worried about was voice acting, with this type of film that can tend to be lousy, not the case here, voice acting was also top notch. Nothing but good things to say about the picture.

Being a math teacher, I was really looking forward to getting this movie to show to my History of Math students. It's probably not a good fit considering some of the subject matter is a bit mature for the classroom, but I think the author took Abbott's sexism that is more present in the book and softened the edges. Also, the class system that was so prevalent in the book isn't there as well. To some this might quite a departure from the novel but it's really done quite well, and dare I say maybe even a better story.

There is a bit of social commentary in the undertones of the story, and that is what really gives the film that 5th star. It's not just a movie us math geeks will love, but I think others would like it as well, with maybe a little background information.
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32 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't B-Squared, May 6, 2007
By D. Russow (Yuma, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
It has been years since I read Abbott's book, but, being a math teacher, I always bring it up in class. A friend just finished reading the book and gave me her copy since mine was loaned years ago and not returned. So when I bought this DVD, I expected to see the Abbott story, but was I surprised. This is not the same story as in the Abbott book. There is a great story line here and the viewer still gets educated on geometry and dimension. The animation is excellent and I even enjoyed the sound on my surround system. Of course, the story makes more sense if you have read the book. Women have a little more respect and are considered thin rectangles, rather than lines. But you still have to watch yourself around them! Very enjoyable movie!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Go with the book
I remember reading Flatland as a kid and I thought it was cool to think about all the different dimensions. I was excited to see that someone undertook to film it. Read more
Published 2 months ago by D. L. Core

2.0 out of 5 stars As disappointing as the Movie
Like Flatland the Movie, the Film is also disappointing. It is not as slick as the Movie; it is more experimental and less conservative. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Grant Cairns

1.0 out of 5 stars Oh my - don't waste your money
OK, I liked the book and I enjoyed the other version of (Flatland:the movie) - but this one (the film) was just too strange. Read more
Published 10 months ago by TWP

5.0 out of 5 stars Flatland the Film
Flatland the Film Excellent Film! Way better than the higher priced Flatland: The Movie which is way shorter in length, with a more crude story line.
Published 13 months ago by Blaine L. Bosserman

3.0 out of 5 stars Solid
This version of the tale tries the most to update the film to a modern audience, and that is its chief failing. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Cosmoetica

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent homage to Edwin Abbott Abott's classic!
This movie is an excellent homage to Edwin Abbott Abbott's classic masterpiece "Flatland."

When the mathematician Abbott wrote his book Flatland on the eve of the... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Steve Reina

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good - Almost Great
I have shown the film to several friends, family members and 2 classes of students. My wife and I really enjoyed it, although we thought the ending (last several minutes) was... Read more
Published 16 months ago by John P. Wright

4.0 out of 5 stars Two reviews in one
This review covers both versions of "Flatland" released in 2007, one by Ladd Ehlinger, Jr. with a mostly unknown voice cast, and the other by Jeffrey Travis with some Hollywood... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Bob Stout

2.0 out of 5 stars Brevity is the soul of wit.
I'm a mathematician by education, and I thoroughly enjoyed E. A. Abbott's book when I read it a couple of decades ago. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Daniel Brockman

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought-provoking... and funny at times
This is, undoubtedly, one of the most innovative and bizarre films I've seen lately, and I can tell you I see a few every week! Read more
Published 20 months ago by Francisco Martinez

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