Flatland the Film
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Movie Reviews of Flatland the Film
Movie Review: Don't get too comfortable in your own space!
Summary: 4 Stars
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.
Movie Review: An amusing update to Abbott's classic
Summary: 4 Stars
Just about all of the math nerds out there, not just the card-carrying mathematicians, have happy childhood memories of Edwin A. Abbott's "Flatland." As a result, this movie had an audience waiting for it the day it came out - and I'm in that audience.
The mathematical content of this movie is interesting and easily accessible to most viewers; Even young kids will get at least parts of it. It presents the idea of a two-dimensional world, whose citizens resemble paper cutouts living their lives on a table-top universe. It's truly 2D - you can't even lay one of the pancake people on top of another, they can only slide by each other in the plane. Although an interesting speculation in itself (any end-to-end digestive tract would split the creature in two - so how could it function biologically?), the two dimensions are just part of an analogy. By showing how two dimensions relate to our third, Abbott invites the reader to imagine how our three would relate to a fourth spatial dimension.
The imagery is entertaining - it has the feel of an amateur work, or maybe that of a pro making computer animations as a weekend hobby. The fact that half the credits share one surname makes it look like a family effort. Still, it's easy to get hold of enough computer power to do decent rendering these days, and the Ehrliners demonstrate the democratization of movie-making. Unfortunately, to make this movie popular and meaningful to a wide, modern audience, much of Abbott's original work suffered. Not just a math-themed story, it was also a critique of Victorian class-consciousness and gender politics. All that has been lost in making this kid-friendly version. The good news is that the pedantic and archaic tones were lost too, making this a bit easier to warm up to.
It's fun any way. And, as I said, it's kid-friendly. There's some war-like activity, but the characters are too geometrically abstract for their demise to feel like real violence. Go ahead. It's cute, harmless fun - and it might just stretch a small mind in new directions.
-- wiredweird
(PS: I've been corrected. One small viewer, age six or so, got very wrapped up in the characters. When one of the young geometric figures got hurt, it really upset her. You know your little one, so use your judgment.)
Movie Review: Flatland the Film
Summary: 4 Stars
We received the Flatland DVD in the mail on Friday, but we were anticipating to watch it the next evening. Since I was so anxious to see it and my daughter was already logged into her computer, I figured it couldn't hurt to get a sneak peek. So I slipped the DVD into her computer.
It turns out that the sneak peek became Family Movie Night. We all were hooked as we wound up watching the film in its entirety on my daughter's computer late Friday night instead of Saturday night as planned!
Ladd not only takes on the difficult task of bringing boring geometrical objects to life, but he also makes these objects very likable and a characterization we all can relate to.
Ladd makes it easy for the viewer to relate in that he makes "A square's" house" across the street from his brother "B square's" house. Also he shows their places of employment as well as detailed interactions with each member of their families. All of these make it very easy for viewers to relate.
We really felt sorry for "A square", especially at the end. (Don't want to give the ending away).
Also, I think "A Sphere" is a very strong character in the story and with that captivating accent makes this character that much more believable. His presence brings the story into a different dimension,..no pun intended. He makes "A Square's" transition into the world of 3D absolutely believable!
Overall the movie was fun for the entire family and I plan on watching it again when it hits the big screen!
Overall, If I had to describe it in two words.
I'd say:
Educationally captivating!
In addition, I would recommend Flatland to all!
Incidentally, I see a part 2 in the future! Flatland II-The Fourth Dimension!
Movie Review: Public School Teacher
Summary: 4 Stars
I read this book a few years ago and was thrilled to find it in film version. I teach math in a middle school and was looking for an age appropriate film that was engaging and wasn't made in the 1970's.
I looked at both versions of this movie that were released in 2007. Although Flatland the film ran a bit longer than I wanted to show in a classroom, I found that the animation was able to hold my students' attention. I was able to incorporate discussions about math, issues of differences, and war.
Besides loving the movie, Flatland the film came with a free license to show it in my classroom. Flatland the Movie, with all its big name voices, wanted to charge me $179 to show their 30 minute film in my classroom. Have you seen the state of public education these days? I need every penny to make sure that my students and I have the supplies we need to function on a daily basis. If I am lucky enough to have $179, I will be using it to buy paper and dry-erase markers.
Thank you, Flatland the Film.
Movie Review: Very Good - Almost Great
Summary: 4 Stars
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 just weird and that's what dropped it from 5 stars.
Amazingly several friends and family members were fairly interested in it - the social commentary of Abbot's piece came in fairly well early on. Many to most of the student's enjoyed it - a few, like anywhere, decided to sleep. One student was so intrigued she did a report on Edwin Abbot after seeing the film.
It's not Hollywood at it's best but overall the film is quite entertaining and unless you're one of those whom hates it for some reason you will definitely want to watch it twice to get some interesting nuances. The graphics is pretty good, just a weird ending where they got too carried away with the graphics and did some graphics stuff just because they could.