Rating: 
Summary: Has it's ups and downs but triumphs in the end
Review: This film started out OK but not as funny as the reviews seem to have made out, but once it got going, had some good jokes, well-written storylines and lovable characters. It's quality dips here and then but in the end it's a feel-good bringing an interesting perspective to the moon landing.
Rating: 
Summary: The story behind the movie is better than the movie
Review: Sam Neill does a wonderful job in this funny comedy about NASA and a small Australian town with "The Dish". The directors seriously overplayed the tension in the movie, if Apollo 13 irked you by over playing the storm then this movie will do the same.I liked the movie but some of the making of the film (not on the DVD, I caught it on a NPR interview) is just as amusing as the film itself. They had to buy a bunch of old looking tech equipment and the stuff they dug out of closets turns out to be the original NASA equipment that they never ditched.
Rating:
Summary: Need to watch through the first part
Review: Or at least I did. The old man bit left me cold, although by the end I saw why it was set up that way (among other things I hated the old man makeup--should memorize the person who did it's name so as to avoid her in the future). Didn't much care for the first bits with cutesy overplayed and overbearing small town yokels. A good many of whom turn out to be neither cutesy nor yokels in the later parts. But by the time it really gets going, I was hooked.
Rating: 
Summary: wonderful movie
Review: I watched this movie with my 6 and 9 year old sons, and we all enjoyed it. I'm disappointed to learn that it departed from the actual events in a variety of ways. However, it it was still fun to watch and had some serious ideas and a bit of the truth about real science and space missions. It's hard to find movies like that which are suitable for kids. I'd like to read the real story; a site which was critical of the movie recommends the following book: Tracking Apollo to the Moon by Hamish Lindsay.
Rating:
Summary: Hey America, Time To Feel Good Again
Review: At times, we as Americans forget about some of our greatest heritage. We forget that at times the world has looked in awe and shared in our successes. "The Dish" is a story about one of those times. A family oriented - Australian placed- dromedy (drama-comedy) that reminds us of a time when people around the world were proud as human beings. That pride was given to the world from the United States. Placed in Parkes Australia, in the middle of a sheep paddock, stands a 240 foot in diameter radio telescope. It was through this antenna alone that you and I were able to watch mans first steps on the moon. "The Dish" will renew your spirit and feelings of exhilaration experienced while watching mans first steps on the moon. The movie reaches into that hard to get, lost place in your heart by allowing us to see the moon landing from another perspective; The Pride of Parkes Australia. For one priceless moment, all the people of this planet were truly one......Wouldn't it be nice to feel that way again today? Do yourself a favor, watch "The Dish" and find that deep rooted American - Human Pride. Sincerely Jim
Rating:
Summary: Could have been better...
Review: The Dish was a good movie, however it did need some improvements. It's a fact based story on Armstrong's moonwalk. The movie was overall good and made us realize what a remarkable acheivement in technology that was. The characters tried to be funny - without much luck, in my opinion. The story was too simple. It needed some other conflicts in the background. I thought it was good, but was a bit of a disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: great movie
Review: i am a graduate student studying astrophysics, and i see pretty much any space movie that comes out. i saw this with several colleagues from NASA Goddard, and we all agreed that this really was a fantastic movie. i don't know why it didn't get more acclaim in the US because it really is first rate. the acting is good. the character development is good. the camera work is good. the story line is good (and factual). i can't say enough good things about this movie. ranks right up there with the right stuff, Apollo 13, and contact.
Rating:
Summary: At a lowpoint for the World recalls a highpoint
Review: ... "The Dish" recalls a moment in history where the World viewed, on television, a triumph of mankind. It humorously tells the story (embellished, but who cares) of how the television pictures of mans' first steps on the moon were captured by a Radio Telescope in Australia. The comic aspects of the movie center on the culture clash between the sarcastic, laid back Australians, and the efficient, goal oriented American NASA guy.
However, the true triumph of The Dish is how well the director captures the excitement, happiness and magic of the moon landing. As somebody too young to remember the actual event, the final sequences of the movie were truly emotional. The feeling was of a world united.
"We came in Peace for all Mankind" seems a wonderful sentiment in these troubled times.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful film celebrates role of engineers and scientists
Review: This true story captures the tribulations of running at the edge of science when a remote radio antenna crew in Australia find themselves playing a critical role in the first moon landing.
The films gentle humour and family themes will be enjoyed by any audience. However, anyone who has struggled behind the stage with complex technology in support of great public commitments will have a special appreciation for the scientists and engineers at the Parks Radio Telescope. In the background, all the excitement of the Apollo mission to the moon is relived in a way that I found true to my original experience. This is a truly enjoyable film.
Rating:
Summary: A charming movie
Review: If you can put the historical aspects of the movie aside then this film is just a hell of alot of fun. The characters are sweet and charming. The dialouge clever and witty, but I couldn't expect less from Rob stich. I have alot of respect for Sam Neill. He has a tendency to go back and do these smaller films which is a good thing. Which is more than can be said for Mel Gibson. The only one who thinks he is Australias favourite son is him. The Croc hunter is closer to that title and that in itself says alot.
The film is sweet, charming and all round good viewing. A few of the in Aussie jokes may go over peoples heads. But it is really worth a watch and good laughs.
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