Rating: 
Summary: NOT above the heads of American audiences...
Review: First of all, this is a great film! The characters are delightful, and the story very well told. Its nice to see the human side of Apollo saga presented in such a touching way.Other reviewers have stated that the humour is too subtle for American audiences-- not true! The audience laughed through most of the movie when I went to see it this past weekend (in Denver, Colorado). Don't let the other reviewers scare you off-- go see this movie immediately. You won't be sorry!
Rating:
Summary: A Yank who loves "The Dish"
Review: I just returned from a vacation in Australia, and the hardest thing about leaving was knowing this movie wasn't available on DVD for the US market yet. I saw this twice while I was there. "The Dish" is a heartwarming story about a small Aussie town's moment of glory. Their radio telescope, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere yet curiously placed in this rural location in the middle of a sheep ranch, becomes the prime communications receiver for Apollo 11 while the moon is on their side of the world. Americans will certainly recognize Sam Neill, playing someone with an accent closer to his own, and Patrick Warburton. But I'm not trying to downplay the great performances of the actors currently only known down under. The movie has some great laughs and great characters. Anyone with half a mind for technical things and a little sense of humor should love this movie. If you have ever consoled yourself in an at-work disaster by telling yourself "hey, this isn't rocket science", you'll appreciate the scope staff's reaction to some "technical difficulties" encountered while trying to keep Apollo 11's radio transmissions going. In order to save the plot details for the viewing, I'll have to suffice it to say that the Aussies were a little too proud to say "Houston, we have a problem." But no worries, it all worked out in the end. Americans may have some trouble understanding the Aussie accents and slang, but that's what the captions are for, right? The sound track is full of great sixties tunes. The movie also brings back great memories to those old enough to remember where they were when the Apollo astronauts first walked on the moon.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent movie from down under
Review: I had a chance to see this movie when I was in Australia over Christmas and would highly recommend it to anybody who likes well-crafted movies. The Dish is fact-based account of the events surrounding Neil Armstrong's historic moonwalk from the perspective of the scientists at the Parkes Radio Telescope (used to relay much of the first moonwalk to the rest of the Earth) and the town of Parkes itself. While some dramatic license was taken with the truth, the movie tells a lovely story that is at once touching, funny, quirky (in a good way) and suspenseful. Although US audiences will likely only recognize Sam Neill and Patrick Warburton, first-rate performances appear throughout the movie. It is apparently being marketed in the US as a comedy, but I don't know if that's an accurate portrayal; the characters were kind of quirky but they also had multiple dimensions, unlike a lot of US comedies - the movie could be seen as a drama as well (the movie poster at the theater in Sydney was much more understated than the US version - I personally think that the promotion in the US doesn't do the film justice). The soundtrack is first rate as well. I was told by a couple of Aussies that those who like "The Castle" (another movie by Rob Sitch) will definitely like "The Dish". In short, I paid to see the movie in a theater twice in Oz, and recommend it highly. At any rate, I'll definitely be buying the DVD when it comes out.
Rating:
Summary: A great film that complements Apollo 13 very nicely
Review: This is a film that will definitely appeal to Australian tastes, the humor is very subtle so it's certainly a film that will go over the heads of most American audiences. Essentially the film traces the events of the 1969 moon landing from the point of view of the Parkes Radar dish. It follows the experiences of the four main characters, one of which American audiences will recognise as Puddy from Sienfeld (Patrick Warburton), and the other being Sam Neill (from Jurassic Park). Don't go into this film expecting anything as tense or exciting as Apollo 13. Essentially it's a light comedy, with most of the laughs coming from the characters experiences. If you can accept that, it's an enjoyable film. NOTE: Since I live in Australia, this film has already been released on both video and DVD (as a Region 4 release).
Rating: 
Summary: Fictional Account of Aussie Support of Apollo 11
Review: While the movie is billed as based on "a true story," the producers totally fabricated their accounts of the Parkes radio telescope support of Apollo 11. After viewing "The Dish" one might think that Parkes was critical to the Moon landing mission. It was NOT!
The Parkes 210-foot antenna DID provide the best TV coverage of the Apollo 11 Moon walk. However, Parkes was not the only station in Australia to track Apollo 11. The primary support was provided by the Honeysuckle Creek Manned Space Flight station located in Canberra. Honeysuckle Creek handled the telemetry, command and voice communications with all Apollo spacecraft. Parkes was only used to provide slightly better TV coverage than obtainable with HSK's smaller 85-foot antenna.
Later, during Apollo 13, Parkes did play a very important role in recovering voice and telemetry data while the astronauts were stretching their battery life to safely return to Earth.
If one does not take this film for more than Aussie entertainment, it makes for a good 101 minutes of DVD enjoyment. Just keep in mind that it is FICTION.
Bill Wood
Retired Apollo Tracking Systems Engineer
Rating:
Summary: one of my favorites!
Review: This has to be one of my favorite movies of all time. It seems like no matter how many times I watch it, it never loses its magic.
It's the true story of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission to land a man on the moon, but it's the story that most people never knew about. The moon landing is to be broadcast on television, but the only satellite dish in the southern hemisphere that's poweful enough to transmit and recieve the signals happens to be in the tiny town of Parkes, Australia.
It's the characters, however, and not so much the story, that make up the richness and humor of the movie. From the self-important mayor of Parkes, to the calm and collected American sent by NASA, to the bumbling security guard, everyone is hilarious. All of the actors were very gifted, as well.
Perhaps the only problem with this movie is that, not being Australian myself, I couldn't always understand some of the accents. Other than that, the movie was great, especially when you consider that it's a true story.
Rating: 
Summary: Two Thumbs Up From Down Under, Based On A True Story
Review: Apollo 11's astronauts will walk on the moon. The 1000-ton satellite dish in Parkes, Australia is designated as the receiving dish for the walk on the moon. The movie is the story of the drama as the Aussie's crew get ready for that magic moment when they will be televising the event around the world. Right before the big event the dish flatlines. It is touch and go for awhile.
Rating:
Summary: A classy Australian movie!
Review: This is a beautifully made movie.
It's humble, and it's triumphant.
Loosely based on the goings on at The Parkes Radio Telescope in NSW's Central West during the days leading up to the launch of Apollo 11, and man's first steps on the moon.
It stars Sam Neill (Jurassic Park, Dirty Deeds) as the director of operations at the telescope, and Patrick Warburton (TV's Seinfeld & The Tick, Men in Black II) as the last guy from NASA left to overview Australia's part of the radio transmissions.
There are a bunch of other characters in key roles played by actors familiar to Australians, but no one really as notable as the previous two mentioned.
This is directed by Rob Sitch who also directed "The Castle" which is another classic Australian movie, but nowhere near as classy as this one.
If you are looking for other great Australian titles, check out THE CASTLE (recommended by Rob Schneider & Adam Sandler! - Michael Caton was in "The Animal), LANTANA & DIRTY DEEDS.
Anyway, back to this one.
The actors do an excellent job making each character believable, the story is well written and well paced, and the photography is beautiful.
The soundtrack by Edmund Choi, and performed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is wonderfully in synch with the images, as well as a collection of 60's rock music that puts you right in the "time frame" of mind, including 2 songs by 60's Australian artist Russell Morris featured in the opening montage ("The Real Thing") and in the closing credits ("On the Wings of an Eagle").
I think the soundtrack is available on Amazon.com too, so if you enjoy the movie, you might want to have a look at that as well.
The Parkes Radio Telescope is located in the middle of some beautiful scenery, and it just looks fantastic on the screen.
I've been out to "The Dish" several times as I have family that now live in Parkes, and it is as beautiful out there in real life, as it looks on screen.
It's worth a visit too, but unlike they mention in the movie, you can't go for guided tours through the turrent, and walk on the Dish's surface.
I can't say enough about this movie, you will love it, click the button to place your order now!!!...
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic! Was rolling on the floor laughing!
Review: This movie is hilariously funny... BUT A WORD OF WARNING: we Australians are stange creatures. This is NOT American humour (EG: Seinfeld or the like...). Australian humour is much more clever and subtle... some of the other reviewers were puzzled because they loved it but didn't think it was funny... It is very funny i promise you... You just might not get it... (but it is still very much worth a try!!)
Invite an Australian friend over to watch it with you... He/she will love it!!!
Rating:
Summary: A Gem From Down Under
Review: I love this movie. The story is about a small town in Australia that supplies sattelite transmissions for the first moon landing in 1969. The movie involves the citizens of this town and how they try to maintain their normal routine while cognitive of the events that have descended on them. There is not a mean bone in this movie's body. It loves the people in this town and does not condescend to them one bit. A high point is a comic vignette involving a reception for the American ambassador where the local high school band is asked to perform the American national anthem. They don't know it so they break into the theme from "Hawaii Five-O".
| 
