The Dish
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Movie Reviews of The Dish
Movie Review: Wonderful movie! Highly recommended!
Summary: 5 Stars
Luckily this movie didn't turn out to be the "comedy" that it is billed as. The humor is very subtle and is just potrayed as a part of everyday life for these guys down under at "The Dish". For anyone who grew up in the 1960's with there eyes glued to the TV for every space shot this movie will certainly bring back the memories. Great music used in the background to set the mood. Maybe not 100% historically accurate, but it does get accross the riskiness of the entire chain of technology devoted to the lunar landings. The scenes and dialog in the dish control room during signal acquisition and tracking got the technological details right, which is always an area that most movies either screw up or blow way out of proportion. An example of this is when they try to acquire the video feed as early as possible as the moon is coming above the horizon. The moon is shown exactly where is should be, not at the horizon but considerably above it, and then the comment is made that the dish would be hitting concrete if it is positioned any lower, showing that the dish cannot physically point its axis at the horizon. A mention is then made to use the offset feed horn to skew the beam slighly lower. I just love it when they actually get this stuff right! As an aerospace engineer who devoted my life to this type of work due in a large part to the space program, I can highly recommend this movie!Movie Review: The Dish: 'Charming Adventure'
Summary: 5 Stars
If you don't appreciate subtle humor and require that you must be 'hit over the head' to submit a laugh, you can stop reading now. If you're a fan of Australian cinema, a space movie buff, or a Sam Neill fan, you truly need this DVD in your collection. This movie, which won multiple awards in Australia, was just about overlooked in the US. This is quite unfortunate, because I feel that on so many levels, this flick is a true gem.This movie, in short, tells the story of the Apollo 13 moon landing from the point of view of the men that ran a giant radio telescope, known as 'The Dish', in Australia. This massive dish exists in a small town, and is situated in the middle of a sheep paddock. As this group of ragtag scientists begins to deal with the faraway NASA and the newfound publicity, much hillarity insues.
Sam Neill plays the leader of this group of scientists. As always, he's brilliant, his quiet yet intense style of acting very enjoyable and dryly humorous at times. He's backed up by a fantastic cast: Hevin Harrington, Tom Long, and Patrick Warburton. There's not a weak one in the bunch, and the strength of this ensemble film is one of the movie's high points.
I suggest giving this movie a shot - you'll certainly be in for a charming surprise. It's a well-written, witty film that will certainly please space movie and Australian film fans alike.
Movie Review: "Tranquility Base .... The Eagle Has Landed."
Summary: 5 Stars
A very good film. Sam Neill stars as the head man at an Australian tracking station responsible for transmitting the first live television images from the lunar surface in July 1969.In this writer's estimation, Mr. Neill gives a very solid, understated performance here. The perfect touch given Neill by the filmmakers was the addition of his ever-present pipe. He's rarely without his trusty companion. IMO, that pipe gives his character more "character", if you will. It seems the perfect prop for this characterization.
An assortment of adept supporting players are on hand here as well, providing genuine moments of humor, and tenderness, throughout. The neighborhood "boy soldier" (who's dying to get into some sort of military duty) is a howling treat!
This film offers a near-perfect blend of laughs and drama. Plus a very nice 60s musical score to boot!
I thoroughly enjoyed this 101-minute ride to the moon on "The Dish"!
Although offering little in the way of extra features (save the trailer and some cast notes), I would also give the DVD performance a thumbs-up as well. Nice full 5.1 surround sound, and an excellent anamorphic widescreen picture are on tap here.
If you haven't yet, check out "The Dish"! It's an amazing little gem.
Movie Review: Charming family friendly but gripping movie
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a charming little movie I discovered quite by accident on cable. I had to buy it and it is one of my top 10 or 20 favorite movies. I bought a copy for a friend and she's already watched it several times and says it vaulted to her top 5 favorite movies of all time.
Anyone with experience at Arecibo in Puerto Rico or the VLA (very large array) in New Mexico or any of the other big dish locations will want to see this movie about the big dish (radio telescope) in Parkes, Australia and how it was used to receive the moon landing images.
It is a great example of how good a movie can be that has no sex, no violence, no car chases, no profanity (well, a few minor cusswords from upset scientists - but hardly the stream of F words littering many other scripts these days), and no drugs beyond a little pipe smoking and booze. It's funny, it's intense, it's emotional, it's suspenseful. It's everything a movie should be.
Sam Neill is wonderful in this movie. All the characters sparkle, even the smallest roles are really well acted and well thought out.
I particularly loved the montage stock footage from the space race, and the period soundtrack with some really great 60s music.
Movie Review: Sense of purpose
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great movie about Apollo 11's landing on Moon. It is 1969, time when there was only black and white television. Yet, physicists were using telemetry and satellite dish for mapping the starts in the sky, that could now be used to pick up that radio signal from far away. We get to see a small group of staff in Parkes, Australia that is tasked to pick up the signal from Apollo when northern hemisphere cannot. They work hand in hand with NASA on recording astronauts' every move on their way to and from Moon. What is endearing about the film is humorous take on interactions between Americans and Australians; the clash of cultures as well as similarities; their determination of overcoming all obstacles and ensuring the TV picture of the Neil Armstrong's first walk on the Moon. If you like the "Right Stuff" or "Apollo 13" you will like this movie even more. This is a film about regular men with strong sense of purpose in their role of one of the greatest achievements in the history of mankind. Sam Neill give a very fine performance of Science Director taking all the risks necessary to keep peace amongst his staff and produce a signal that will change the history of mankind forever.