"Where were you when man first landed on the moon?" For those of us with long memories it's an easy question to answer. Even if you weren't around in July 1969 you must have seen television pictures of Neil Armstrong taking those first steps on our nearest planet.

So imagine how different our impressions of that historic event would be if there were no pictures to look at.

Is that Houston? I'll have a cheeseburger and fries please.

The fact that there is is down to a satellite dish in the middle of a sheep pasture in Australia. And that's what the Dish is all about.

The little town of Parkes is the focus of attention. It's home to the only tracking station in the southern hemisphere which can follow Apollo 11 and receive beam backed television pictures from the moon.

The team charged with making everything run smoothly includes recently widowed Cliff Buxton (Neill), love-struck Glenn (Tom Long), chip-on-the-shoulder Mitch (Kevin Harrington) and NASA representative Al Burnett (Warburton).

Each are well defined but are just four of a host of loveable characters which put this movie a class above many others.

Come on it's easy. Just like 2 + 2.

It's no exaggeration to say there's a laugh a minute.

As for tension, this comes in the form of a power cut but is just as effective as any tense situation involving guns, knives and explosives.

The Dish is a gem of a movie emerging from an unusual storyline.

Not surprisingly it's been a big hit down under but it deserves success around the globe.

And if I knock it out of the satellite dish, that scores 6

If there is a weakness it's a touch too long. That could easily be rectified by editing out the opening and closing sequences.

These involve Sam Neill made-up as an ageing visitor to his former work station. He looks and moves like Robert Donat circa Goodbye Mr Chips. The scene is obviously a device to flashback to 1969 but is superfluous.

A minor quibble. Don't miss this. It's bonza.