Highly Overrated But Still Good

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

You marvel at how desperate some of the contestants must be to perform in this degrading and humiliating spectacle that they gamely undergo in order to get themselves on the front pages of the tabloids.Originally the format sounded a bit more interesting the the 'Big Brother' format where they sit around in a house all day moaning and swearing. Unfortunately the participants in this sit around in a jungle all day, moaning, swearing... and eating creepy-crawlies. Hardly any noticeable difference.I suppose it does work for some of the contestants who manage to resurrect their careers (and not necessarily the winners) such as the intensely irritating Joe Pasquale who is now bizarrely popular again, Peter Andre is now famous for being Jordan's husband, and Kerry Katona... least said about those dreadful supermarket adverts the better. I could go on, but most of the contestants have failed to drag themselves out of the obscurity in which they have sunk.I was turned off of this programme right from the start, but I was persuaded to attempt another viewing by some obsessed friends - a couple of minutes watching someone eat live insects, grubs and then a kangaroo's testicle all the while trying not to vomit confirmed that it was not the show for me. The inane presentation by the two most overrated 'personalities' - Ant and Dec - on television at the moment did little to improve things. The formula is the same as all other reality shows with the group dynamic purposefully engineered to create tension between contestants while the producers appear outraged at any physical conflict. The people chosen seem to fit the same pattern as well, with there always being an out-spoken loudmouth one and a busty woman who has little to offer except looking good in a bikini, etc.However with healthy viewing figures it is hard to criticise ITV1 for giving the public what they want, as quality drama costs around £800,000 an hour and would not guarantee many more viewers these days. The revenue generated by voting must go some way to plugging the gaping hole left by decreasing advertising revenues. It is hardly any wonder they churn out series after series.Not a programme I care for personally but it certainly has its fans and it is hardly surprising due to the culture in Britain at the moment where the only ambition people seem to have is to be famous without much regard as to how it happens.

There are 3 things I really hate about this show:1. Kerry Katona's Iceland adverts immediately before and after each part of the show - the stupid old tart can't act for toffee. 2. The fact it's just full of general losers, has-beens and unknowns.3. Ant and Dec's awful stupid sense of humour - new presenters, please!Aside from that, there really is little much to dislike about this show. It never passes on the disgusting and crazy antics - it is fun to see the losers on it getting punished for their dull lives by: eating kangaroo testicles, being locked in air-tight tanks with dangerous creatures, having to jump from high heights.This show is best in the fact that it lets us see that these celebrities are basically the same as us common people - they fall out, they are friendly to each other, they plot, they scheme, and they have to endure humiliation (though we endure it on a much smaller scale). It has an iconic theme tune and some great imagery, and would otherwise be a favoured show of mine if it wasn't for Ant and Dec and Kerry Katona. Throw these losers off the show and get some real actors!Fun to watch on a free night - it is absolutely hilarious to see these people try and cope with hard forest life - but not to be taken seriously. 5/10

This is probably the second best reality show I know (after Big Brother). They put ten-twelve celebrities and dump them in the middle of an Australian jungle, there is a camp where they eat and sleep. Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly host this show, and they also tell the celebrities who is doing the special Bushtucker trials and who is leaving, and make good gags. They have had some good celebrities, but most of the time we don't know them, they just want to boost their careers. They have had: Siân Lloyd, Christine Hamilton, Uri Gellar, Nell McAndrew, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, winner Tony Blackburn, Daniella Westbrook, Toyah Willcox, Anthony Worrall Thompson, John Fashanu, winner Phil Tufnell, Jordan (Katie Price) and Peter Andre (who are now married), Johnny "Rotten" Lydon, Jennie Bond, winner Kerry Katona (McFadden), Natalie Appleton, Paul Burrell, winner Joe Pasquale, David Dickinson, Jimmy Osmond, Sid Owen, Sheree Murphy, winner Carol Thatcher, Toby Anstis, Jason Donovan, David Gest, Myleene Klass, winner Matt Willis and many more. Jordan (Katie Price) was number 2 on The 100 Worst Britons, the programme was number 40 on The 100 Greatest Funny Moments, it was number 6 on ITV: 50 Greatest Shows, and it has been on all 100 Greatest TV Treats programmes so far. Outstanding!

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All CostsAnt McPartlin and Declan Donnelly (or Ant and Dec,as they're more,er,'affectionately' known) are about 26/27 years of age between them.Yet already they've obtained their lifetime acheivement awards at the TV Awards.This is almost certainly down to consistency.They're second only to Davina McCall in terms of the amount of TV they are called upon to present.Failed former soap stars and pop singers,it's as if they're addicted to the profession.In fact,it's almost as if their popularity has soared so greatly,TV writers just randomly think up any old show to get them on TV more.No matter how desperate and tacky the show might look.I'm a Celebrity,Get Me Out of Here! is so manufactured and contrieved it hurts.It's so obvious that it's been concocted as something to sort out the desperately dire state of Saturday night TV,and it's so coy in it's attempts to distract us from thinking otherwise.Make no mistake about it,if you begin to enjoy this (as I sadly did),it's nothing less than a guilty viewing pleasure.So then,we're talking TV that appeals our baser instincts,that appeals to the lowest common denominator.......,ah,let's just watch it.The tone and feel of the show feels very obnoxious and contemptuous towards the celebrities involved.It sort of requires the viewer to derive some sadistic pleasure out of putting them through such gruelling ordeals (or 'tasks',as they put it) as having maggots poured all over their heads and having to hold live alligators.Of course,this should be another very off-putting aspect to any conscientious viewer.This notion however,is hindered by the fact that a large majority of the celebrities featured aren't particularly self indulgent or egotistical anyway,so seeing them get humiliated isn't as satisfying as the producers probably wanted it to be.Most of them are just faded has-beens in their particular line of show-biz who've enjoyed their 15 minutes of fame and perhaps want to oggle the chance for a little extra time in the limelight (with the noteable exception of stand up comic Rhona Cameron,who was pretty much an unknown before the show was launched but who's career has really taken off since).Glamour model Nell McAndrew,for instance,sets in mind preconceived notions of being a loud,brash slapper type but is in fact a very humble and quiet member of the team who offers a shoulder to cry on for an emotional Christine Hamilton in one touching scene.Magician Uri Geller also never openly offends anyone,but he's kind of amusing because in the scenes where he chats with Nell,he proves what a sad perv he really is by offering to massage her back,claiming his psychic power will calm her,when in fact it's glaringly obvious he just wants to cop as much of a feel as he possibly can.Some could argue Darren Day and Tara Palmer Tomkinson are silly,self obsessed people but no one can deny they provide the show's most entertaining moments,with their bickering and ranting.It would have been more fun to see people like Victoria Beckham,Elton John and Liam Gallagher on there instead,although the chances of that ever happening are remote.In the end,it's,well,just not surprising that reserved,gentlemanly Tony Blackburn wins.So,it's as see-through as tracing paper,so it's tacky,so it's derivative.Yes,it's all true.I guess it's like smoking.Don't start or you'll get addicted.I sadly did...........and look at me!**