Olympic Ceremonies

[Bettie]

I loved it! So over the top. Plus as a DISer I was amused by the Brazilian Tour Group at the castle. LOL!

 

[Caropooh]

I'm wondering if the audience had an explanation in their programs of what was happening and the meaning of everything happening. Without the commentators, I'd have no idea what was happening and why.

 

[Imzadi]

Am I the only one who sees country names I've never even heard of during the parade of athletes?

I couldn't believe how many African countries are competing!

 

[LongLiveDisney]

I loved watching it. My favorite part was the sense of unity between all the countries. It felt like the world was united and free of all the politics during the country marches and that's what I love about the Olympics.

 

[Loftus]

I thought it was a good show. Very theatrical; I thought Kenneth Branaugh did an especially great job! Didn't love the modern texting segment, but other than that I was entertained.

Am I the only one who sees country names I've never even heard of during the parade of athletes?

Kenneth Branagh did an especially good job considering he was a late addition as the actor originally going to play Brunel had to pull out because of a family tragedy.

 

[shortbun]

Na, na, nah nana na na, na na na na, hey Jude! Loved the end, the lighting of the cauldron and the sheer joy and emotion. Good one.

 

[PaulaSB12]

I love the way it showed the progression of the country from agricultural to modern digital . I also loved the way the NHS was celebrated all these in the section where NHS workers.

 

[Sfmarine]

I have to admit that this was painful to watch. I enjoyed the Bond segment though.

 

[LBIJim]

Oh dear, the U. S. Outfits

.

I don't care that the US uniforms were made in China, but they were awful.

Nice fireworks!

I am disappointed the fire cauldron wasn't set up high so that the flame is visible throughout the games. That's always been tradition.

They better move the flame somewhere else. I'd be really PO'd if I had seats down low and the flame blocked the view of the other side of the track.

Does the Queen EVER smile? For decades, just about every photo of her looks like she wished she was somewhere else. But I DO have to give her credit for agreeing to be in that James Bond skit.



Jim

 

[Nature Mom]

I really liked it. From the literary characters brought to life, the music we all recognize, the comic relief and the great people who make a difference in the world (please, tell me I am not the only one who teared up when Mohammed Ali was there with the Olympic flag), I thought it was great! All together it made the few random drops of Welsh blood in my veins proud. Well done, London. Well done.

 

[HelenaB]

Overall I enjoyed it.

It was much more "human" than the Beijing opening ceremony. It was always going to be a much smaller scale but they still managed to make it fun and quirky which is exactly what they were going for as far as I know.

I think they could have made more of the music but I loved the lights behind the audience's seats. Mr Bean and James Bond were great (can't believe they got the Queen to participate in the skit!).

Loved the "iron" rings - absolutely beautiful. So was the cauldron for the flame made up of all the copper petals - lovely and totally original.

Shame that Sir Paul now sounds a bit past it... think it's time for him to retire.

Yes is wasn't as regimented as Beijing - but that's London for you!

 

[Loftus]

I don't care that the US uniforms were made in China, but they were awful.



They better move the flame somewhere else. I'd be really PO'd if I had seats down low and the flame blocked the view of the other side of the track.

Does the Queen EVER smile? For decades, just about every photo of her looks like she wished she was somewhere else. But I DO have to give her credit for agreeing to be in that James Bond skit.



Jim

They are moving it, you can't leave it in the middle of the field events!

 

[sasywtch]

I thought it was a good show. Very theatrical; I thought Kenneth Branaugh did an especially great job! Didn't love the modern texting segment, but other than that I was entertained.

Am I the only one who sees country names I've never even heard of during the parade of athletes?

That's what I told my BF. Told him it was my geography lesson! What is strange is the countries I knew growing up with a new name. +

 

[Squidgyness]

I thought it was a great show! We couldn't out-awe beijing, so we went for ingenuity instead.

As for olympic opening ceremonies, I don't remember much of anything of 2000 and 2004. It's not the point of this ceremony to be memorable and blow everyones head off it is to open the games and symbolise what they are about, and I thought they did that well, especially with the choice of the young, up and coming generation to light the torch (which I thought was a fantastic design.)

Some flat points, but overall, a good show I think.

 

[epcot.girl]

Well I (and many of my Twitter friends) was a cynic but I think Danny Boyle got it spot on. LOVED that Sir Tim Berners-Lee was there - he actually tweeted 'this is for everyone' in real time during the event. The Bond/Queen thing and Mr Bean were brilliant. I love that all the home nations were acknowledged in the opening with the choirs of young children. The bit near the beginning where they acknowledged the fallen was moving. Great showcasing of British music and British culture past and present. Thought the grassy hill with the planting of all the country flags was a nice touch and getting the next generation to light the torch.

It was never going to be Beijing for the simple fact that London isn't Beijing! It had a fantastic busy London feel to it IMO.

Many of us on Twitter last night were saying that much of it may be lost on non-Brits but would be meaningful to those of us here. In fact Michael Johnson said that he got a lot of it but probably because he spends so much time in the UK. The only things I didn't like were Paul McCartney and those awful white and gold outfits. Oh and Seb Coe of course.

Some comments from the people I follow on Twitter last night:
Celebrating the NHS, equality, unions. Cameron must be hating this #london2012

I bet this is confusing the hell out of the rest of the world. #OlympicCeremony

That is what Beijing lacked and London has - James Bond, the Queen, corgis and a sense of humour. #London 2012

Danny Boyle has got the tone of this spot-on. A real mind **** for anyone not in the UK though. Love it. #OlympicCeremony

It's not really a "cauldron" is it? More of an "eye of Sauron". #olympics

Beijing: We must be classy and perfect and mature. | London: FORTY FOOT VOLDEMORT, PEOPLE PLAYING CRICKET, PYJAMAS AND MR BEAN. sounds good.

Lovely stuff. Funny, human and epic, and will properly shut up that default cynicism we all use. This fortnight will be fantastic.

 

[AmericangirlinFrance]

Well I (and many of my Twitter friends) was a cynic but I think Danny Boyle got it spot on. LOVED that Sir Tim Berners-Lee was there - he actually tweeted 'this is for everyone' in real time during the event. The Bond/Queen thing and Mr Bean were brilliant. I love that all the home nations were acknowledged in the opening with the choirs of young children. The bit near the beginning where they acknowledged the fallen was moving. Great showcasing of British music and British culture past and present. Thought the grassy hill with the planting of all the country flags was a nice touch and getting the next generation to light the torch.

It was never going to be Beijing for the simple fact that London isn't Beijing! It had a fantastic busy London feel to it IMO.

Many of us on Twitter last night were saying that much of it may be lost on non-Brits but would be meaningful to those of us here. In fact Michael Johnson said that he got a lot of it but probably because he spends so much time in the UK. The only things I didn't like were Paul McCartney and those awful white and gold outfits. Oh and Seb Coe of course.

Some comments from the people I follow on Twitter last night:
Celebrating the NHS, equality, unions. Cameron must be hating this #london2012

I bet this is confusing the hell out of the rest of the world. #OlympicCeremony

That is what Beijing lacked and London has - James Bond, the Queen, corgis and a sense of humour. #London 2012

Danny Boyle has got the tone of this spot-on. A real mind **** for anyone not in the UK though. Love it. #OlympicCeremony

It's not really a "cauldron" is it? More of an "eye of Sauron". #olympics

Beijing: We must be classy and perfect and mature. | London: FORTY FOOT VOLDEMORT, PEOPLE PLAYING CRICKET, PYJAMAS AND MR BEAN. sounds good.

Lovely stuff. Funny, human and epic, and will properly shut up that default cynicism we all use. This fortnight will be fantastic.

That's an interesting perspective!

I was not a fan of the opening ceremonies - I guess I just thought most of it lacked the gravitas and respectfulness and importance worthy of the Olympics. The giant Voldemort, and Mr. Bean (really, we can't just enjoy the fabulous London Orchestra?), and the whole texting/dance scene just seemed... almost inappropriate (the whole world is watching!). But this does give me more context and appreciation for the opening ceremonies. And I am, admittedly, sort of a stick in the mud about these types of things.

ETA: And I guess it goes without saying that the commentary was HORRIBLE!

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

You could practically smell the despair along with the smoke, ew. Sir Paul was having a REALLY bad singing day, and it took forever. Glad I had the remote so I could easily change the channel. Disappointing.

 

[Jennasis]

Between Tubular Bells and the 40 foot Voldemort I may never stop having nightmares.

 

[Katieinwonderland]

I thought it was fantastic! I'm a Brit living in the US and I thought it was very British, it really captured the history and culture of the country. It actually made me homesick It wasn't as WOW as some of the other ceremonies I have seen, but I think Danny Boyle did the country proud

I do, however, think both the British and the US uniforms are absurd, and I had absolutely no idea that some of those countries existed!

 

[nancycg56]

Exorcist music during the healthcare salute? Very weird.

Mr. Bean was funny but the rest was just meh to the point that I will probably not waste my time watching another opening ceremony.

Paul McCartney was...not good