[NofFoomiTot]

I understand England admitted they couldn't compete with China's opening ceremony but this blows.

It comes across like an American put together the show with everything English he could think of.

I think all that's left to see is Austin Powers and a joke about lack of dentistry.

[jeaccatty]

They couldn't find enough British hits for the 1990's?

Firestarter by Rammstein? Rammstein was a German group.

Should've just gone with the Spice Girls... this couldn't be any more embarrassing.

[CAxrrAYN]

They couldn't find enough British hits for the 1990's?

Firestarter by Rammstein? Rammstein was a German group.

Should've just gone with the Spice Girls... this couldn't be any more embarrassing.

Firestarter is by Prodigy. That being said they did throw out a decent amount that wasn't british. Unless The Cosby Show took place in Camden Town unbeknownst to me.

[refsherne]

Firestarter is by Prodigy.

Good call. My bad.

Still, worst opening ceremony I can remember.

[Immampdah]

Colorful once things exploded.

[mikeyyuiok]

I enjoyed it, except for Sir Paul. I thought that was a bit anticlimactic.

[Smalmslobby]

I enjoyed it, except for Sir Paul. I thought that was a bit anticlimactic.

His face is needing some antigravity creme.

Regardless, I always enjoy watching Paul perform.

Though the show had such simplicity compared to China, I still found it entertaining. People were having fun. That's worth something in this crazy world.

[jurhoonee]

I thought they were building the set for Middle Earth..

It fucking sucked.. Then they all dressed up like Abe Lincoln and started spouting off Shakespeare..

Then the whole girl with the afro, phone, music, dancing in the attic thing.. One big pile of WTF..

[janeemljr]

One big pile of WTF..

I hated it too. However, I've heard it made much more sense on BBC... apparently NBC butchered the editing.

[regfortruegoo]

I hated it too. However, I've heard it made much more sense on BBC... apparently NBC butchered the editing.

That and the other thing that pissed me off is Sir Paul McCartney is performing (Which anyone seeing live should consider an honor and a once in a lifetime opportunity) and I see athletes from the US and other countries busy texting on their phones and not even paying attention. Plus when they were trying to sing along to Hey Jude they clearly had no idea what the words were because they have no idea who he is or anything about the beatles...

Am I that old? No not really but come on.

[temansertewek]

I thought they were building the set for Middle Earth..

It fucking sucked.. Then they all dressed up like Abe Lincoln and started spouting off Shakespeare..

Then the whole girl with the afro, phone, music, dancing in the attic thing.. One big pile of WTF..

It's the today generation...embrace it. Silly indeed. Reminded me of some high school musical. Too much dependence on another video source from set to set throughout the night.

[irridgita]

Interesting article....


Olympic opening ceremony: Ai Weiwei's review

The leading Chinese artist who withdrew from Beijing's opening ceremony explains why London's was very different

• 
• • Ai Weiwei
  • guardian.co.uk, Saturday 28 July 2012 07.06 EDT

Brilliant. It was very, very well done. This was about Great Britain; it didn't pretend it was trying to have global appeal. Because Great Britain has self-confidence, it doesn't need a monumental Olympics. But for China that was the only imaginable kind of international event. Beijing's Olympics were very grand – they were trying to throw a party for the world, but the hosts didn't enjoy it. The government didn't care about people's feelings because it was trying to create an image.

In London, they really turned the ceremony into a party – they are proud of themselves and respect where they come from, from the industrial revolution to now. I never saw an event before that had such a density of information about events and stories and literature and music; about folktales and movies.
At the beginning it dealt with historical events – about the land and machinery and women's rights – epically and poetically. The director really did a superb job in moving between those periods of history and today, and between reality and the movies. The section on the welfare state showed an achievement to be truly proud of. It clearly told you what the nation is about: children, nurses and a dream. A nation that has no music and no fairytales is a tragedy.

There were historical elements in the Beijing opening ceremony, but the difference is that this was about individuals and humanity and true feelings; their passion, their hope, their struggle. That came through in their confidence and joy. It's really about a civil society. Ours only reflected the party's nationalism. It wasn't a natural reflection of China.

Few of the people were performers. They were ordinary people who contribute to society – and if there is a celebration, then it should be for everyone from the Queen to a nurse. I feel happy that they can all have their moment to tell their story.

It was about real people and real events and showed the independent mind of the director, but at the same time it had so much humour. There was a strong sense of the British character.

The Chinese ceremony had so much less information and it wasn't even real. It wasn't only about the little girl who was miming – which was an injury to her and the girl whose voice was used – but that symbolically showed the nation's future. You can't trust or rely on individuals or the state's efforts.
In London there were more close-ups – it didn't show the big formations. It had the human touch. In Zhang Yimou's opening ceremony there was almost none of that. You could not push into a person's face and see the human experience. What I liked most with this was that it always came back to very personal details. And that's what makes it a nation you can trust; you see the values there. Anyone who watched it would have a clear understanding of what England is.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012...-weiwei-review

[EntectCelpelm]

That and the other thing that pissed me off is Sir Paul McCartney is performing (Which anyone seeing live should consider an honor and a once in a lifetime opportunity) and I see athletes from the US and other countries busy texting on their phones and not even paying attention. Plus when they were trying to sing along to Hey Jude they clearly had no idea what the words were because they have no idea who he is or anything about the beatles...

Am I that old? No not really but come on.

Uh, this is what young people today do. They spend more time tweeting and taking pics of events, and not enough time actually enjoying the moment of these events.

[Precturge]

Uh, this is what young people today do. They spend more time tweeting and taking pics of events, and not enough time actually enjoying the moment of these events.

I have to say, I'd feel horrible if i was sitting in that stadium. It was boring enough watching Teens Text through Time on my TV, I can't imagine it just being a little blip where they'd have no idea what the fuck was going on.

It's nice to see NBC is equal opportunity, though. In addition to editing out the 7/7 tribute in order to show Seacrest interview Phelps they also omitted a tribute that featured two U.S. servicemen. http://deadspin.com/5930096/nbc-also...mony-broadcast

[gyjsdtuwr]

I have to say, I'd feel horrible if i was sitting in that stadium. It was boring enough watching Teens Text through Time on my TV, I can't imagine it just being a little blip where they'd have no idea what the fuck was going on.

It's nice to see NBC is equal opportunity, though. In addition to editing out the 7/7 tribute in order to show Seacrest interview Phelps they also omitted a tribute that featured two U.S. servicemen. http://deadspin.com/5930096/nbc-also...mony-broadcast

Maybe it was too short, but I also do not remember seeing/hearing the Olympic Oath.

[gregmcal]

I kind of agree with the article above. I tune in to the opening ceremonies just to see what the host will do with the world watching. Plus, there is always something to learn about the host country and their story/history. Many dont find any interest in this as it harkens back to history class in school. But Im a history geek so I soak it in if done right.

I would say this was done right....they told a story. It felt odd at times but overall I enjoyed it. Beijing was a spectacle for spectacle sake and while it was pleasing to the eye it did not tell much of a story...and that bugged me....even though Im sure than as I am now I was in the minority.

[Plaumpholavup]

I kind of agree with the article above. I tune in to the opening ceremonies just to see what the host will do with the world watching. Plus, there is always something to learn about the host country and their story/history. Many dont find any interest in this as it harkens back to history class in school. But Im a history geek so I soak it in if done right.

I would say this was done right....they told a story. It felt odd at times but overall I enjoyed it. Beijing was a spectacle for spectacle sake and while it was pleasing to the eye it did not tell much of a story...and that bugged me....even though Im sure than as I am now I was in the minority.

I'll join you there.

Critics are harsh.

And people with short attention spans expect way too much.

[GrileVege]

I'll join you there.

Critics are harsh.

And people with short attention spans expect way too much.

I remember Beijing being big bright and pretty but.....ummmmm....wtf were they trying to say?

Although I like all of them best when they start blowing up half the town!

[Veronnisa]

I kind of agree with the article above. I tune in to the opening ceremonies just to see what the host will do with the world watching. Plus, there is always something to learn about the host country and their story/history. Many dont find any interest in this as it harkens back to history class in school. But Im a history geek so I soak it in if done right.

I would say this was done right....they told a story. It felt odd at times but overall I enjoyed it. Beijing was a spectacle for spectacle sake and while it was pleasing to the eye it did not tell much of a story...and that bugged me....even though Im sure than as I am now I was in the minority.

I agree completely. If only we could have seen it w/o NBC's American tilt and interviews w/ poeple w/have seen enough of already, it may have been even more enlightening.
When the spectacle itself was on, I enjoyed what I saw.

[Zdfjpbth]

I remember Beijing being big bright and pretty but.....ummmmm....wtf were they trying to say?

Although I like all of them best when they start blowing up half the town!

Being a Huge Pyrotechnics fan, I am w/ you there.
In Beijing, even a good part of that was faked.