The Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics


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So far I like this better than Bejing.


LaRae
 
Mr. Bean and Chariots of Fire. Priceless.

Pranter said:
So far I like this better than Bejing.


LaRae
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I....don't remember it. In fact, I might not have watched it. Opening ceremonies aren't usually that important to me to watch.

I won't forget this one though. Very interesting. If it makes sense, I relate to this opening ceremony.
 
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Ok I don't get the Frankie and June thing...

Erin9 said:
I....don't remember it. In fact, I might not have watched it. Opening ceremonies aren't usually that important to me to watch.

I won't forget this one though. Very interesting. If it makes sense, I relate to this opening ceremony.
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IIRC it was very techno....not my cup of tea.


LaRae
 
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Iluvbertie said:
Really enjoyed seeing Bradley Wiggins get things started after his heroics last week - now he needs a really late night so that tomorrow Cadel Evans etc can win the gold.
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Now now, Iluvbertie, none of that thank you very much. Your post was going so well up to this point.
 
I thought this opening ceremony was fantastic and thoroughly enjoyed watching it. Mr. Bean was priceless. Queen Elizabeth II as the ultimate Bond girl, (or rather James Bond as the ultimate royal escort), was the best part of the whole thing. I liked the music and was pleased and surprised to see Joanne Rowling. Loved the cauldron and its beautiful design and the fireworks were superb.

I did think the ceremony was a bit busy in some parts. I realize they were still only scratching the surface of Britain's history and achievements but I do wonder if it might not have been better to focus on fewer things in each segment - have the teenagers dancing to only three or four iconic British songs, for example, instead of constantly switching after a couple of seconds.

All in all, though, this was a brilliant show.
 
Ok if they don't play some Queen music I'm going to be wondering what they heck they were thinking....


LaRae

Ah there it is!
 
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Pranter said:
Ok if they don't play some Queen music I'm going to be wondering what they heck they were thinking....


LaRae
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Ask and ye shall receive, Pranter.
 
Congrats to Danny Boyle. it wasn't Hollywood, it wasn't avant garde, it wasn't techno, it was very British. Loved Jerusalem (my favorite hymn), agro England, transition to industrial age, NHS and GOSH, Peter Pan and Mary Poppins, QEII Bond Girl + corgies, the parade of athletes.
Not a fan of the British uniforms which represent nothing about the nation. What was Stella thinking. It looks like they have gold lame sweat stains under their arms. Not a good look.
Damn, there are some fine looking athletes out there.
Loved the lighting of the Cauldromn by the young athletes of the future. The ideas was also done in Montreal in 1976.
Really love how all the petals came together to form the Cauldron.
I am sure there will be a few grumpies out there to find reason to criticize, but that too is a very British thing to do. We are never happier than when we can find a reason to run ourselves down. Some people could win an Olympic gold medal doing it, because knocking other peoples efforts is likely they only way they would ever win one.
Am watching a repeat of the ceremony on NBC. They seemed to have edited it down a bit.
 
I can't really compare this ceremony to that of Beijing they're very different. Each one is very unique.
 
Ok now the music is going downhill....


LaRae
 
Overall it was OK - personally I think it should be more about the athletes. Thanks to whoever it was who posted the link I was able to watch the BBCTV Sports live feed. The Queen definitely had her great-great-grandmother's "we are not amused" face on.

And I'm sorry, but I find this trotting out of Muhammed Ali (to me he will always be Cassius Clay, draft dodger) pathetic. I loathe boxing - it's a vicious brutal sport and thanks to it he is a shell of a man - let him be.
 
I thought the Queen and James Bond was pretty awesome and shows that QEII has quite a sense of humor. Good for her!
 
Opening ceremonies stopped being about the athletes a long time ago unfortunately.

To put tonight's ceremony into perspective. The Chinese never confirmed how much they spent on their opening ceremony (one of the 'advantages' of living in an authoritarian dictatorship - transparency is a foreign concept), but the guy behind Sydney's OC said on TV earlier that he felt $200 million was a conservative estimate.

By contrast, London spent about $42 million. That's actually twice what it was originally going to be, until David Cameron was shown a preview a couple of months ago and found money from somewhere to to add to the budget. Of course, even $42 million is an obscene amount of money on what is basically a fancy tourism advert, but until some host nation is brave enough to drastically scale this thing down, it'll continue to be a 'our country is better than your country' competition.
 
I think that photo's being taken out of context, at least I hope it is. I think this guy was mid-wave and it looked like something it wasn't.
 
EIIR said:
By contrast, London spent about $42 million. That's actually twice what it was originally going to be, until David Cameron was shown a preview a couple of months ago and found money from somewhere to to add to the budget. Of course, even $42 million is an obscene amount of money on what is basically a fancy tourism advert, but until some host nation is brave enough to drastically scale this thing down, it'll continue to be a 'our country is better than your country' competition.
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Too true. Doesn't change the fact that it was a wonderful showcase of all things British - and being a confirmed anglophile I enjoyed it. And I'm ecstatic to say I'll be returning to "jolly ole" for a 3 week visit in 4 days time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
AdmirerUS said:
Anyone see this yet? Camilla and Boris react to German Diplomat saluting his home team.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/07/28/article-2180142-14403AC2000005DC-812_634x364.jpg
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That is funny! Camila's really enjoying herself, it would seem.

EIIR said:
I think that photo's being taken out of context, at least I hope it is. I think this guy was mid-wave and it looked like something it wasn't.
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Whatever the case, it's lovely to see people smiling like that :D.
 
EIIR said:
I think that photo's being taken out of context, at least I hope it is. I think this guy was mid-wave and it looked like something it wasn't.
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No no it wasn't mid-wave. He did about three 'salutes'. Lumutqueen and I commented on it when it happened. Very unfortunate that a German official would be the one to do that. Will have to find it once complete videos of the parade are online.
 
I don't see the problem - if it had been his right arm maybe - but raising his left arm in a wave to his countrymen - no issue (unless you wish to see something there that isn't).

Unfortunately it is hard to raise an arm and wave and not have it look like what I think people are implying is happening in a snap shot.
 
I dunno about that bertie...the stiffness of the arm and flatness of the hand/fingers doens't look like just 'one of those weird things' to me.


LaRae

Well I looked at it again...the picture is blurry, didn't catch that before. Just looks weird.


LaRae
 
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Pranter said:
I dunno about that bertie...the stiffness of the arm and flatness of the hand/fingers doens't look like just 'one of those weird things' to me.


LaRae
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In which case pretty well everyone I saw who was waving single handed was doing the same thing - straight arms and flat fingers (and the left hand to boot).

Sorry but this is simply people trying to cause trouble on the basis of a still photo.
 
NBC in their broadcast has edited out each of the nations being greeted by their Head of State/head of delegation with the exceptions of Spain, Russia and of course the US.
 
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Beijing was a masterpiece production and I for one thoroughly enjoyed the Opening Ceremony because of its militaristic precision. Not forgoing just how many people were a part of the performance and the artistic direction with which the ceremony was executed. It was an awe inspiring experience.

The London ceremony was indeed very different and rightly so. It's pointless to compare such events, rather, there will be some that resonate well with you and others that don't.

I do think the ceremony was hyped to a point in the media that it failed to meet, let alone conquer. Some of the performing acts could have been better chosen and there are an array of themes that would have worked beautifully.

The British sense of humour is, imo, universally superior to all. Very amusing indeed!

The cauldron is magnificent. The best since the Sydney Olympics I think.

The Queen looked resplendent, though if not rather bored. She's an interesting one, 'our' Elizabeth. Sometimes she looks completely engaged, and other times, not the slightest bit interested. Mind you we didn't see all that much of her, but what we did see wasn't terribly convincing that she was infact enjoying the atmosphere. I guess it's just part of another days work, in reality.
 
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I have a feeling she would of been much more engaged if she'd of been watching one of the Equestrian events.


LaRae
 
:previous: No doubt!

I'd have thought that being Head of State of some 16 present indapendant nations would capture your attention, but what would I know :D
 
Iluvbertie said:
In which case pretty well everyone I saw who was waving single handed was doing the same thing - straight arms and flat fingers (and the left hand to boot).

Sorry but this is simply people trying to cause trouble on the basis of a still photo.
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I'm not going off a still picture but rather watching him do it live, when he was shown on Channel 9...
 
Maybe she is trying to not show that she is favoring one thing over another. She might be trying to be neutral during it. Look at how we react when we see a pic of one of the royals either looking at the camera or not looking at the camera.

Though I would have liked if she had a reaction to the kids doing the National anthem.
 
Thats easily solved. Look on enthusiastically (within reason) for each of the countries of which you are Head of State.
 
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