Opening Ceremony

[vaznetti]

OK, that was GREAT and I stayed up far too late watching it. I had heard a rumor that Mary Poppins would abseil in to defeat Lord Voldemort, but did not in a million years think it would actually happen, and in the midst of a huge tribute to the NHS as well. Sadly, the Queen did not actually come by parachute with James Bond, but you can't have everything.

Is it true that the rest of the world just watched on in increasing confusion?

Comments

[eretria.livejournal.com]

German link man said they were supposed to be doves. I'm not sure I saw either. ;o)

I think I had my biggest head-scratch moment during the performance after the minute of silence. It was extremely pretty, but I had no idea what was going on.
Also, was it just me or was the stroll through British history a bit ... time-jumpy? But, heeh! Kenneth Brannagh! Rowan Atkinson (and I'm not a fan of Mr. Bean, but that was hilarious.)!

[vaznetti]

Doves would make a lot more sense. I also saw people thinking they were pigeons, which... well, pigeons on bicycles would be a good symbol of London!

The stroll through British History wasn't really a stroll, I think: more "look how industrialization destroyed England's green and pleasant land and created modern Britain! Look! We've had a couple world wars and now it's the 1960s!" It was a good thing they told us Branagh was playing Brunel, though, since I doubt anyone would have thought of that themselves.

[muridae-x.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure they were symbolic doves - presumably to save any actual birds from getting crispy fried as happened in Seoul.

I was expecting to cringe a lot, but actually only winced once - at the start of McCartney's Hey Jude when it all went a bit shambolic. Other than that it was just quirky and crazy and self-mocking enough to embrace wholeheartedly.