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

[flea]

The four children in my house were decidedly confused about a great deal of it. Personally, I though Mr. Bean was the best bit (Queen and 007 a close second), and Tim Berners-Lee probably the most WTF? But then I have never really gotten puppetry.

[vaznetti]

In retrospect I think it was meant to be chaotic -- an anti-Beijing -- but the giant bicycling moths (they were supposed to be doves, I'm told) might have been a little much.

I loved the children from Great Ormond Street all rolled on to jump up and down on their beds, though. How cool an escape from hospital was that?

[sohotrightnow]

I can't speak for the entire rest of the world, of course, but my corner of it was pretty well filled with lots of clapping and squealing. (Let's be real, a big flashy musical number paying simultaneous tribute to both children's literature and socialized healthcare pretty well sums up my entire heart.)

And also being ridiculously annoyed by NBC's crap, but that is a story for another time. For real though NBC is basically the worst.

[vaznetti]

I never used to watch the Olympics in the US, because they come across as so boring -- and I hear the coverage has gotten even worse. Whereas the BBC is putting heart and soul into it, and the Paralympics are going to be broadcast as well.

Hahaha! I know, the NHS and Mary Poppins slaying Lord Voldemort in the same scene. How cool was that?

[eretria.livejournal.com]

There were parts where a lot of head-scratching went on, yes. ;o)

But it was visually stunning, no doubt. And the Queen! With Daniel Craig! Epic win.

[vaznetti]

I had forgotten about the giant moths riding bicycles, too. That was totally bizarre! But pretty!

[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.

[veejane.livejournal.com]

I went to bed early, but not before clicking past it once or twice and muttering, WTF did I just see?

A million children jumping on their beds in unison, among other things. Also the dancing NHS doctors. (I missed Voldemort.)

[thimble-kiss.livejournal.com]

I loved every last bit of it! Even Macca doing Hey Jude which at first bordered on vicarious embarrassment, but it was all good in the end.

I squealed at Voldy, and before that, JKR/Peter Pan had made me so fangirly happy&tearful I can't even begin on it. Loved the whole Industrial revolution section and especially the NHS/children's hospital part, and all the awesome iconic pop/rock music, like 'Heroes' playing when Great Britain marched in. And 007 and Her Majesty! Too much great stuff to mention. :)

[vaznetti]

Mitt Romney managed to piss off his natural allies David Cameron and Boris Johnson by offering only lukewarm enthusiasm for the London games (rewritten in our press as outright criticism) -- so I think of the "go NHS!" section as the "screw you Romney" section, even though it was actually aimed at the Tories.

It was definitely hallucinogenic -- but in a good way!

[vaznetti]

His voice has just gone. It's sad, but someone should go ahead and tell him.

Yes, the music was great throughout, and there was so much energy!

[elliotsmelliot.livejournal.com]

I only saw the lighting of the torch/Hey Jude live. That part was really cool. Then I learned there were corgis, so I had to find the Daniel Craig scene with the Queen online this morning online. I hope to see the literature and history part soon too.

[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.

[aceofkittens.livejournal.com]

Wow, I've tried now to find it online and it's proving difficult...NBC is acting fast with those takedown notices.

[vaznetti]

They tell me that what you need to do is download something called expat shield (or another proxy or VPN) and watch it on the BBC website. It should still be up on iPlayer.