Opening ceremony just a tad embarrassing !

[cheekypickle]

I just don't get it!

I'd rather Britain be know as weird and quirky! We have loads to be proud off and those are just 2 words that I think sum us up.

Beijing opening ceremony was shite and boring

Posted on the ace thread because I think it was brilliant.

The only embarrassing things...

The Queen (picking her nails as team GB come in? loved the Daniel Craig bit though so she can be forgiven)

Macca

The fact that so many people didn't 'get' the early bit about Brunel and the industrial revolution - really basic history.

YABU

It was very, very British. Quirky, fun, eclectic and humorous.

Not every country is able to laugh gently at itself in front of the world.

i thought it was brilliant, and I wasn't initially that fussed about watching it.

YABU - It was Amazing - Can't believe they got so much of our history into it

When was the succour who bit? Dp and I must've missed it as though w aren't fans, we were disappointed by the lack of it as it's one of britains biggest pop culture influences imo!

Doctor who. Bloody samsung.

I just wonder what would ever please the 'ne-er sayers', the cumudgeons who see a wonderful spectacular weaving of historical features of the country in such a funny, tender (wasn't Abide With Me done well?), spectacular, slightly self-deprecating, athletic, well-paced, imaginative and proud manner...and still fecking complain.

Or is that just part of being British?

I really enjoyed it. It was rare to see my generation and the things we like up there representing Britain. So not a wholly middle class, old white man vision but a truly inclusive one.

The emilie sande moment was beautiful, completely cut from the us NBC coverage so that they could get an ad in.

Some was pointed yes but I would rather have a social history slightly left leaning than go down the last night of the proms route.

I thought the national anthem from the deaf/hearing choir was very moving and such a counterpoint to beijings showing one girl and yet hearing another.

and Elgar's Nimrod, playing over the shipping forecast, Michael Fish from 1987 saying there isn't going to be a hurricane!.
Sublime and very very British.

LOVED IT - although I must admit we went to bed when Macca came on!
They had Dizzee Rascal, that made my night
Where was Doctor Who though??

tardis noises during the musical bit

Beijing opening ceremony was shite and boring

Redlac Im so glad someone else apart from me thinks this! Sick of posts here raving about how weird the ceremony was last night compared to Chinas.....yes Bejing was spectacular etc but it didn't take long for me to switch off as it got boring quite quickly, only so many times you can look at 1000s of people doing the same thing.

I was very cynical about watching the OC and even the old cynic in me was surprised, I thought it was great and very entertaining. Cant please everyone though eh.

I don't remember much about the Beijing ceremony apart from the wee girl singing whose voice was then found to have been dubbed with a less photogenic girl's.
I loved it, apart from Macca. Brian Chapman shot the wrong beatle. They were also too slow reading out the names of the couldron lighter's so you couldn't tell which was which.
Otherwise it was bonkers brilliant.

I'm astonished that anyone would claim this was too London-centric (although, given that it's the London Olympics, they could be forgiven for that).

The whole set up was about 'this green and pleasant land' - and then the rise of the Industrial Revolution - which, if I'm not mistaken, took place just a little bit outside of London.

And the National Health Service? The clue is in the word 'National' ...

The focus was on Great Ormond Street hospital because J M Barrie left them the rights to Peter Pan - and that section was also about the importance of children's literature.

The suffragettes fought for women's rights everywhere, not just London ...

etc, etc

I loved it was really well done. The way the cauldron was light was fantastic.

It was utterly brilliant (Macca excepting). I can't stop thinking about it today.

Altinkum, I saw it but I'm not sure if I saw it right iykwim. If it was what it looked like then Bloody right be ought to be banned!

We liked it, hadn't really thought about watching it but thought we'd have a look. Why try and imitate Beijing, they went for something completely different and very British and understated. The kids enjoyed it as well and hooted at the queen and James Bond and Mr Bean. Loved they included some sub culture, should have had The Sex Pistol's God Save The Queen though and the boingy punks and Dizee Rascal were fab in opposition to the Industrial Revoloution section which was fab, kids loved that as well as they had done Brunel at school. Fabbydoo!

They did play a little snippet of God Save The Queen, hownoo! But only a teeny tiny bit.

altinkum - I thought it was an official in the stands doing the nazi salute - though he was doing it with his left arm. He can't claim a 'musunderstanding' as it was crystal clear,and in any event he should be aware of sensitivities and do nothing anything like it.

They played the bit that said "God save the queen." But not the bit that said "The fascist regime" or "She ain't no human being."

Pretty Vacant got a good airing though!

I really liked it and thought the people chosen to feature were fabulous - campaigners, future athletes. So glad it steered clear of being too schjmaltzy, I love quirky, its what sets London apart. I was very pleased and felt it had real merit rather than just a big show.

I agree people need to learn their history and then it all makes sense.The pride that some people take in their ignorance is depressing

Exactly. I find it somewhat depressing that the OP is a teacher, yet didn't "get it".