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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think the Opening Ceremony was truely appalling and here's why

500 replies

kate2mum · 28/07/2012 09:49

Danny Boyle - a cool dad in jeans who thinks of the world through the prism of music of his youth. He sees everything through music.
Had Viv Westwood been in charge, for example, the history of the UK would have been seen through fashion.
But, no, a billion people have to listen to the personal playlist of a Nick Hornbyish (oh, they are friends!) music trainspotter.

Shame if you don't see the world through that sort of music - but I guess you had to be there, and DBoyle probably was.

Tribute to NHS!!! Sorry, but I didn't know everyone who works for the NHS were all angels and volunteered for free instead of working for one of the biggest employers in the country. And just remembered this event is about SPORT and the way it can transform, so why oh why demonstrate 100's of "sick" children - to demonstrate how "caring" the NHS is.

Then children's literature done by the man who bought us Trainspotting - initially I thought the scene was still about the NHS turning into a nightmare, but NO, the best way to illustrate childrens' literature is to show how truely scary it is! Yes, reading can be terrifying and books are a fearful place. Not a place of safety, or unlifting, not inspiring, not poetic, just a nightmare (where were all the positive characters???).

Only people Danny Boyle's age would thing Mary Poppins was appropriate..

My children fell asleep; they could have cut most of it, had David Beckham ride in on a motorbike, light the flame, and then have some fireworks.

Lighting designer was good though.

OP posts:
HeadfirstForRomance · 28/07/2012 12:29

Our kids loved the scary kids lit bit, especially when the army of Mary Poppins' saved the day Grin They are 6, 8 and 9 and didn't find it terrifying at all! Neither would have the 4 year old but he was zzzzzz in bed :)

5dcsinneedofacleaner · 28/07/2012 12:29

well i enjoyed it and though that it was a good opening to the games, it was never going to be as huge and impressive as china but it was still great!

Brandnewbrighttomorrow · 28/07/2012 12:30

Not peculiar in the least - he was demonstrating how great Britain has been responsible for many of the innovations that have led to the industrialised nations being at the forefront of the world's economy. How many people worldwide knew that the www was a british invention. I think 'this is for everyone' was a perfect theme.

HeadfirstForRomance · 28/07/2012 12:31

"Only people Danny Boyle's age would thing Mary Poppins was appropriate.."

So...is Mary Poppins inappropriate and if so, how?

Frontpaw · 28/07/2012 12:32

I found it quite 'what the hell is that??' But enjoyed it as a fab spectacle. Hated the whole 'house boy meets girl storyline'. DS was not impressed with [email protected].

I missed the big flame lightup at the end because someone had to watch some other programme!

NotLikeThatYouWont · 28/07/2012 12:33

"Only people Danny Boyle's age would thing Mary Poppins was appropriate.."

Christ, my children are older than me. That noise during Queen really was a Tardis Confused.

ekidna · 28/07/2012 12:34

thought it was bloodygreat. ok to start with i was having a snidey giggle at the bucolicness but then it whipped my arse.
the nhs bit truly pissed me off but I was too pissed to see the irony and subversiveness of it which I now can thanks to mumsnet commentary.
just thought it was great. super giggle at mr bean and the queen etc. bring it on!!

Cloudbase · 28/07/2012 12:34

Eh? Which bit of the Daniel Craig bit was green screened?

I assumed they weren't really in a helicopter, and pretty sure the statue of Winston Churchill didn't actually wave, but he was in the Palace with the Queen, surely?

(btw, originally misread it as 'green scared' and was feeling all touched about Manly Daniel being nervous about meeting the Queen Blush)

gordyslovesheep · 28/07/2012 12:34

I thought it was bloody brilliant so have a Torch and smile you misery guts

oh and the NHS / Children thing - JM Barrie - write of Peter Pan donated the money he made from it to Great Ormond Street - thus the link last night between the NHS (established in the year of the last London Olympics) and CHILDREN'S literature. HTH Biscuit

LRDtheFeministDragon · 28/07/2012 12:35

Mmm, maybe brand. I just think it was odd juxtaposed with the singing of Jerusalem (which makes the opposite point) and the Tolkinesque visuals (which make the opposite point).

If I were really nasty I'd suggest it showed Danny Boyle is relying on us being too thick to notice.

I did like the bit about the WWW. I'm just not convinced it needed the set-up about industrialization. After all, quite a lot of countries are industrialized and did not invent the WWW. You could as well trace it back to, say, Newton or traditions of science and invention. You could even (shock horror) have mentioned the tradition of science that includes Crick, Watson, and Rosalind Franklin.

(Yes, this is polemic. Sorry.)

NotLikeThatYouWont · 28/07/2012 12:35

Oh, hang on, what I meant was: "Queen? Wot's that? Wot? I wasn't born!"

ekidna · 28/07/2012 12:36

how/where can I watch it again?? I don't understand my tv devices. might it be somewhere on freeview? or on my computer?

tiggytape · 28/07/2012 12:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheCrackFox · 28/07/2012 12:37

Yes, quite a few countries are industrialised but the industrial revolution started in the UK.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 28/07/2012 12:37

Btw, they misquoted from Peter Pan and that irritated me too.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 28/07/2012 12:38

crackfox - but does it automatically lead to the www? I mean, I get how it could, it's just not the only thing, it's a fairly shameful part of our history, and there are other good things that could have been emphasized instead of it.

kate2mum · 28/07/2012 12:40

Do you think they will drag Macca out for the closing ceremony as well - surely once was way more than enough.

OP posts:
OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 28/07/2012 12:40

I loved that they got in the fact that it was a Brit that invented the world wide web.

I was just imagining half of America sitting there watching going 'Huh? What??'

Grin Torch

thaliablogs · 28/07/2012 12:41

YABU. Yes there was one bad bit (macca) and it was very choosy about what it portrayed (no science, no empire) but it was incredibly beautiful, imaginative, emotional, funny and just what we needed.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 28/07/2012 12:42

Ooh - actually, freddos, I do love that very much.

You have made me even happier now.

edam · 28/07/2012 12:43

Loved it, especially the NHS tribute - one in the eye for Cameron and the bastards trying to privatize one of this country's crowning achievements.

ekidna · 28/07/2012 12:44

oh and that tree on the hill reminds me of the nice tree on the hill when you go through chertsey on the m25 -random!!

TheCrackFox · 28/07/2012 12:44

It is shameful in parts yes but the industrial revolution was the single biggest change in human history (apart from when humans stopped being nomads and started farming but it would have been a very long night if Danny Boyle had started there). I think the point Boyle was trying to make was that the Uk has been a huge force of change, globally, from the industrial revolution up to the digital revolution.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 28/07/2012 12:46

Oh, I hate the 'single biggest change in human history'. Really?! Like, how would we know.

I am just being a cynic, and you are explaining it in a very persuasive way that is making me feel bad for that, so do take what I'm saying with a pinch of salt.

edam · 28/07/2012 12:46

apparently the hill was Glastonbury Tor.