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

[kate2mum]

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.

Have just asked DS(15) what was his best bit.

The industrial revolution, says he.

Didn't see Macca but I can understand why people are so cheesed off about him being wheeled out every time we have a big event. Give some other great mucisians a chance for gawds sake.

Generally I enjoyed the ceremony, especially the music montage, but the NHS bit got on my pip, having worked in the god-forsaken place for 20 odd years I never once felt like dancing round a bed. It's difficult to dance when you've got a brush stuck up your arse sweeping the floor....

I see supermum! It would have been fab with live bands. I didn't "get" the boy and girl thing.

I thought it was charming, quirky and clever. Slightly random in places but overall a triumph. And if you look at the world press and beyond the world of mumsnet most of the world agree. It celebrated our past and our achievements and our diversity. I think the NHS section was brave, nobody else would do it as nobody else has it, and it taps into how proud and grateful we are of our NHS service. It had political overtones all the way through, and I loved all of them.

macca doesn't do it for me but the rest of the world know who he is unlike the Gregory's girl reference.

what was disrespectfull to the queen?

The queen was not even interested in this, I think the royals all displayed a lack of respect for the UK and the performers, They displayed no ounce of interest even the younger royals looked a little put out to be there.

Oh and my 4 year old DD loved the Mary Poppins bit what child hasn't watched Mary Poppins?

Culturally an opening ceremony which was like a Royal Variety Show would have been more fitting.

I'm so glad it wasn't a version of the Royal Variety Show! I suppose that would have been the alternative (or at least an alternative) and I think it would have been so boring in comparison. I thought the ceremony was great (and I wasn't even planning to watch it).

My 4 yo was terrified when voldemort arose from the bed but loved it when Mary Poppins arrived to save the day.

We thought it was marvelous, the torch lighting was a stroke of genius, the Queen, Mr Bean... just brilliant.

Only disappointment was Paul bloody McCartney, is there really no one else???

"They should have had the bands play live, not as part of a strange dance routine with a boy meets girl who loses her iphone"

That just wouldn´t have worked, would it?

But I didn´t really get the point of the "story"-more interested in the music & film of the bands.

I thought the people carrying the Olympic flag was well thought out tbh.

Troll I thought it was an interesting opinion expressed by DH. He isn't British and I was a bit surprised by his reaction. He thought it was brilliant up to the point where she jumped out of the plane.

I think the industrial revolution section was more about the set being dismantled. I was disappointed they didn't have a train. The invention of the steam engine was huge in terms of the development of the UK for ordinary people.

FWIW of the people who were holding the olympic flag, I would have included Mrs Lawrence and the founder of Liberty in my short list. I thought that Derek Redmond should have been part of the ceremony and this would have been a good way to include him.

I´m not a particular fan of Macca, but rather him than Elton John!

no eltham jam of clef richard would've been much better--much more life and spirit!

diddl I would have had the focus on the music and then the dancers. I thought the dancing was very good. I loved that they included Prodigy. I would have loved to have seen Keith Flint in action. Chemical Brothers would have been great too.

I did notice that the military who carried in the British flag were not marching together. They were slightly out of step which bugged me.... The military should be able to march.

Elton John is another that should have played at least one song. Maybe the ending ceremony?

i would have thought that particular part would have had the queens approval before being included, what did he find disrespectfull though?

i think it was silly too if im honest but it would have appealed to others my dd loved it. I didnt like mr bean much either, found it a bit pointless but it would have appealed to others. I think it was a great ceremony in that it did have appeal to many, shame it was on so late though.

The 'strange' story of the girl who loses her phone was a celebration of the rise and importance of social media - based on the invention of the World Wide Web, by Tim Berners-Lee. A British man. So yet another contribution from Britain.

And the industrial revolution - yes, it was in part about the negative impact on the country (dramatised through the removal of the rural scenery) but also about the way it changed the country for the good. You may deride the idea of celebrating wealth - but this was hugely important in the development of our infrastructure - e.g the railways

DH is Danish. I don't get him sometimes and he has left for Baltimore so not around to ask. I thought it was on too late too and the Queen/Prince Philip looked exhausted. She is 86 and Prince Philip is 90.

The best part of the Mr Bean sequence was him hitting the one key on the piano.

Hoping they also wheel out Spandau Ballet and have them perform Gold at the closing ceremony.

The girl who lost her phone was stunningly beautiful, I thought.

Well I loved it and probably for the reasons you hated it.
I thought the 'teletubbyland' looked great and the way it went through the industrial times to the now was good. The music part was my favourite, from the one boy singing Jerusalem to the deaf/hearing choir and all the many great music inbetween.

Like other posters have said it was a lot better then Beijings 'perfection' opening ceremony and very inclusive of all races and disabilities

Have a and a to light up your dreary day

Yes she was and a good dancer too. Her smile was lovely.

All I can say is that I loved it, better than I thought it would be

YABU. It was fantastic. Reminded me of my grandparents who worked in the cotton mills. Of course to the rest of the World it might not make much sense but this was about Britain! It wasn't meant to have Universal appeal but one would hope that it might inspire folk to learn more about the UK and our heritage

I've always struggled to identify with being British -all that Jubilee, Notting Hill shite left me cold.

This was the first time I actually felt British. The music section was brilliant.