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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:
NotLikeThatYouWont · 28/07/2012 10:55

So, to summarise your argument:

Danny Boyle is older than you.
The Olympics is only about sport so the cultural showcase should also have been about sport.
Baddies/nightmares being banished doesn't count as a happy ending.
Books/movies from the past should be forgotten. By the way, Danny Boyle is older than you.
It should have been aimed at shorter attention spans.
Lighting designer was good.

Thanks for the insight.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 28/07/2012 10:56

yellow - I actually, genuinely enjoyed watching it and yelling 'what the fuck' at regular intervals.

I'm sorry if that offends you. If you don't enjoy listening to us enjoying not enjoying the ceremony, you should- ... oh, I'm confusing myself now ...

c4rnsi1lk · 28/07/2012 10:57

Rowan Atkinson was being mr bean - he's recognised all over the world as that character. My ds's nearly exploded with excitement when he came on.

Will check the iplayer again thanks false started.

BrianCoxhasSmellySox · 28/07/2012 10:57

Grin @ LRD

I'm not stalking you honest

GoTeamGBNeverAgainBe2nd · 28/07/2012 10:59

Can I just show you how the rest of the world saw our effort?

Sydney Herald

Last night was a 'let the Games begin' moment not a 'let the complaining begin' one.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 28/07/2012 11:01

Grin It's fine Brian. I like to know there are lots of us.

If it had been beautiful, tasteful, done with sensitivity to all sorts of racial and feminist issues dear to my heart ... you know what, I probably wouldn't feel quite the same about it. It certainly wouldn't have been as funny.

I enjoyed watching the Queen nodding off and giving the World's Shortest Speech. I enjoyed hearing the commentators plainly being incapable of finding anything at all to say about any country other than Britain and the US. And I liked the fact the rest of the world now thinks we worship phallic totem poles in memory of the industrial revolution.

TheCrackFox · 28/07/2012 11:01

I loved it all apart from Macca.

My mum, predictably, hated it but her main hobby nowadays seems to be memorising the Daily Mail.

GiantUnderCrackers · 28/07/2012 11:02

I couldn't disagree more regarding the NHS and the fact that Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity was featured. It makes a huge difference to fundraising for charities. GOSH has to raise £50m a year for the hospital to function and an international platform will have enabled this. Other charities are also worthy and I am not sure what the criteria was to choose them, but there will have been a submission process to be chosen. Considering most countries have no free health care it should be celebrated and it is very British.

I do however agree some of the ceremony was a bit weird, other elements just amazing. A little to please everyone perhaps?

However Macca at the end. Should not have happened!!!

ken0eddie0kennedy · 28/07/2012 11:02

Not disputing their amazingness at all. I'm asking are they more successful? You're the one disputing it!

BrianCoxhasSmellySox · 28/07/2012 11:04

lol, that was the bit I quite liked, the imagery of the industrial revolution! Was impressive, it's just all the dancing etc.

Maybe though, I just really hate that kind of schmaltz in general? I have never watched any other opening ceremony, because they are largely pants (having dipped in and out).

kate2mum · 28/07/2012 11:04

And Britain is about pop culture and the NHS? So, you get really trashed at a concert and go to hospital to get a drunken head wound stitched? Well, that would make sense.

I can take the personal insults but I am WOUNDED that you should make fun of Crowded House.

An NZ Olympics ceremony would be amazing. Obviously. Peter Jackson could organize it.

OP posts:
KenLeeeeeee · 28/07/2012 11:04

I loved it, and I've been pretty apathetic about the whole thing so far.

There was never going to be a ceremony that pleased everybody but I think Danny Boyle did a great job. The bit with the Queen really tickled me. How amazing is she for doing that?!

NarkedRaspberry · 28/07/2012 11:04

It helps that GOSH have the rights to Peter Pan.

rainonmyparade · 28/07/2012 11:04

I felt very proud to be British last night. Wonderful show. Was a bit worried about how we were going to follow Bejing's spectacular show - but it was fantastic. Only part I was a bit Hmm was the Arctic Monkeys. Really? I am not a Paul McCartney fan either but I'll get over it

ken0eddie0kennedy · 28/07/2012 11:04

Not disputing their amazingness at all. I'm asking are they more successful? You're the one disputing it!

EnglishGirlApproximately · 28/07/2012 11:05

Actually OP, there should have been a section in the middle with someone whinging about it being a waste of money, then someone else saying they don't like the music followed by a couple of people of people banging on about the NHS needing more nurses so lets shut the games down to pay for them.

Then it would have been truly British Grin

LRDtheFeministDragon · 28/07/2012 11:07

I agree, I'm not comfortable with schmaltz. I think it is Not Terribly British, What? Wink

Taking the piss is terribly British, though.

NarkedRaspberry · 28/07/2012 11:10

It was worth every penny to have Cameron forced to sit through the part celebrating the NHS.

BrianCoxhasSmellySox · 28/07/2012 11:10

Yep, that's how I'm showing my true Brit colours - by moaning.

Grin
ArthurandGeorge · 28/07/2012 11:10

I loved it, really spectacular.

Best bit for me was the lighting of the cauldron and the design of the cauldron itself.

Worst bit was Macca.

LilyBolero · 28/07/2012 11:10

yy about Cameron, I bet that was deliberate by Danny Boyle!

MainlyMaynie · 28/07/2012 11:11

Possibly it wasn't aimed solely at your children? I'm not in the UK and people here loved it too. I thought it was great. You sound a cheery soul.

ken0eddie0kennedy · 28/07/2012 11:12

I'm only pulling your leg op, I'm a huge Crowded House fan. Would you like a piece of chocolate cake??!!!

SPsFanjoSponsorsTheOlympics · 28/07/2012 11:12

I enjoyed. The Queen annoyed me though. Checking her nails when Team GB came out. Looked up once then went back to her nails!

c4rnsi1lk · 28/07/2012 11:12

I can't find it on the I player - I can only find the countdown.