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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:
ThePigOnTheWall · 28/07/2012 11:55

Brian Biscuit

BrianCoxhasSmellySox · 28/07/2012 11:56

Pig Biscuit

mwahahaha! Wink

manicbmc · 28/07/2012 11:56

All that money wasted on state of the art sports facilities that will be used by generations...

All that extra tourism generated around the country...

A chance to show off a bit.

Sneerers piss me off. And yes, hypocritical much?

Olympicnmix · 28/07/2012 11:57

Olympia, NZ would have more sheep in the show than us.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 28/07/2012 11:57

I thought a tribute to the NHS was rather nice, and like the idea of it as two fingers to the tories, but because I can, I will moan that it annoyed me that apparently (so you would think), nursing is what women do.

(What, I'm not allowed one teeny feminist rant? I have more, I'm just being restrained.)

YouOldSlag · 28/07/2012 11:57

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

Hold the front page, I let my 6yo watch films that were made before he was born.

I am the biggest Olympic cynic in the world but last night converted me. It was like watching a musical of the history of my country and my life and it blew me away. The mood changed from sombre to celebratory, there was comedy, music, history, pride, compassion, inclusion and celebration.

Mr Bean is famous worldwide- one of British TV's most successful franchises. Harry Potter? again, famous worldwide. The music spanned decades and included classical pieces from British composers. If that's a North London Dad's playlist, as you say it is, OP, then it was a bloody good one.

The choreography, timings, special effects and all round electric atmosphere was outstanding. If that doesn't impress you OP, then nothing ever will.

YABU

LRDtheFeministDragon · 28/07/2012 11:58

Why is it hypocritical to sneer? Confused

We like sneering. We are upholding a proud British tradition.

gotthemoononastick · 28/07/2012 11:59

Loved everything,including Macca.But were African.

NotLikeThatYouWont · 28/07/2012 12:00

Hang on - when did "friend of Nick Hornby" become some kind of insult? What's he done? Why shouldn't a friend of his design the Olympic opening ceremony? I'm not exactly a fan of his writing but I didn't know it was contagious. Grin

Admit it, OP. You've got a perve about middle-aged men and this is a cunning attempt to pretend that you haven't.

manicbmc · 28/07/2012 12:00

I didn't say it was hypocritical to sneer.

BrianCoxhasSmellySox · 28/07/2012 12:00

manic we'll never make the money back that we've spent.

It's just da troof.

Makes me sad.

BTW I don't mind money being spent on the games themselves, but the opening ceremony and all the corporate bullshit that has gone with it - that's what I sneer at.

Oh and the fact that if you dare speak out against it, you are unpatriotic and a sneerer? No, I just don't want to swallow yet more crap from this government about what a great job they're doing shafting the country. Labour were as bad, I'm not anti Tory (no, I am), I'm anti screwing over the country that I love.

carycach · 28/07/2012 12:00

My 7 yo loves mary Poppins.Probably knows it word for word by now.

FushiaFernica · 28/07/2012 12:01

slarty I meant this current governments attempt to privatise NHS, not historically.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 28/07/2012 12:01

Oh, I'm sorry - what is the hypocritical bit then?

ThePigOnTheWall · 28/07/2012 12:01

brain Biscuit

this could run and run

BrianCoxhasSmellySox · 28/07/2012 12:02
Grin

truce?

Biscuit
OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 28/07/2012 12:02

It's not screwing over the country though. Lots and lots and lots of us in this country are loving it.

sabbby82 · 28/07/2012 12:02

Here here kayano
So many miserable people complaining its pathetic! Someone had to design it and who ever did would get slated as some people are never happy unless they're bitching.
I thought it was amazing!

AlbertoFrog · 28/07/2012 12:03

Loved it. But they could have had something better to close the ceremony.

Obviously had one glass too many of vino last night though as I got quite emotional at times (abide with me)

Simply brilliant Torch

ThePigOnTheWall · 28/07/2012 12:03

:o

OK Biscuit

LRDtheFeministDragon · 28/07/2012 12:03

Lots of people in this country would love it if David Cameron spent the entire budget on buckets of chips for everyone.

This does not prove it would be a good idea, does it? That's why we elect someone, hopefully someone brighter and more skilled than the average, to do his job. Look how well that worked. Hmm

Shakey1500metresloser · 28/07/2012 12:04

I was sceptical at the beginning and admit I thought it would be a shambles and an embarrassment. I was glad to be proved wrong. The industrial chimneys rising up and the olympic rings being forged, then lifted was BLOODY AMAZING!

Mr Bean was hilarious and the music was great. I felt proud to be British last night, Danny Boy-le did a truly wonderful job and should be knighted forthwith Grin

The only downside, as pointed out, was Macca. They should have had Coldplay or somesuch.

TheSkiingGardener · 28/07/2012 12:05

Ok then OP, how would YOU fill 3.5 hours of TV. What would be in your version of the opening ceremony?

BrianCoxhasSmellySox · 28/07/2012 12:05

LRD - are you me? Stop saying what I'm thinking! Actually, don't, keep saying it as you are more eloquent than what I is.

Bye for now!

Doha · 28/07/2012 12:05

Agree with OP--it was the worst 4 hours of TV ever watched. Wish l had turned off but kept waiting for something good to happen. Must admit Mr Bean was moderately amusing but the best part was the shot of the Queen picking her nails