Disappointed in people's critics of Paris OG ceremonies

[Letti9]

I have been reading the disgusting comments about the opening and closing ceremony in Paris games and I am shocked but not surprised about the pathetic and ridiculous criticisms!!! British are so arrogant and always think they can do better...very disappointed with members of Mumsnet who I thought where a bit more open minded. I think it was amazing whether you agree or not!!!

Another example of arrogant comment🙄

Yes the bed's segment incorporated reading bedtime stories (Rowling read a passage from Peter Pan), which was a tribute to British children's literature.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Summer_Olympics_opening_ceremony#Second_to_the_right,and_straight_on_till_morning(21:35–21:47)

Without Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland there'd be no Walt Disney. It's the story that made the most impact on him as a child. Its illustrator John Tenniel was a pioneer of cartoons (a term coined in Punch for whom he was the chief cartoonist for 50 years).

There is the "English Cycle" of Disney films.... "Alice in Wonderland was made under the personal supervision of Walt Disney, and he took special care when animating British fantasy. He called them his "English Cycle'"

<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121009011612/www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article600292.ece/Barry-Ronges-Classic-DVD---Alice-in-Wonderland" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20121009011612/www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article600292.ece/Barry-Ronges-Classic-DVD---Alice-in-Wonderland

The 'English Cycle' of animated films included Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Jungle Book, One Hundred and One Dalmations, Sword in the Stone, Robin Hood and The Rescuers. Outside those he also made Mary Poppins and Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Disney also met with Roald Dahl in the 1940s when they had planned to collaborate until copyright issues emerged for his first children's story. Dahl would later be a chief inspiration for Tim Burton.

Danny Boyle mentions British children's literature in his ceremony programme alongside the Industrial Revolution, the World Wide Web and Shakespeare, and he was right to as without it the world would look very different.

TBF I think those ceremonies typically feel a bit drawn out on the day, and then in retrospect you just remember the interesting or unusual bits. No one remembers the speeches, but they always happen.

Not British. I’ve been in Paris for a good chunk of the Olympics, had tickets for some events and had a great time despite the sometimes incredible heat at some venues (I was slathered in factor 50 and a wide-brimmed hat and loose, elbow-length sleeves at the beach volleyball on the Champ de Mars, and I could feel my forearms burning; friends at the dressage in Versailles said similar). I liked the repurposing of existing venues (the temporary pool at the Racing rugby club was great) and the use of the city as a whole, and there were bits of the opening ceremony I enjoyed (on TV; friends who went say they saw little and left early despite having expensive tickets), I found the closing ceremony a bit of a yawnfest, particularly the music, and the LA bit underwhelming.

And seriously, when you’ve just watched female marathon runners getting their medals at the closing ceremony, after the women’s marathon was switched to last to commemorate the women’s March to Versailles, it’s really depressingly reactionary to watch a semi-clad dancer writhing in the background to add some ‘sexy’ to Snoop Dogg’s tired old misogynistic schtick.

On the other hand, some of the nicest things about being here in Paris didn’t seem to make it onto tv much or at all (only saw French coverage). The Marathon Pour Tous came right past my door and was absolutely lovely, with little way stops every km for spectators, entertainment, maquillage etc, and there was a great atmosphere, there was a rather sweet, village fete atmosphere at the beach volleyball.

You are determined and arrogant to assume you are correct and everyone else is wrong.

In your opinion the ceremonies were very good. A lot of people's other opinions disagree with you.

No more disgusting than your xenophobic comment regarding the British. Having an opinion that’s different is not disgusting. Plenty of non British have been critical too.

Exact quote from Boyle: "You'll hear the words of our great poets – Shakespeare, Blake and Milton. You'll hear the glorious noise of our unrivalled pop culture. You'll see characters from our great children's literature – Peter Pan and Captain Hook, Mary Poppins, Voldemort, Cruella de Vil. You'll see ordinary families and extraordinary athletes. Dancing nurses, singing children and amazing special effects."

The 2012 opening ceremony was slick and really did a great job in highlighting so many aspects of British culture that shaped the world, children's lit being one. The French opening was haphazard (not being in one location didn't help) and could have done more to showcase French culture that shaped the world.

I actually enjoyed the opening ceremony, but am massive francophile so mostly got what they were trying to convey - had to explain a fair bit to dh and dd though.

The closing ceremony had good moments but was oddly paced so parts of it really dragged. I didn't like the wobbly melisma singing, but I dislike that vocal style in general. It was worth watching for Andrew Cotter's excellent commentary (breakout star of these Olympics) and another glimpse of fit Tony...

Meant to add, the first singer who performed with a choir on VT was excellent and it was good to hear Benjamin Bernheim (although I was holding out for Ludovic Tezier, my favourite french opera singer).

I didn't know that British was a race🤣 so take back the xenophobic label cause I am certainly not!!!! I would appreciate as well if you weren't aggressive toward me as by reading the comments here I stand by my OP... I can't do fishmongers'wife exchange so please move thread!!!
But there is a saying: "it's like giving caviar to ..."

I'm also a Francophile (and an Anglophile), which is where the criticism comes from as the French are so much more than what they showcased (admittedly it's impossible to showcase everything).

There is a saying, "Only Paris is worthy of Rome; only Rome is worthy of Paris", explaining why they are only twinned with each other and no other cities (though I'd rank London up there with them as regards cultural importance). You wouldn't think it though by watching the ceremony.

The birthplace of cinema, the fashion, the cuisine, yet you had a woman from New York (Lady Gaga) singing and a weird parody of a painting by an Italian artist. Celine at least has a cultural connection to France. Remember Alicia Keys singing "Empire State of Mind" outside Buckingham Palace during the Queen's platinum jubilee..bizarre choice of an artist (and song), especially given London having produced more major artists than any other city. It was topped off with the lyric "let's hear it for New York". Really screamed Britain that did.

When did we reach the pathetic point where people aren't allowed different opinions? I didn't bother watching the closing ceremony, the opening one I thought was crap- if others liked it though good for them!

Closing ceremonies are always inferior to the opening. The large bulk of the budget goes to the opening which showcases the place, while the closing is basically an excuse for a piss up.

I thought the opening ceremony with the boats on the Seine was an innovative and imaginative idea. However, it didn't work as there was total failure to plan for any inclement weather (which they certainly did get) and that did spoil it. There should have been a plan to switch it to something different the stadium if necessary once they knew the forecast.

The games themselves I thoroughly enjoyed and I miss them already. They were well done and showcased Paris well. Can't wait for the Paralympics in a couple of weeks. 😃

The closing ceremony was disappointing and dragged on for too long. As for the handover to LA, who the fuck chose HER to completely ruin The Star Spangled Banner? It was barely recognisable from what it should be. That and the Tom Cruise shit are a taste of what is to come in LA in four years time. Again, I'll enjoy the games as usual and I am sure they will be very well done.

The opening and closing ceremonies will, I guess, be very much skewed towards Hollywood and showbiz because that is what LA is and it will showcase itself as such. . Very different to what we have just had, as it should be, but I've no doubt it will be huge and brash.

I agree @EEldrick47s , there were a LOT of omissions, especially given the iron grip Paris has had for centuries on the western cultural imagination. I expected more references to famous depictions in fiction for instance, and the only nod to its incredible place in fashion was that wet and underwhelming catwalk. It could have been more. But I don't think it was as dire as some are making out. It made me laugh, it entertained me (gallic shrug).

I really enjoyed the closing ceremony up until.the handover- the Tom Cruise bit was awful , and shows a taste of things to come I.e. the LA Olympics will be focused on how great America is and not on unity through sport. The fact the Americans show a different version of the medal table to the rest of the world - one that has historically favoured them - says it all really!

With every post, you demonstrate more and more arrogance, @Letti9.

The opening ceremony was a brave attempt but in my opinion it didn't really come off. They were unlucky with the weather and the content was a mix of dull, so-bad-it's-good, and plain bad.

Didn't watch the closing ceremony.

as the French are so much more than what they showcased

Absolutely. I love France, but I felt that the opening ceremony just didn't showcase what France was all about It was slow, drawn out and unspectacular.

British are so arrogant and always think they can do better...very disappointed with members of Mumsnet who I thought where a bit more open minded. I think it was amazing whether you agree or not!!!

When it comes to public spectacle, yeah, we’re better than the French.

So there.

(But French food is better, French education is better, many French civic and national policies are better…and France is much more beautiful than the UK.)

Xenophobia is the dislike of other nations or nationalities, nothing to do with race.
The expression is ‘fish wife’ not ‘fishmongers wife’.
I think you are alluding to ‘pearls before swine’ with your last comment but I can’t be sure.

There is nothing wrong with not liking the same thing as other people. I happen to think the musical Hamilton is dreadful but other people love it. Just because I didn’t like the opening or closing ceremonies doesn’t mean I’m wrong. I’m still waiting for these ‘disgusting comments’ you mention.

You sound nice, OP 🙄

Paris was amazing for the games. It wasn't di e for tv but for the people of Paris and France and the Olympiams and those who travelled to watch. That balloon was inspired, the way it rose at 10pm into the night sky and the fact you could view it for free during the day.

I love Eurovision. Part of the love is going 'wtf is this nonsense'. Sometimes that's cos you hate it and it's absolutely total bullshit. Other times it's just quite epic.

Personally I'd have liked more french bizarrely. And then the Hollywood stuff was as expected but actually really lazy and tired in its image it wants to sell to the world.

I would argue that Paris wanted to sell a forward looking image combined with history.

What's LA 2028 trying to sell? An outdated band with a lead singer who admits to questionable relationships with girls under 16 and has been done for physically assaulting a woman, a Hollywood star who is massively past it, belongs to a cult and has very questionable views about mental health (remember how mental wellbeing is increasingly linked to sports performance and physical wellbeing being) and has a face that's no longer his own, a rapper who had a pointlessly oversexualised woman gyrating behind him and then Billie Eilish who doesn't know what a woman which perhaps is understandable when you consider the above fellow acts who are being held up as inspirational...

It's like going back in time, to the dark ages, instead of actually tackling issues of exploitation and abuse of women rather than recognising terrible male behaviour and it's impact and wanting to put mental health back in the cupboard.

Were there really no better artists available and is that really the impression of the world LA wants us to have?

It's very depressing to see LA trying to push a past age. But given the social issues it has and it's desire to cover scandals it's not much of a surprise.

Quite.

France does a lot of things brilliantly.

But when it comes to pomp and spectacle, not many countries beat Britain. The Olympic ceremonies were an example of this.

France, and Paris in particular, has such a rich history and culture. Why not focus that, instead of indulging a few past their prime American celebrities? We'll get all that in LA. A missed opportunity.