I loved it! I thought it was quirky, funny, touching and very British.
Can we put on a show?!
Some of the highlights:
- Changing the stage setting from rural to industrial Britain, with Kenneth Branagh as Isambard Kingdom Brunel quoting from The Tempest in the middle of it all.
- Dizzy Rascal singing Bonkers.
- The tributes to those who died in both World Wars, and the 7/7 victims.
- Mr Bean playing with the London Symphony Orchestra.
- Music through the decades that have passed since London last hosted the Olympics.
- Moths on bikes.
- David Beckham having the time of his life driving a speed boat up a canal.
- The Hill of Flags.
- The Queen parachuting from a helicopter with James Bond, into the Olympic Stadium.
Only in Britain could such an eclectic mix work so brilliantly.
My favourite part, however, was the amazing cauldron. Each child mascot who accompanied one of the 204 participating countries carried a copper (I think) bowl. When the flame was lit, the bowls lifted into the air to make one giant flame. Absolutely fabulous.
It was inspired not to use a famous athlete to light the final flame; but seven future Olympians: young people who show promise and who were nominated by older athletes such as Dame Kelly Holmes and Sir Steve Redgrave. It embodied the spirit of the intended legacy of these games: to nurture the young people of our country who hope to become athletes.
It made me proud and I might have wept a little if I hadn’t been so British. Fortunately, my disgust at the chavvy Team GB outfits with their gold collars overcame any uncharacteristic sensibility I might have had.
Here is a slideshow of scenes snapped from my television. I didn’t think of taking pictures until two and a half hours into the ceremony. If there was an Olympic event for Great Ideas At The Last Minute, I’d have taken Gold and Silver yesterday; and Bronze for the Having The Brass Neck To Share Bad Photographs On A Blog event:
Wov … didn’t know that London was the host for OS this year *laughing !!!! Congratulations.
What we saw in the US was fantastic. Unfortunately NBC, the company broadcasting the Olympics who suck, edited it drastically and talked over much of it. Plus they kept breaking it up for ads. So a lot of what you are mentioning we never saw.
But… I loved the opening with the pastoral UK. And then it becoming the industrial UK. Brilliant! Actually, I loved it all. Kept waiting for Doctor Who though – and all we got was a brief sound of the Tardis.
Good stuff. I would, and will if I can find it, pay to see the entire thing uncut and without the NBC broadcasters (who suck!) talking over it all.
I never gave Doctor Who a thought! And I call myself a fan. I didn’t hear the Tardis
Don’t know how I missed it.
Some commentary was necessary, I feel, because there was so much going on. I thought Branagh was Dickens at first, until our commentators told me otherwise
Nothing wrong with those pics.
Hope the Queen landed safely.
She did, thanks
I agree with most of your highlights. If for nothing else, the copper cauldron lighting, the James Bond scene with HM and the hilarious Mister Bean made the hours of ploughing through some rather underwhelming bits. I could have done without Paul McCartney going on far too long at the end – seemed like an anticlimax. Weren’t those drummers fabulous – I was aching in sympathy for their poor arms!
I’ve sent you some ‘orrible pix.
They were! Even though they weren’t using real drums, the action was the same.
I have to admit, it was very different–the entire history of Britain and all things British in one place, plus the Queen and confetti and David Beckham in a speedboat and a hill of grass for the flags. It was very British, or at least what I think of as British. Well done.
Thanks! It went down well here
It was a very nice evening all around.
Thanks, Wayne
It was interesting enough, as these things usually are, but Mr Bean doing his one-note bit for the symphony was worth the price of admission alone!
He was marvellous
We were so pissed off that NBC (Never Been Clever) wouldn’t show it in real time that we didn’t watch it. Instead, we taped it so we can watch it today and skip stupid commercials and their inane prattling.
From what I have read and heard, we’re in for a real treat! Thanks for the review, Tilly.
You are! Don’t expect Chinese precision, though the timing was good.
I can’t see the video, but we did catch part of the opening ceremony. We came in when the Mary Poppins and NHS nurses were putting children in large beds. I must admit I was a bit confused, but read the NYTimes this morning to find out what happened. Glad to hear all you Brits are having such a good time. Sure beats the 1948 Olympics when you put everyone up in old Army Barracks and told them to bring their own towels. Dianne
Ah, but we did give them double rations! Over 5000 calories when everyone else was restricted to half that.
Let me add to the grumbles of other Americans that NBC chose to edit and chatter. Why do they do that? It detracts from the experience. We are watching the live road race right now over morning coffee. Looks like a beautiful day, there!
In some parts of the country
We have grey cloud. But no rain, thank goodness.
I missed the parachute! Bummer — I’m off to Google to find it.
Did you get it?
Yes, thanks! Gracious of her to go along with the joke! Yay Elizabeth!
She really was a good sport!
She really was a good sport!
Wasn’t it fab!I loved it!I didn’t think it would move me as much as it did
dare I say “proud to be British”
Ssh! Some Johnny Foreigner might hear you!
I just wonder how many of those athletes will regret their gurning at the camera, in years to come, and chewing gum with their mouths open as they paraded for all the world to see? hahah!
Wasn’t convinced by the archaic nurses. Was that to suggest that the NHS is old fashioned and needs to keep up with the times?
But those butterflies on bikes – they were lovely! And the commemorative bit, danced in silence was most effective
The gum was awful, wasn’t it?
I did think the athletes could have marched a little more neatly, especially the bigger groups.
A really good show, Tilly….
It really was
Well… I have managed to miss everything Olympic… but reading your post I can see between the lines the overwhelming pride you have for your country!
Enjoy!
Ssh! You’ll ruin my reputation
Haven’t watched the whole thing yet – it’s waiting on DVR – but I did see the Queen parachuting. Hilarious! What a great lady. And I hear Sir Paul McCartney was involved – still dreamy!
He went on a bit too long but was great otherwise
I didn’t watch it here – now I wish I had.
Well, it was looooong
It certainly was an amazing spectacle. My favourites were Daniel Craig and Mr Bean……. from the sublime to the ridiculous.
I loved the openning ceremonies, TB! They were the best I’ve seen. I posted a few TV snapshots.
Already (I got up late this morning and signed in even later still) I have a heckler who didn’t think much of it and another who tuned off after all the political ads. She lives in one of our “Swing States” and has to put up with lots of Romney/Obama political ads already.
[Did you know that we only have a handful of these "Swing States" that will decide the next presidential election? Texas is soooo Republican that any other vote doesn't count--each state votes by it electoral delegates and they will all be Republican--a few times the majority vote of the U.S. did not determine the election.]
Jim’s Six W
..ords for July 28
I did actually know that – I’ve watched all seven The West Wing series at least six times
It was fabulous fun! I put up a post of my favorite parts too, BUT doggone it! I forgot to mention Mr. Bean which I also loved. You guys did a fabulous job with this. Now I’d like to meet the Queen. She looks like a good sport.
I read your post and enjoyed it. I missed three things out that I wanted to mention – there was just so much!
Well done Brits!
Thanks Yank!
Thanks Yank!
We didn’t watch all of it, but what we saw was spectacular. Good on your country!
Thank you
Thanks for the slide show, Tilly. Not sure why but I was awake crazy early yesterday (4am- must’ve been excitement?). Watched till the athletes started to unroll, then fell asleep in the bath, but made it back in time for the lighting of the torch. Phew!
Phew indeed! The best part of the night
It was quite a show indeed! (:>)
May the games begin!
And we’re off…no medals for Team GB on Day One
Unfortunately I couldn’t watch it because it was very late at night but my father did and he found it sooo amazing! Epic!
Excellent!
That staged jump with Bond and the Queen was brilliant… and funny!
Hilarious!
I’m a bit late joining in with this post, but we were actually in a restaurant in Pimlico, London when the ceremony was on, enjoying a meal with friends. We saw the red arrows fly over as we made our way to the restaurant. We managed to make it home in time to watch the lighting of the cauldron, accompanied by a cup of coffee.
Getting in at the beginning and end – good timing
Thanks for joining in!
I hear it was a good show; didn’t get to see it, but I assume there will be reruns, and re-reruns, and so on.
Thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog
It was great fun to watch. You should see it if you can
Mr Bean! Mr Bean!
Thanks for passing by.
My pleasure