SO, HOW WAS IT FOR YOU?
My morning began at 5.30am with rousing the kids from their sleep and wedging them in between hubby and me in the big bed.
You can’t miss the opening of the Olympic Games!
A highlight, the Satanic Mills. But where was the pomp? The ceremony?
My viewing ended with the youngest saying: “Mum, who is Paul McCartney?”
“He’s from The Beatles, dear.”
“Oh that’s right, I’ve heard of them.”
Groan! I am getting old.
In between was four hours of, well… hmmm.
We laughed a lot at Mr Bean!
As for the rest of it? Brilliant bits here and there, but, honestly I found it a mish mash of styles. I think Danny Boyle would have been lost without his pre-recorded grabs… and I’m not sure that’s how it should be done.
There wasn’t the use of the crowd in the way that Beijing did it. (OK it is a Communist regime and they’re good at that mass discipline stuff.) But who can forget how the Sydney 2000 ceremony opened with a lone horseman (it’s called “focus”, people). Then how Homebush stadium was used as a 3D canvas for a depiction of the Barrier Reef, then the extraordinary puppetry…Beautifully made giant fish, the acrobatic skin divers and twirling, whirling iridescent wildflowers…
David Atkins and Ric Birch delivered a stunningly beautiful opening that demonstrated a peerless artistic vision.
At London 2012, I would have liked to see more inclusion of the cultures that make Great Britain… well… great.
Where were the bagpipes? Where was the Welsh choir? The Morris dancers?(!!) The horse regiments and carriages? ( Perhaps I’m thinking of the Edinburgh Tattoo.)
It was almost as if all the pomp and pageantry had been done and dusted at the Golden Jubilee and, quite frankly, the Brits were over it. Fair enough, but I don’t think Boyle played to the universal understanding of British culture. Perhaps he thought that would be be kitsch, but I would say, in not employing the so-called “cliches” ( as in the massed 84 grand pianos from the L.A. 1984 Olympics playing Gershwin), he missed his mark.
I don’t have argument with his inclusion of modern British culture, at all.
Apparently many thought his take “subversive”. Maybe so. I’m not interested in the politics of it. I would still argue that his presentation was incoherent to a wider audience. And, on that basis, whatever his message and motive was, it failed.
The show (and it is a show, after all) was disappointing. Although the pyrotechnics were awesome.
What were your highlights and lowlights?
The opening was like a scene from The Shire in Hobbiton and rather underwhelming – too small in scale for the arena. I can always watch Sir Kenneth Branagh. The chimneys belching smoke were spectacular and the forged Olympic ring rising to the heavens… inspired. The National Health Service sequence… erm. ( Wonder what the Yanks made of that?) Voldemort was well daggy. And the whole bit with the house and the kids getting on the Tube to head for the city to a nightclub? The plot line of the lost mobile phone? Didn’t care for that much.( Maybe I am getting old.) The sequence with the Queen and James Bond was a tad cringe-worthy ( athough Her Maj was a good sport)…. and erm… struggling a bit now…
Did I mention we laughed a lot at Mr Bean?
The lighting of the cauldron was spectacular, I’ll say that.
And only one chime from that massive bell? I was SO hoping the thing would go off.
Can’t help thinking a full rendition of Tubular Bells, given that it is so familiar to so many (17 million sales we were told, more than once), would have made a brilliant soundtrack… finishing with Chariots of Fire or London Calling. Or, the marvellous The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams… surely that would have made out hearts beat out of our chests. (I should add that the Abide With Me segment with those extraordinary dancers was one moment when the ceremony reached the superlative artistic level one might expect of the Brits.)
Yes, I know, I know… I want to direct!
Some are saying that director of the show, Oscar-winning Danny Boyle – Trainspotting, Slum Dog Millionaire – deserves a knighthood. I wouldn’t award him one on this outing.
Although Sir Rowan Atkinson definitely deserves his!
All up, as I say, not one of the best opening to an Olympic games I’ve ever seen. Think I might get out my DVD of the opening of the Sydney games and show the kids how it’s really done…
PS: The kids have demanded that I mention that they didn’t like our Aussie uniforms. Too plain, they said. I think they would have preferred that our team all looked like that magnificent young man who lead the team from Fiji. But don’t you just love it when you are expected as a parent to know everything? “So where, EXACTLY, is Suriname, Mum?”
Your thoughts?
*Forgive me, but watch this video of the Sydney 2000 opening ceremony and tell me if it doesn’t have a sense of soul-stirring moment missing from the London 2012 games opening. And, I’ll argue, a real understanding of big scale “spectacle”.
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54 Responses to this article
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John Le Mesurier July 28, 2012
Danny Boyle epic fail!!!
Ok – I would’ve had the lads from Dads Army run on as the Germans entered the arena and round ‘em all up at the point of a bayonette
Then I would’ve got a Benny Hill lookalike to chase after the Swedish women’s volleyball team
Now THAT’S an opening ceremony!!!!!
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Pete July 28, 2012
Wendy I agree – given the hype and the early hour I had higher expectations. There is so much to tell about British history – that whole Frankie and June thing should have been Frankjie (goes to Hollywood) and Culture Club may ahve added some culture.
It was a shambles, disjointed, completely lacking in direction, and for the bost part, boring. As for Leila Mackinnon and Eddie McGuire – what the heck were they thinking at Nine? It was incredibly frustrating to watch – and there was very little to save it.
i am glad you have cast a similar eye across it – quite frankly, I epxected much more.
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Julie Wright July 28, 2012
Yes Wendy, I must admit I was a little bewildered some of the scenes that played out. Integration of history or lack of seemed to be the theme. The ending with Paul McCartney was a blooper. I was expecting the sounds of the orchestra and lots of voices singing out a song representative of ‘World Unity’. I was expecting a new song written just for the Olympics ceremony.
England is terrific for their pomp and pageantry and this was wonderfully showcased, however lack of vision on the broader picture was perhaps a let down. Different cultures and what they have brought to England in the new millenium.
All in all though, it gave all of us a break from the negatives in the world. -
Alex July 28, 2012
So basically you all wanted a bunch of tired cliches – some tedious ye olde England/We Are The World mashup! I think it represented modern Britain, and thank god for that. The poor country is probably tired of the world thinking of them as uptight old bores with nothing better to offer than Benny Hill, Dads Army and pointless parades and ceremonies.
I think it would’ve resonated with anyone under 40, especially any who spent their reckless youths in Britain (many of us).
Maybe, baby boomers, the time when everything catered to your tastes is coming to a close!
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Glenis July 28, 2012
I set the alarm then I sat up in bed and watched it too. I loved the first two parts especially the industrial revolution. Loved Mr Bean with the Chariots of Fire music, that was very well done. I was bored by the national health system section but overall thought it was fantastic. Loved the queen with James Bond…..now you do not see that every day, her majesty seeming to jump out of a helicopter!
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Alex July 28, 2012
Sorry Wendy – I was directing my comments more at the earlier commenters than you.
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Michelle July 28, 2012
I loved Mr Bean! I think the opening needed more of a focus.
With more contrasting moments. It felt unfocused most of the time with lots going on. The best moments focused on one character (Mr Bean)! -
Brad July 28, 2012
I am so with you, Wendy. I was beyond excited and could hardly sleep, ready to see what they were going to do and expecting amazingness. After the Jubilee (esp the concert) I thought it would be really innovative. In the end it was a lot of ‘small picture’ stuff – not many wow ‘big picture’ moments. A lot of people walking about, disjointed choreography and not many “oh my God!” bits. Loved the rings coming together and floating into the air. The lighting of the ‘cauldron’ was pretty but the way they’d gone on about the secret it was left as though something else was going to happen. The popular music section was a mess! So many great songs let down by a blow-up house with projections and kids dancing about in no particular order and don’t get me started on the social media update things on screen…Then Paul McCartney, really??
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Royce July 28, 2012
Ah…. Wha?…. Did I miss something?…… seems not. Good sleep
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Julie July 28, 2012
They could have just had the bits with Bond and the Queen at Buck House, and Becks speeding smugly up the river, and forgotton the rest. Good on her Maj for sending herself up. My how things have changed since the Diana fiasco. (Maybe some lessons for our Julia in that!) I’d have been happy to watch that for 4 hours! I actually thought it was a forecast of where the conservatives intend to send Britain (and Australia) back to.- smokestacks and forced labour.
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Stella Burnell July 28, 2012
Oh dear, apart from the initial ” industrial revolution” it was a bore, confusing and a mess.
Leila and Eddy — woeful. Leila watched the Bermuda group march in…” and the men are wearing shorts — sort of like board shorts….”. Leila, they were wearing their national dress ! Bermuda shorts , which come from Bermuda ! If I know that, you are getting PAID to know that. Groan ! -
Rose July 28, 2012
Haven’t seen the London Opening Ceremony yet, but took a quick look at the You Tube link of the Sydney Opening, and yes that lone horseman, Nikki the dreamtime girl and the sheer beauty of the ceremony still gives me goosebumps.
Spectacular Australia.I’m keen now to see how the Brits did it.
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Kate Doak July 28, 2012
As a member of the Torrent Path Choir at the Sydney Olympics and the Honor Guard for Sir William Deane at the Paras, I can honestly say without a doubt that both of the Sydney Opening Ceremonies were better than their London counterpart. Some people might call me biased, though it’s not without reason.
Sydney was inherently wittier in its presentation and was undoubtedly simpler. Whenever you are conducting a performance of that size, you need to make sure that everything flows and that the switch between Acts is smooth. London tried way too hard to be a show off and it failed badly as there was absolutely nothing that was truly spectacular that made you want to jump to your feet. While the Queen/Bond segment held promise, it didn’t come close to the potential that it could have had. Segments such as that journey through British Pop & Rock just plain sucked, while others were just too complex in order to fully grab the gist of or to leave the stadium within the time frame required. Having a precision driving team with Mini Coopers or Triumph Motorcycles (Both quintessentially British) do a segment similar to the horse riders at the start of the Sydney Games would’ve been more fun, simpler and easier to determine the purpose of than some of the other segments they went with.
Furthermore, by starting the Opening Ceremony at 9pm instead of a more reasonable 6pm, you’ve not only made things doubly hard for the athletes and performers, but you are putting an unbelievable level of strain on the infrastructure that supports Olympic Park. As anyone who’s gone to a major concert or sporting event at the MCG or Stadium Australia would know, moving 80,000+ people away from a venue all at once is a nightmare for both the service providers and audience/crowd alike. That particular move would have been an effort to placate the Americans, given that they would’ve wanted the O-C as close to their Prime-time viewing hours as possible. Instead it meant that a LOT of the Athletes would’ve decided not to participate in the March, which is sad for everybody involved.
I will admit however, that “Abide With Me” was a suitable tribute to both the 40th Anniversary of Munich Massacre, plus various Olympians who’ve passed on since 2008.
Switching targets to Channel 9 and I think we can all agree that having Eddie McGuire as one of the hosts was not a good call on their part. Nobody really springs to mind that they could have replaced him with, though his shot at Castar Samenya (South Africa’s flag-bearer) nearly made me turn the TV off in disgust. As a young Trans-woman, I can easily relate to a lot of the B.S. that young lady has gone through in relation to her gender and the sex-tests that the IAAC and IOC have conducted on her since 2009 and the lead-up to these Games. Gender diversity & sexuality shouldn’t be a punchline for a TV commentator.
The Games can only get better from here though, so here’s hoping that the competitions all run smoothly and in the spirit of fair play…. And that the Spice Girls don’t make an appearance at the Closing Ceremony… >_<
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Tara Nipe July 28, 2012
From Danny Boyle’s piece in the Olympics program:
“But we hope, too, that through all the noise and excitement you’ll glimpse a single golden thread of purpose – the idea of Jerusalem – of the better world, the world of real freedom and true equality, a world that can be built through the prosperity f industry, through the caring nation that built the welfare state, through the joyous energy of popular culture, through the dream of universal communication. A belief that we can built Jerusalem. And that will be for everyone.”I’m not saying I saw this golden thread, especially as I a) didn’t know this going in and b) didn’t watch the whole thing. But I like that there was a unifying theme, and I really, really like what it was. Also: yay, suffragettes
Here’s a link to a webshot of the program: https://twitter.com/rizmc/status/228929779917807616/photo/1/large
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Mumabulous July 28, 2012
I’ve put forward an argument in favour of holding a Parenting Olympics with a list of potential events. I am hoping to pitch it to the IOC.
http://mum-abulous.com/2012/07/27/go-for-gold-at-the-parenting-olympics/ -
Leah July 28, 2012
I wasn’t thrilled by the whole thing. Also, ending with ‘Hey Jude’ gave me really mixed feelings – one out of four Beatles isn’t really enough to give the song some power.
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Helena July 28, 2012
I couldn’t agree less! – I loved it and thought it was really well done, although the tribute to the NHS seemed odd – it could give the US something to think about – Paul McCartney ended a great show with a whimper – they should have pulled out Elton John and Rolling Stones with Paul and done a medley!
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Valerie Lawson July 28, 2012
It says a lot that everyone is searching for the good bits – and they were there – but as a piece of theatre it failed. The prelude – the green turf and the local yokels – was embarrassing, but the tempo picked up with the industrial revolution only to fall again with the mish mash of NHS, Mary Poppins chasing the baddies, and the sweet but weak romance. Akram Khan and his troupe dancing to Abide With Me was a big highlight for me but the only Wow moment was the lighting of the cauldron. Danny Boyle is a film maker not a producer of arena spectaculars (such as Ric Birch and David Atkins).
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Brad July 28, 2012
I was just saying the same thing to a friend, Valerie. He does up close well, not arena-style big moments though
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Monica July 28, 2012
Yep Wendy I am with you. I think it lacked theatricality too. Sorry Nick B!!! The Queen bit was good. Maybe our expectations were too high? Part of the hype etc that comes with every Olympics.
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Loz July 28, 2012
Hey Jude? Opening Ceremony? I don’t see the connection. Strange choice I thought.
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Benison O'Reilly July 28, 2012
Saw about 10 minutes before youngest son commandeered our only TV to play his PlayStation. The ten minutes I saw was the Frankie & June thing too . My husband actually asked me why I was watching ‘Video Hits’!
So glad I didn’t waste my time.To be honest I usually find Opening Ceremonies boring – I loathe musicals so it’s probably not surprising. Get on with the sport, I say.
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Peggy July 28, 2012
Wendy et al, what a bunch of whinging tragic oi oi oi’s you lot are! That was a GREAT opening ceremony, unsurpassed by others. If you don’t understand the modern British culture, that’s a reflection of your ignorance rather than a reflection of Danny Boyle’s talent. You have a touch of the tall poppies me thinks (and taste in your arse just quietly).
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Sarah Boggs July 28, 2012
was a bit disappointing I don’t like Mr Bean never have altho had a smile at him in the Chariots of Fire sequence loved the lighting of the cauldron very different>We are all too parochial of our Olympics
but then we should be lets the rest goes o k -
Jess July 28, 2012
You’re so right Wendy, the Sydney 2000 Olympic opening ceremony was completely amazing, and blew this one out of the water.
Watching some of it again in that clip brought back all the emotion of the night, especially the overwhelming pride – in being Australian, in the artistic talent we have here and in the sporting talent we have here. It was brilliant.
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John Roach July 28, 2012
There’s good and bad in everything. I have just returned from 5 weeks inthe UK, so, perhaps I have a perceptual advantage. Lots in the UK Opening were as good as a Drizabone-clad horseman cracking a whip and a youngster on a trapeze. The Brits have a lot longer and more complex modern history than our 200 odd years to condense. At least they have Branaghs, Rowlings, Beans and McCartneys. The best we could do was McGuire and McKinnon, who made The Shire seem like Four Corners compared to their inept, wooden, pathetic commentary. At least Danny Boyle has talent. The best of it was phenomenally brilliant, uplifting and spectacular, the worst was tolerable and a magnificent effort – more, by far, than we can say about the Channel Nine elite commentary team, who were a disgrace!
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Michelle July 28, 2012
I am currently living in the US so there was no direct telecast had to wait till prime time 8pm which at least was a civilized time. But the American commentators are just woeful they had no idea about anything. The best part was when the female commentator said “oh look isn’t that amazing the Queen is parachuting out of a helicopter isn’t she wonderful for her age”. The scary thing was she believed it was the Queen. My husband and I laughed laughed ourselves silly!
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Catherine July 29, 2012
I thought it was a bit of a mixed bag. Thought the house / outing / nightclub scene was confusing and would only have appealed to a marginal audience, although I did enjoy the music throughout. Not that I think I am a producer …..however….. had it been me, I would have gone for showing the morphing of music and culture across the years….or was that what they were trying to do! Too mish mash for me!
Thought the Queen sequence wasn’t done particularly well at all. Was a bit lame and well. a little embarrassing. Could have been great, but somehow missed the mark.
There were plenty of great moments however, these were ruined for us by McGuire and McKinnon. Why does the Nine Network think Australians are enamoured with these two. I for one…..am not! I wouldn’t even give either of them a spot as MC of the Annual Horse Parade at the Easter Show.
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Pinkcat July 29, 2012
I thought it was quite surreal like a trip on LSD or maybe a good joint. Loved the Queen and Pink Floyd and Mr Bean – and was glad they went for so much political correctness. Deaf singing children and drummers, a dig at the US with its plug for universal free health care and real nurses dancing – mostly black.
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Elizabeth S July 29, 2012
So you thought Sydney 2000 was better?! You don’t think you’re at all biased? As a biased Londoner, I thought Friday night was brilliant representation of modern British culture, wit and energy. My heart filled with pride at the sight of our beloved Beckham speeding down the Thames, I smiled at the inclusion of Michael Fish, the Artic Monkeys and Dizzy. I loved the doves on bikes, the representation of the squashed tube on a Saturday night, Thomas Heatherwick’s amazing flower cauldron and the inclusion of the NHS and GOSH. I’d possibly have deleted Mr Bean because I thought it was naff and I’d agree that I would have chosen somebody other than Macca to close it but overall I thought it was excellent. Most of all, I’m glad it wasn’t what you had expected and that the usual cliches were avoided. After all, some 7 weeks earlier, pomp and ceremony were extremely well covered in the jubilee celebrations and there are a number of annual televised events including the Royal Millitary Tattoo, The Edinburgh Tattoo and the Queen’s Birthday that provide sufficient coverage of this, very small, aspect of British culture.
Like I say though, I’m biased. If these openings were competitions, which thankfully they aren’t, I’d suggest that the most spectacular opening ceremony in recent times, was that of Athens. That event used technology combined with theatre in groundbreaking ways which has set the stage for large events since. Unlike the others though, it was specifically designed with the television audience in mind first (audience sizes were smaller in Greece). It is extremely difficult to please both stadia and television audiences and I thought that Danny Boyle’s thoroughly multimedia attempt to do so, did extremely well.
Of course we prefer our own – these events are deliberately filled with moments that are designed to evoke feelings and memories for those to whom they are relevant. We see them through heart-filled, rose tinted spectacles. In reality, David Atkins, Danny Boyle and their respective teams (many of whom are the same people) both did an incredible job for their countries that was relevant at the time. Well done to them all!
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chrissie July 29, 2012
I’m British and I could not have been more pleased and proud with what Danny Boyle created. It was beautiful, audacious and different!!! Haven’t talked to a Pom yet who wasn’t in tears during the ceremony because they found it moving and awesome. I didn’t feel the need to knock the Sydney 2000 ceremony and compare it. I think it’s sad that you felt the need to do that (shades of tall poppy syndrome perhaps or just gagging for more hits on your site
Sad sad sad – enjoy your triumphs and others rather than bitchin and having a go -
anna July 29, 2012
The Opening Ceremony was a Bronze from this judge, but Gold for Mr Bean! The real competition is good though!
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Joan Woolley July 29, 2012
I found the opening ceremony a mish mash of british history and their lives and times, and while I love Rohan Atkinson and his humour I found the segment with the London Orchestra spoilt their performance, loved him running on the beach though, the industrial segment a highlight, not what I would compere with other openings. the Queen looked as if she would have rather been at home in front of the TV.My summing up just a lot of people running about and making a lot of noise.
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Jenny E. July 29, 2012
I loved it so much. Highlights – the cauldron lighting was amazing, the whimsical hospital scenes – go nurses! Celebrating their egalitarian principles of the NHS. The scenes of the villages and montage of the industrial revolution were suburb. It is the spirit of everyone in the world being a apart of something that also inspires.
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cornishmaid July 29, 2012
As a Brit I would have been disappointed if we had Welsh choirs, morris men etc. I don’t think this is a current representation of Britain and I am sure the Welsh, English, Irish and Scots would agree. I was surprised to enjoy the opening ceremony but I did and I think that when an event has to tell a history as well as appeal visually we all need signposting if we are not aware of all cultural aspects – sometimes you can’t just get things. It was a celebration of the inclusiveness of society and of the improvement of quality of life for every British person since the industrial revolution – despite how much we moan we do have a relatively good standard of living even in these tough times. We may be parochial about which ceremony is “best” but this ceremony made me think about wider elements such as the funding of Great Ormond Street Hospital and the loss of citizens in London the day after we won the bid – for making me think I feel he did what he set out to do – to make it more than a visual extravaganza.
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Rhoda July 30, 2012
Opening ceremonies seem to be about a lust for spectacle instead of a prelude to the main act. Where does it all end and at what cost.
Must say I thought it interesting but am not British and didn’t expect to be fully engaged. My only cringe was when the ‘Queen’ jumped out in a dress. Don’t know why the cringe except it seemed a bit unladylike and she is anything but. Otherwise it was a night for the Brits and they should be the judge.
I might add that Channel 9′s coverage could do with a fix.
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Kris July 30, 2012
I was very glad that I didn’t get up early to watch it. There were some good bits – Kenneth Branagh was fantastic & I LOVED Rowan Atkinson. Oh, & that lady singing Abide with Me had me in floods of tears. Other than that, I think it was a bit, well, ho-hum really.
Eddie and what’s-her’face did nothing to improve the situation either.
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Amanda July 30, 2012
I love an Olympics opening ceremony – the optimism and enthusiasm never ceases to inspire. Overall, the Brits did a great job.
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Harriet July 31, 2012
Actually really enjoyed it. The kids liked it, I liked the British ironic sense of humour as well. Loathed Bloody Eddie McGuire. Lost count of the times I bellowed SHUT UP EDDIE at the television. It was well done, low key and not at all “lookatmelookatmehowacearewe”
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Manion July 31, 2012
As a Brit, I loved it. It was relatable and modern. So glad it avoided the usual pomp and pageantry (snore!) and gave a nod to the NHS.
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ellenni July 31, 2012
i managed to sit still long enough to see the smokestacks emerge then i left the room. i was BORED. it was soooo flat and i didnt get half the references. i hated eddy everywhere and the female who were commentating. thankfully i also recorded it on foxtel and f/f through the worst bits. i liked our uniform. who thought hey jude was a good idea. wendy mentioned some of the better highlights. i would like to add jose carreras and sarah brightman singing ‘amigo’s par sempre’. eddy needs to learn to speak clearly before commenting on anything else.
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ellenni July 31, 2012
peggy you are a pain and perhaps you are right that we dont understand modern english culture. i am offended by the oi oi oi reference. the show was dull like the weather plus it was so brown toned. why was there reference to northern ireland only? why wasnt there a new song? danny boyle’s show was a letdown big time. paul mccartney represents the 60′s culture and this is hardly modern.
