Opening Ceremony

[Mainad 203]

I think it was a show loved by Brits, found to be mediocre by everyone else.

Actually, I think it's more a case of a show loved by some Brits and loved by some others too whilst some Brits and some others were not so keen!

Edited January 1, 2013 by Mainad

[baron-pierreIV 1693]

Actually, I think it's more a case of a show loved by some Brits and loved by some others too whilst some Brits and some others were not so keen!

Really, it was a mixed bag -- like other ceremonies.

[baron-pierreIV 1693]

I don't really see why the fact that one element of the London 2012 Opening Ceremony bore some similarity to one part of a Cirque show matters that much.

It doesn't detract from the overall quality of the show although not many people seem to think that the show demonstrated much quality judging by most of the comments around here.

I like to give every Ceremony the benefit of the doubt...that it unveiled something new, and original, and groundbreaking. That whatever new effect it used pushed the envelope of Ceremonies to an even greater edge. Thus, it does take your (my) wind out a little when you discover that such a stunning effect as the 'rising of the smokestax' in the said sequence, has had its roots elsewhere. That it wasn't all that original and groundbreaking after all -- and that the original use be given proper credit. That's really my whole point.

Edited January 2, 2013 by baron-pierreIV

[mattygs 274]

As corny as it sounds, I think watching the DB commentary on the bluray set makes you appreciate the ceremony more.

I think before I was *fond* of the ceremony, with some bits that I watched many times, and a few bits I thought were a tad under par. But listening to the whole ethos and concept that DB and FC had for it, you do sort of understand it a little bit more.

So I echo those who say try and watch the bluray.

[illustrado 75]

just found this during the holidays:

http://vimeo.com/fiftynineproductions/videos

these are title stings. some are only shown in the staduim

[daveypodmore 520]

Im still yet to actually talk to anyone that wasn't blown away by the ceremony.

[cormiermax 89]

Im still yet to actually talk to anyone that wasn't blown away by the ceremony.

Yeah, every Brit iv talked to also loved it. International reception has been mixed though.

[Sir Rols 1902]

Yeah, every Brit iv talked to also loved it. International reception has been mixed though.

And surely that's the most important thing, that the hosts were happy. They're paying for it, after all. I also found it was pretty postively viewed by all the Brits I talked to in the UK - even friends who were usually Oly-sceptics.

It's a bit like Sydney's for me. I'm sure it's dated now, it has certainly been bettered. But it's always going to be the one that touched my soul closest.

[runningrings 678]

Bias aside, I think Sydney's still remains the best combination of raw humanity and mass human spectacle. It was as far as you could go in terms of the basic, large scale mass people power production. I think the huge swing towards technology in Athens reflected this, even Beijing and London with their respective people driven productions, still relied in advanced technology far more than Sydney did. 2000 was a great end to the era started by Moscow in 1980.

[Olympian2004 511]

It is weird, if you want bad reviews of the ceremony you come on here, if you want the positive response you go anywhere else on the internet. Its purely subjective.

Please show me anyone here on this board who gave the ceremony a completely bad review. Yes, maybe one reads more critical points here than you do when you ask Joe Public - but is that really such a surprise? We are Olympic aficionados, some here have enough knowledge about Olympic ceremonies to fill books with it. Many here have been watching different Olympic ceremonies (either live, live on TV or in retrospect on TV or the internet) for years. So it's no miracle that we do compare the ceremonies constantly and find weaker points Joe Public who maybe watches his first Olympic opening ceremony ever (at least with bigger attention than he did at previous ceremonies) probably doesn't notice at all.

And after all, you're right regarding that it's purely subjective. Some people prefer the avantgardistic, artistic and philosophical approach of Dimitris Papaioannou at Athens 2004, others prefer the colourful, less intellectual and more entertaining approach of Ric Birch at Barcelona 1992 and Sydney 2000, and there are others who prefer the mix of entertainment and deep meaning provided by Danny Boyle at London 2012. We will never find just one uniform opinion about an Olympic ceremony on this board, and this is actually what makes this board so interesting. What should we discuss about if we hadn't our individual opinions and approaches anymore?

I can only recommendyou (since this already led to your temporary departure from this board) not to take it all too seriously and to accept other opinions even on topics you (understandably) feel very proud and therefore sensitive about. Of course, as citizen of a host nation, one almost always has a different opinion than foreign viewers who watch such a ceremony from a certain distance (geographically as well as patriotically). But everyone is entitled to his opinion, and since the world is not uniform, opinions inevitably can't be either.

[Athensfan 1081]

Im still yet to actually talk to anyone that wasn't blown away by the ceremony.

Fly over for a visit.

There were some wonderful moments, but also quite a few disorganized looking head-scratchers. It wasn't terrible, but I have yet to speak to anyone on this side of the pond who really loved it.

[cormiermax 89]

Yeah everyone iv talked to locally was disappointed by it, some even going as far as to say it reminded them of the MTV music awards... I wouldn't go that far, although the texting segment... ugh. Just so inconsistent.

[LOUIS 26]

It is weird, if you want bad reviews of the ceremony you come on here, if you want the positive response you go anywhere else on the internet.

Im still yet to actually talk to anyone that wasn't blown away by the ceremony.

There are dozens of forums where London OC was criticised much more harshly than here...

[The Tower Bridge Fox 48]

I sort of feel the need to publicise the ceremony by saying it was directed by an Oscar wining director

took precedence over appointing the right man for the job.

I still love the meadow set though.

[Athensfan 1081]

I sort of feel the need to publicise the ceremony by saying it was directed by an Oscar wining director

took precedence over appointing the right man for the job.

I still love the meadow set though.

I agree about the set for "Green and Pleasant." It was delightful. I just wish we'd seen more of it!

[Citius Altius Fortius 560]

I think it was a show loved by Brits, found to be mediocre by everyone else.

Well, I am not British, but I love the OC of London 2012 - I wasn't able to see all the details of the show, since I sat in the stadium and watched it in person....

Many people sayed that they were not able to understand parts what was shown during the OC - it worked for me - I couldn't understand all what the stadium speaker said or what was shown on the screens, but e.g. the scene with the house "sent" my memory right back to some sunday mornings, when I was visiting Lee in Manchester and we sat on the floor of the living room and ate some breakfast and watched some TV and we talked all the world and his brother...

Attending both ceremonies in London 2012 made me aware that it is something completely different to watch an OC on TV or being in the stadium. For me the opening ceremony was an introduction into the "British mind" - it was a welcome from the British people to the world...

The closing ceremony was a big party - they celebrated the end of very succesful Olympic Games with thousands of people from around the world - the stadium floor was decorated with famous London sights...

My personal "problem" is that it is very difficult for me to "rank" the ceremonies of London into my "ceremony charts", since I watched all the others on TV only...

Edited January 6, 2013 by Citius Altius Fortius

[daveypodmore 520]

Being there in person was the greatest moment of my life, I was glad to share some of the day with you Martin.

I loved it, everyone I know loved it, thats good enough for me.

And I certainly dont think it was perfect, there was a lot of things I think could have been done better, but that doesnt mean I still cant love it, anyone that says one of these massive shows has ever been totally perfect is a loony as far as Im concerned.

The reason I left this forum is because to leave the amazing event that was London 2012 after witnessing it first hand then coming on here and reading comments on here that in no way bore any resembelence to what I had and was witnessing made me think being on here was a pointless exercise.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I dont have to come on here to read them do I. As everyone is entitled to their opinion, please dont critisise me for expressing mine.

[cormiermax 89]

Not at all Davey, I completely understand your opinion. I think perhaps the ceremony was directed in a way where the British public would better understand it. To an outsider though, as many have said it didn't really make much sense. I also think this is the first time a ceremony has been directed in such a way, it isnt a bad thing as the tax payers who funded it loved it, but those of us outside looking in where left largely unsatisfied, if not disappointed. It was my least favourite ceremony over all, but it certainly wasn't an embarrassment and the British should be very proud.

[cormiermax 89]

Well, I am not British, but I love the OC of London 2012 - I wasn't able to see all the details of the show, since I sat in the stadium and watched it in person....

I think it was in large part due to you being in the stadium, thats just a guess but I know if I was there in person I probably would have loved it too!

[mjb22 19]

I also haven't spoken to anyone who didn't like the Ceremony, although being British, the vast majority of my sample are indeed from the 'Isles of Wonder!'

Edited January 6, 2013 by mjb22

[Olympian2004 511]

Being there in person was the greatest moment of my life, I was glad to share some of the day with you Martin.

I loved it, everyone I know loved it, thats good enough for me.

And I certainly dont think it was perfect, there was a lot of things I think could have been done better, but that doesnt mean I still cant love it, anyone that says one of these massive shows has ever been totally perfect is a loony as far as Im concerned.

The reason I left this forum is because to leave the amazing event that was London 2012 after witnessing it first hand then coming on here and reading comments on here that in no way bore any resembelence to what I had and was witnessing made me think being on here was a pointless exercise.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I dont have to come on here to read them do I. As everyone is entitled to their opinion, please dont critisise me for expressing mine.

I only criticised that your criticism towards this board was very harsh back then - and you seemed (at least to me) to paint all members who dared to criticise even only a few aspects of the ceremony and/or the Games with the same brush. If you had a different impression of the Games due to witnessing them personally, we could have discussed calmly about it. But suddenly storming off the board in a rage without really discussing what exactly you perceived differently was not exactly what I found fair and constructive.

[paul 617]

I figured some Brits would lose interest after "their" games, not to mention it's not too exciting these days in terms of bids. I've never heard anyone say ANY ceremony was perfect; obviously London was more spectacular in person where spectacle supersedes precision and context. It’s not like there’s a movement against London 2012 a lot of people just felt the ceremonies were a mess.

[Olympian2004 511]

I figured some Brits would lose interest after "their" games, not to mention it's not too exciting these days in terms of bids. I've never heard anyone say ANY ceremony was perfect; obviously London was more spectacular in person where spectacle supersedes precision and context. It’s not like there’s a movement against London 2012 a lot of people just felt the ceremonies were a mess.

I don't think so. Frankly, I don't remember anyone here on this board who thought that the ceremonies (especially not in the plural form) "were a mess". There were some comments of people who weren't fond of the opening ceremony and who thought that it wasn't played out very well. But even they didn't say that it was a complete mess. Regarding the closing ceremony, the praise here on this board was actually much bigger and there were only a few critical voices who didn't like that the ceremony was designed mainly as a concert (disregarding that closing ceremonies traditionally are designed as concerts and less as yet another spectacular history/culture show).

So I think that you're exaggerating this board's reaction to London's ceremonies.

[paul 617]

I don't think so. Frankly, I don't remember anyone here on this board who thought that the ceremonies (especially not in the plural form) "were a mess". There were some comments of people who weren't fond of the opening ceremony and who thought that it wasn't played out very well. But even they didn't say that it was a complete mess. Regarding the closing ceremony, the praise here on this board was actually much bigger and there were only a few critical voices who didn't like that the ceremony was designed mainly as a concert (disregarding that closing ceremonies traditionally are designed as concerts and less as yet another spectacular history/culture show).

So I think that you're exaggerating this board's reaction to London's ceremonies.

Right, lets not include the closing, as it’s always a bit messy by design but I could data mine you a long list of “mess-worthy” comments from this forum about the opening. After Beijing it was just going to be impossible to achieve that level of presentation and organization the ceremonies had reached, so London had to shift gears and do all they could do. I still think the main problem was the director.

[cormiermax 89]

They should have gone with someone more familiar with theater direction. I think one of the issues may have been he tried to direct it as if it was a movie.