SkiFreak Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 Except for the cauldron glitches, indoor, and outdoor due to the rain, and today's tragic death... Overall it was a very beautiful opening. Great performances by Nelly Furtado and Bryan Adams (Nelly looked hot! )Excellent performance by Sarah McLachlan. Fantastic performance by K.D. Lang; she played one of my and my dad's favourite songs. And it was great to see her perform in these ceremonies as she did in Calgary in '88. With today's sad event, I thought Hallelujah was perfect. And then there was the mad fiddler Ashley MacIsaac. I thought that whole fiddler and tap dancing segment was different, but highly entertaining! The First Nations welcoming with the welcoming poles was great. I loved it. The snowboarder at the beginning, the projections, all fantastic. Donald Sutherland's narrations were great. They picked a good voice. And the torch bearers. Great choices for all five. And in some small ways I have connections to three of them... Steve Nash - went to high school with a good friend of mine. Rick Hansen - a 3rd cousin of a fellow classmate of mine I went to school with since kindergarten. Nancy Greene - a hero of mine since I was little and in the Nancy Greene Ski League. I got to ski with Nancy at Sun Peaks Ski Resort and have a great chat with her. Very fine lady. Great choices for the flag bearers! And it was great that the flags were lowered to half mast in remembrance of Nodar and that there was a moment of silence for him. My thoughts and prayers are with the Georgian team and Nodar's family. Such a tragic loss at such a young age. And my final thought: The best opening ceremonies for a Winter Olympics that I have seen in my lifetime. Well done Vancouver! Well done!
cormiermax Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 I have to disagree, Although there where a few bright moments, in my personal opinion the rest was just anti-climactic. Very disappointed tonight, I think it was a mixture between the high dependency on lighting effects and the fact it was indoors that ruined it for me. Even if the cauldron would have fully deployed I still find it fairly ugly and the way Gretzky was trucked away to the second cauldron afterward made it seem sloppy. Definitely not Atkins best work. 1
jawnbc Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 I loved it during Wednesday's dress rehearsal and it was even better on TV. My only demerits are: O Canada: HORRIBLE version The cauldron cock-up (of course; Atkins is 0/0 at OG when it comes to cauldrons) Half th e final torchbearers Where was Cindy Klassen? Why does Marc Gagnon get blanked again and again? He's the most successful male Canadian Olympian athlete EVER! Gretzy never got a medal; neither did Nash. How about Cassie Campbell--a hockey player with 2 gold and a silver medal? Things they nailed: Canada's story The Aboriginal parts--substantive, not superficial All the songs except O Canada The visuals Olympic flag bearers And the highlight...the spoken word poem! Canada is the WHAT in what's new! But really, I'm pleased and proud! 1
Sir Rols Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 it was a real literary hymn to Canada for me. Loved it!
Citius Altius Fortius Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 (edited) I enjoyed watching it - it was beautiful - there were few great moments (esp. the "whales"), but I was missing something - there was nothing what really surprised me - nothing what made me "speechless" (altough the blowing whales were amazing)... It was a nice and quiet Opening Ceremony with very beautiful poetic scenes, but I believe this OC will have a hard time to be remembered in eight/twelve years: there was no real surprise, which dropped my jaw (in German you can use "drop my jaw due a surprise") - that is exactly what makes the difference to my favourite OCs of Barcelona, Lillehammer, Sydney, Albertville or Salt Lake City... the highlight...the spoken word poem! ... that was really something new, but I have to admit that reminded me too much on a preaching missionary at a TV-church-service - and I stopped listening (by the way you have to keep in mind that not everybody does speak English) (and I have to add that a part of my fathers family are missionaries) Edited February 13, 2010 by Citius Altius Fortius
Sir Rols Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 See, I loved the poem. It was presented so minimally, just the author/reciter, but that was it's power to me. And the words of poem itself were touching, amusing and said something about the Canadian psyche. And it also somewhat gently self-deprecating and self-mocking, something which I can admire in any culture.
LuigiVercotti Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 See, I loved the poem. It was presented so minimally, just the author/reciter, but that was it's power to me. And the words of poem itself were touching, amusing and said something about the Canadian psyche. And it also somewhat gently self-deprecating and self-mocking, something which I can admire in any culture. Bang on SR! That poem was brilliant, and for the first time ever during an OC I've seen I felt pride for a country that I don't come from. This wasn't arrant American jingoism, Chinese middle kingdom bias or French artsy fartsy BS, this was a Canuck with a sense of humour and of place using his poetry to tell the world what being Canadian was aboot. Okay. maybe its not meant for domestic consumption but that poem made me marvel at our Canuck cousins...good stuff!
Sir Rols Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 Here's the text (Thanks to Olympian): "We Are More" by Shane Koyczan When defining Canada you might list some statistics you might mention our tallest building or biggest lake you might shake a tree in the fall and call a red leaf Canada you might rattle off some celebrities might mention Buffy Sainte-Marie might even mention the fact that we've got a few Barenaked Ladies or that we made these crazy things like zippers electric cars and washing machines when defining Canada it seems the world's anthem has been " been there done that" and maybe that's where we used to be at it's true we've done and we've been we've seen all the great themes get swallowed up by the machine and turned into theme parks but when defining Canada don't forget to mention that we have set sparks we are not just fishing stories about the one that got away we do more than sit around and say "eh?" and yes we are the home of the Rocket and the Great One who inspired little number nines and little number ninety-nines but we're more than just hockey and fishing lines off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes and some say what defines us is something as simple as please and thank you and as for you're welcome well we say that too but we are more than genteel or civilized we are an idea in the process of being realized we are young we are cultures strung together then woven into a tapestry and the design is what makes us more than the sum total of our history we are an experiment going right for a change with influences that range from a to zed and yes we say zed instead of zee we are the colours of Chinatown and the coffee of Little Italy we dream so big that there are those who would call our ambition an industry because we are more than sticky maple syrup and clean snow we do more than grow wheat and brew beer we are vineyards of good year after good year we reforest what we clear because we believe in generations beyond our own knowing now that so many of us have grown past what used to be we can stand here today filled with all the hope people have when they say things like "someday" someday we'll be great someday we'll be this or that someday we'll be at a point when someday was yesterday and all of our aspirations will pay the way for those who on that day look towards tomorrow and still they say someday we will reach the goals we set and we will get interest on our inspiration because we are more than a nation of whale watchers and lumberjacks more than backpacks and hiking trails we are hammers and nails building bridges towards those who are willing to walk across we are the lost-and-found for all those who might find themselves at a loss we are not the see-through gloss or glamour of those who clamour for the failings of others we are fathers brothers sisters and mothers uncles and nephews aunts and nieces we are cousins we are found missing puzzle pieces we are families with room at the table for newcomers we are more than summers and winters more than on and off seasons we are the reasons people have for wanting to stay because we are more than what we say or do we live to get past what we go through and learn who we are we are students students who study the studiousness of studying so we know what as well as why we don't have all the answers but we try and the effort is what makes us more we don't all know what it is in life we're looking for so keep exploring go far and wide or go inside but go deep go deep as if James Cameron was filming a sequel to The Abyss and suddenly there was this location scout trying to figure some way out to get inside you because you've been through hell and high water and you went deep keep exploring because we are more than a laundry list of things to do and places to see we are more than hills to ski or countryside ponds to skate we are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can't wait we are first-rate greasy-spoon diners and healthy-living cafes a country that is all the ways you choose to live a land that can give you variety because we are choices we are millions upon millions of voices shouting " keep exploring... we are more" we are the surprise the world has in store for you it's true Canada is the "what" in "what's new?" so don't say "been there done that" unless you've sat on the sidewalk while chalk artists draw still lifes on the concrete of a kid in the street beatboxing to Neil Young for fun don't say you've been there done that unless you've been here doing it let this country be your first-aid kit for all the times you get sick of the same old same old let us be the story told to your friends and when that story ends leave chapters for the next time you'll come back next time pack for all the things you didn't pack for the first time but don't let your luggage define your travels each life unravels differently and experiences are what make up the colours of our tapestry we are the true north strong and free and what's more is that we didn't just say it we made it be.
walei Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 Love this article written before the OC http://www.salon.com/ent/tv/2010/02/12/olympic_opening_canada/index.html?source=newsletter
Citius Altius Fortius Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 Here's the text (Thanks to Olympian): "We Are More" by Shane Koyczan yes - the text is wonderful and very well put...
Sir Rols Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 yes - the text is wonderful and very well put... Hey, Marts. I just noticed you're up to 125 posts in the past 24 hours. is that a board record?
olympian Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 well done vancouver. ignore the naysayers even if its one of your own. pat yourselves at the back. you did great. a touch of modernity while showing what canada is all about. well done. a very modern opening ceremony. just ignore the malfunction.
Citius Altius Fortius Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 Hey, Marts. I just noticed you're up to 125 posts in the past 24 hours. is that a board record? lol - I don't know - that is a result of the live chat - maybe I should shut up now # 126
Sir Rols Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 lol - I don't know - that is a result of the live chat - maybe I should shut up now # 126 Don't worry, Mate, continue. It's a High Holy day for a GamesBidder. Highlight of the gamesBids year. And it keeps me out of the top 10. I was embarassed I was leading the post count earlier today.
blueview Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 5 / 10 showed how projections can be great and how it can also overwhelm. too much maple leaves. there's no doubt the poet and the poem was good, i just think it dragged the segment way past its limit. the totems at the start really looked like ice zombies.
Dinhu4ever Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 I don't know what to think of the poem, really. It was nice, I guess. I wouldn't put it in my high points list nor in my low points list for the matter.
olympian Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 its canada, its the land of the maple leaf. the falling maple represented autumn. i guess you simply didn't get that part at all.
micheal_warren Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 (edited) Don't worry, Mate, continue. It's a High Holy day for a GamesBidder. Highlight of the gamesBids year. And it keeps me out of the top 10. I was embarassed I was leading the post count earlier today. How do you find out how many posts you have made in the past 24 hours? Edited February 13, 2010 by micheal_warren
Sir Rols Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 How do you find out how many posts you have made in the past 24 hours? Don't know about the year, but the day's top 10 are now listd on the main forum page.
Citius Altius Fortius Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 How do you find out how many posts you have made in the past 24 hours? Its beside the front page (right side - above the member status) # 127
jawnbc Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 Must be an adapted form of this though--much shorter
canucks4ever Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 Many peoples were saying how the winter olympics as gone too big... and losing the spirit... In that sense the olympic ceremony was really emotional, central on value, i felt a return too the old ways to make a ceremonies. A simple, beautiful ceremonies. A few things I`m kind of sad.... I think the flag holder jacques villeneuve should have been replaced by gaetan boucher. First of all gaetan was the most decorated canadian athlete from 1984 to 2002, and because he was the inspiration of so many canadians currently olympians. When journalist talk to him about the situation he answer in the best way. Hope vanoc will try to found a way to recognize him before the closing ceremonie. Second of all: the ceremonie had "no real end"... and I think this is what was missing... gretzky left for a long (too long journey) to lit the outside flame. The ceremonie miss that climax end... when the music, the flame, the fireworks and the open stadium give a picture of 1000 works.. Went he left I taught the show was still on... until i realize the ceremonie was done, we were just saying something extra. But I am really satisfied... was intelligent... and most of all really went well with the death of that olympian. The ceremony was really focus on emotions not about the "wow factor" and for that i think this simple ceremony was grabing this sad emotion. I dont think beijing will of been able to deal with that kind of situation because those ceremonie was at a different level. I think Vancouver was the best winter ceremonie overall but turin add an overall best segment.
stevie Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 It was ok but I feel like I just watched 3 hours of canadian self fellatio. I guess thats no different from past cereomnies but the patriotism was more apparent and compromised the artistry. 1
LuigiVercotti Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 (edited) It was ok but I feel like I just watched 3 hours of canadian self fellatio. I guess thats no different from past cereomnies but the patriotism was more apparent and compromised the artistry. Canadian Self-Fellatio? Bet that leaves a bad taste in the mouth...or maybe with a hint of bacon and maple syrup Edited February 13, 2010 by eusebius65 1
blueview Posted February 13, 2010 Report Posted February 13, 2010 its canada, its the land of the maple leaf. the falling maple represented autumn. i guess you simply didn't get that part at all. I know that, but as i said it had too much. I thought they would go beyond that. 1
Recommended Posts