worst Opening Ceremony ever, bar none

[princerupe74]

one massive boring disappointment.

[LazyGun]

The Paul McCartney slot was, in my opinion, the only hitch in an otherwise marvellous and entertaining spectacle. Highlights for me were the Mr. Bean sketch, even though I am not a big fan of Mr.Bean :), the British Musical highlights sequence - Pretty Vacant with the royals watching on. HRH and Bond parachuting in, and that technically brilliant cauldron at the end.

Based upon my memory of previous opening ceremonies, it might not have had quite the grandeur of Beijing, but more than made up for that with its energy, enthusiasm and good humour.

[gness]

Oldman....I live in England....very happily because, like I said, you`re a lovely lot!

Attention span is spot on LB. Something to make us think instead of being spoonfed a spectacle that washes over and is soon forgotten.

[sir.prize]

gness - simply ignore Oldman. He's been suspended; and rightly so.

[venator]

Brilliant - Britishness at its best! OK, Paul McCartney wasn't great, but anyone who wants to find faults in anything, will find them and good luck to them!

Perhaps princerupe regrets his offering, possibly as much as this IOC official...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7_GtqtDEzU

[sir.prize]

princerupe74 - you really did have a miserable Friday evening then. You must be more a Frankie than a Danny Boyle fan?

Wish we could do without the cr*p commentators too. They've already implied that Becks is lighting the cauldron. WRONG!

We'll soon know who'll light the Olympic cauldron.

You stupidly predicted endless dull preamble on bbctv. boring interviews with boring athletes.

In view of your scathing comments and personal disinterest in the spectacle, why did you sit glued to your telly?

PS: The programme had no commentators.

[gness]

Blimey...thanks. Had missed that...thought he was just a bit squiffy.

[boxtops]

Can't agree with you, rupe, it is was wonderful.

[boxtops]

... and yes, part of the joy of the programme after 9pm was that there was NO commentary, we just watched and enjoyed the whole spectacle unfolding - an extremely clever production.

[Brenden]

Best ever boxy - and the olympic flame - superb.

[dennisb66]

Sorry Princerupe but i think the show was fantastic and innovating.Well thats my opinion anyway.

[gness]

Frankie Boyle. :-))

[Ian4]

I agree as it was mostly for the English and when has rugby featured in the games. It will be of help to the folk north of the border in their persuit of Independance. Sir Chris Hoy was the best bit and the children from Wales

[Boto]

I thought the second part was okay (after the athletes came into the stadium) but if it hadn't been for the commentary I wouldn't have known what the first part was all about. e.g. I didn't immediately associate Kenneth Brannagh with Brunel - he could have been anyone in fancy dress. HM was looking bored and Prince Philip looked as if he were reading something!

[Kiki-frog]

Ooh, there are some right old miseries around, aren't there? I thought it was fantastic. Beautifully performed, imaginative and original. Loved it.

[ladybirder]

princerupe is very quiet and not defending his OP.
What I find amazing is that his opinion was formed at 21.35pm when the ceremony had hardly begun!

[Mick-Talbot]

Ian4

I agree as it was mostly for the English and when has rugby featured in the games. It will be of help to the folk north of the border in their persuit of Independance. Sir Chris Hoy was the best bit and the children from Wales


What The Funicular ?

[boxtops]

Mostly for the English? - rubbish - there were parts of ALL our national heritage in there!

[Gromit]

We had a world audience of a billion people so It was conceived as an advert for Britain. And the adverts are often better than the programmmes.
The ceremony has been well recieved abroad judging from the foreign media, with most thinking it clever and witty.

[Mick-Talbot]

I'm wondering how a man holding a stick with a flag on it was the best bit ....

[Zabadak]

Ian 4: Rugby was an Olympic sport in 1904 (France won), 1908, 1920, and 1924. As with much of the show, though, there was a good eye to the future: Rugby Sevens will début at Rio in 2016.
The whole show was absolutely brilliant. That's my unshakeable opinion.