Olympic opening

I loved it! Theatrical, imaginative and clever. But I do agree that Paul McCartney is now past it, didn't understand why The Arctic Monkeys were there, and thought the Queen looked even more miserable than usual.

The cauldron was spectacular.

I agree, Ariadne - on the whole it was a great spectacle, although I did find it hard to follow what was happening in the opening sequences. I still think the two bits of pop music were inappropriate and McCartney looked and sounded well past it. I stayed awake (on and off) for the whole parade - I reckoned if the queen could do it, I could do it. The various costumes were so colourful and it was interesting to hear about the less well-known sports.

I loved Emily Sande, the wit and the whole idiosyncracy of it all but rhe very best bit was handing the flame to the youngsters - what it's all about really!

Forgot to mention the fabulous David Beckham - just for being him

I've just seen this thread - I put my comments earlier (for what they were worth) on the 'Olympics' thread!! I missed the Opening but have seen highlights on Channel 9 (who seem obsessed with showing the Oz team every 5 minutes - gum-chewing and generally larking aboot) and I am ever so slightly confused with the theme. Paul Mc. and Arctic Monkeys should have stayed at home. I don't usually like Mr Bean but found it very amusing - and I do like the lovely Simon Rattle [heart emoticon]. Poor Queen, having to stay up for all that time listening to a barrage of 'pop' music; bet she'd rather have watched it on the telly with a large Gin and it and her feet up, but today's Saturday so she can have a wee lie-in

It wasn't for me, not at £27m and on TV but I am glad so many Nans enjoyed it - staying up so late! Naughty girls, what about your beauty sleep

I thought the gold rings were amazing,and the cauldren. The way the industrial revolution was depicted was fantastic too, very well done with seemingly, no hitches, but I didn't like all the silly dances of the men in stovepipe hats.
I loved the Queen jumping in and Mr Bean, but a lot of it was boring.

I was riveted the whole evening and found the first half incredible. Paul McCartney arrived......switched off and went to bed!

Well, like the Jubilee Pageant, we just sat back and enjoyed it - not all of it obviously, but then that's life. Yes, it cost a lot of money and the country is in the grips of a recession and the outlook is gloomy, so this is a time to surely take pride in what was achieved yesterday - so may people turned out to cheer the flame on it's way and were rewarded with a fantastic feat of engineering in order to bring it all to fruition. We had history, music, comedy, sport and the Royal family - all Great British things. Three Cheers for us.

The opening ceremony has just become a competition between each host country to out-do each other. Just have a sing and hoist a few flags; then you'll have money left over for building a few schools.

I am now having to watch the whole thing again DGS was allowed to stay up until the raising of the Olympic rings but needed match sticks, so we on second round now!
I loved it but did think it may have confused people from other Countries.

I am ashamed to say I had missed the tribute to the armed forces and the silence the first time around and there are parts that had just faded one into another but I have seen much more the second time around, so all in all worth watching over again.

Well Paul McCartney............. what can I say he needs retiring!!! Was he miming and had mixed up the timing, terrible.

But on the whole we had to have some kind of opening ceremony and it was different.

But the best part was the lighting of the flame and very apt having the up and coming youngsters.

I enjoyed the opening ceremony. British and quirky. Maybe a little confusing for many parts of the world. But the real OLYMPIC items like the lighting of the cauldron were excellent. Yes a lot of hard work by so many people which on the whole paid off.

I've already said I thought it was fantastic, but I've had a re-think on the subject of Paul McC. I guess Hey Jude is the song to end any late night party just because people can sing along and sway to it. And you couldn't really have that song sung by anyone else could you?

I think it was an appropriate ending to the "party".

It's hard to choose a favourite bit, but I liked the doves/cyclists. And Mr Bean made me laugh out loud!

I thought the rendering of Abide with me was spot on. So sad given the circumstances.

And I liked the fact Doreen Lawrence was given a place. She has been so loyal to her son.

I thought it was a bit like the Curate's egg - good and bad. I thought it all a bit mad but not really loveable - liked Beijing's really but hard to top! So we didn't try... Loved the lighting of the cauldron - thought that was brilliant and inspired. I can't understand why they wheel Paul McCartney out on all occasions - could somebody please tell him he can't sing ( but he never could)! I think abroad, they'll think we are bonkers and won't have got it at all but never mind - bring on The Games!

I too enjoyed the opening ceremony. I hadn't expected to but once I started watching I couldn't drag myself away. I loved the bikes with wings-brilliant!

I know they could have spent money on other worthy causes - but, it's a bit like having a spree when you can't really afford it. We need to have occasions like this and not always being so serious, to enjoy the moment and not be mealy mouthed about the Olympics. The opening ceremony was fab. Loved every minute of it, stayed up way past my bedtime, very moved to see Muhammed Ali there, delighted that Doreen Lawrence carried the Olympic flag with the likes of Banki Moon, loved seeing a delighted David Beckham bring the flame up the river, the lights, all those kids having a whale of a time. So instead of being what the Aussies accuse us of being [whinging poms], have a bit of fun and sport - a chance to cheer Team GB.

I keep thinking about it and smiling!

Do you know, I think that was even better than gold medals. Perhaps because it seemed to be about all of us, whereas medals are for the individuall. Yes, I know it's 'Team GB' but still......

Sorry. I couldn't resist doing another one.

I feel like that jingsCouldn't drag myself away.Woke up this morning and everything was still very vivid in my mind.Not a natural royalist but I absolutely loved the Queen and James Bond-genius!

It made me VERY proud to be British. On the whole we are a caring, tolerant nation and with the eyes of the world upon them, who else would let an OAP who can't sing close a show which cost millions?

Felt very emotional watching it, especially as they remembered those who should have been there but weren't. I felt the whole thing was being done in their honour, and we did them proud. A rather rare occasion for me in that, not only did I feel very proud to be British [which isn't unusual] but also proud to be a human being [which is ].

Thought it was a wonderful piece of theatre and so very British - a mixture of pathos, humour and anarchy. What other nation could have an 80+ year old monarch with the sense of fun to be parachuted into the stadium?!

So many bits I loved. OH and I at first thought Hey Jude a bit odd, but then realised that it is indeed the 'end of a party' song that absolutely everyone can sing along to, however 'tired and emotional'

Let's party!

I can't find words to say how magical and typically British ( which surely is the whole point) I found the whole thing!The idyllic rural Britain changing into, the Industrial Revolution took my breath away. And so it went on. The teenagers carrying the 'petals', What were they going to be used for? Then the stunning ceremony of lighting the cauldron and all was revealed. Even poor old Paul did a great job getting everyone to sing! I was exhausted!

We sat down to watch it with a completely open mind and having no idea of what to expect. Overall I found the whole thing very inclusive - and enjoyable. There is always some part which someone finds not so good as the rest and for me it was the pop music bit with the singers and groups I had completely missed the first time round but I dare say there were people who loved that bit and were not interested in other things,
All the athletes looked happy and proud to be there and the lighting of the flame starting with it on the boat on the Thames and being passed on to Redgrave and then the young athletes was I think not expected by any of the pundits trying to guess who would do the deed. It was great to see these young, and as yet mainly unknown, athletes given such a role and the cauldron itself was spectacular.
My soon to be SIL is in the closing ceremony and although he has been to several rehearsals he does not know what is happening in that ceremony - they are only being told things on a need to know basis. He is Brazilian and the next Olympics is in Rio and as a hobby he teaches dancing - draw your own conclusions!!