London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony review: Take a bow Danny Boyle

Possibly the WORST Olympic Opening ever! Depressing, depressing, a little Mr Bean humor, followed by more depressing plus creepy, ending with endless boring and no talent. Then the teams entered the stadium - and the prince should have had a cup of Starbucks to help him stay awake. Even the Queen looked lost.

England has pop culture. They also used to be an agricultural society then an industrial one then a digital one.

Deep man. Deep.

Why again would the babies not sleep? Did it have to do with the 100 Mary Poppins? Or the giant Harry Potter puppet?

yes that was the most flamboyant show on earth,so proud of u guys.bazungu

I agree, very good. I'm proud to be a Brit x

Do you think all the people who are watching the ceremoney are artists or historians or what? This was the worst ever opening ceremony ever, it did not make sense except it was a good representative of Britain's history, art and politics but anyhting to represent the world, sports, olympic spirit it was not.

Sorry but that was the most horrible thing I witnessed on television since what's his face sang with Snow White at the oscars. Just dreadful.

I agree with this so much. The only possible thing that let the ceremony down was the tediousness of the procession of athletes. Could this have come last? Possible first? It drew me away from the TV as I begun to lose interest. Or was this a tactical play? To get us longing for the great finish? Anyhow it was breathtaking and the whole nation must have been jaw-dropping. 'Inspire a generation' was very much taken into account with the cauldron-lighting. I thought this was a nice touch.

Rather than taking a bow, Danny Boyle, you should bow out. The opening ceremony had nothing to do with sport and a gathering of nations. It was aimed solely at the British mind but missed the mark for much of the world. As terrible as it was to watch on television, it must have been worse in person. Too much was built around close-ups of little vignettes of English life and history. The worst opening ceremony I have ever seen.

Well, I'm not British (I'm Croatian) and I really think London Olympics opening ceremony was surpassing... Unlike Beijing opening ceremony (which was glamorous and in some parts even breathtaking, but at the same time it very much reminded me on 'great baton relay finale' which was traditionally held in honor of the Tito's birthday in former Yugoslavia), London opening ceremony's idea was simply brilliant! Much much beyond 'just British history and glory' (as I'm reading in many comments)... I really didn't expect 'wow' or 'pure entertainment' from it... I didn't expect anything in particular, but got a lot! The ceremony itself had no particular intention nor was aiming to simply glorify British history - it was a magnificent mosaic presented through a real artistic vision... There wasn't the idea of 'being better than...' (that's why it is completely incomparable with the Beijing's ceremony) - the story itself was a unique vision and a collage of historical events, their participants, cultural symbols, humor, music icons... with the idea of humanity and olympism seen in so many details (7 billion pieces of paper representing every person on the planet, the Olympic flag bearers, the collage of pictures of lost family members, the idea of copper petals - one for each country and the torch lighting etc.). IT WAS A NIGHT TO REMEMBER!

I Absolutely agree ! We migrated to New Zealand 6 years ago, more as a feeling that it was time to get out than an ambition to come here but I am British and I was never more proud to be so than watching the opening ceremony, I got through so many tissues and my heart was full to bursting with thoughts of what a wonderful heretige I come from, and London ..... well I miss you very much and part of my soul remains there. Sue - Auckland New Zealand

Lets be honest. It was the worst show I have ever seen. Even the opening ceremony for the Angola AFCON was better!!

Couldn't have said it better. Very proud to be British and very proud of an utterly bonkers eccentric opening ceremony, that only GB could have pulled off. With some nice quips to those around the world - inventors of the www and rocket man which had to be a small poke of fun at the Los Angeles Olympics. The world may not have fully understood it but hey they enjoyed it.

Feel I have to write another comment to this thread. Whatever peoples political motivations or taste, and having the misfortune to listen to Jeremy Vine on R2, it beggars belief that in the weeks of the Olympics in GB, people can be so negative. To say it wasn't for television, well your on your own with that one, to say it was the worse and that it missed the point of the games being a sport, so a rocket man, drummers, moveable typefaces, dancers that featured in other opening ceremonies were any different. Yes it was political with the NHS and antinuclear protest, but all those elements are what weaves this nation of ours together, but Beijing was no different and every bit political. The lighting of the flame, brilliant, letting stars of the future light the final flame provides such an inspiration. So many friends who live overseas have echoed the susan14232.

The Olympics will never be perfect, but we are the hosts, we should stop beating ourselves up, stop moaning and just bloody well enjoy it!!

indeed, the show was boring and awful.. historically inaccurate (the industrial revolution in England.... oh please) ... and to celebrate your NHS, that is absolutely a disaster. What was that about? Your country is actively trying to privatize your system because the NHS is bankrupting the country. Your quality data is positively awful. As a physician, I found it disrespectful. If the ceremony was to be entertaining, it was not. If it was to be educational, it was not. If it was to be inspiring, it was not. And where was Elton John??

One world, thousands of athletes, billions of people watched London put on a show with such dignity and hope. A beautiful, stunning, show representing Britain's past and future role in the world. Sometimes self depreciating but always honest.