Olympic opening

Good point merlotgran.

I really loved it even the confusing bits , did wonder what the Artic Monkeys were doing there... but for gods sake couldn't the Queen and Duke have smiled or looked mildly interested... she spoilt the cudos she had gained with the James Bond thing by looking totally miserable and bemused by it all...shame!! Smile lizabet SMILE!!!

I caught a smile I'm sure; The Duke of Edinburgh came in with a huge grin as they came down the steps; she was proably tired- it did go on late! However I reckon it 5 for GB (well Uk og GB & NI) (in spite of those Artctic Monkeys and the oh too long Hey Jude!)

Have to say I was rather taken with her rather jaunty headwear , will have to ask her where she got it , so I can get one , AND I loved the apricot colour thought it very flattering

Was starting to flag when the Arctic Monkeys came on and they rejuvenated me; had gone off them of late but made a note to self to see them live when possible; thought they were phenomenal. In retrospect did get the McCartney bit as can't think of anyone else who couldhave got a singalong going. There was something for everyone last night. The Queen thing was a amazing; strangely enoughsaw something very similar in our local theatre's production of The Big Friendly Giant at Christmas [wonder if that's where he go the idea from?].

I've commented on the other 'Olympic' thread.

Agree with most comments - spectacular.

Wanted to add a special word of praise for Hazel Irvine in the commentary box - just enough information and comments and seemed to set the tone exactly right - did not try to turn it into the 'Hazel Irvine Show'. Well done.

Glad you mentioned that; I'd only ever really noticed her when she was doing golf coverage but she was the perfect anchorwoman, coping rather well with some rather banal comments coming from the guy she was working with last night. The ultimate professional [and very funny at times].

Awesome!

I know I missed some bits of it, but what struck me was that nothing seemed to go wrong!

Original and quirky altogether quite British. Just come back from Kingston Bridge watching the male cyclists go across zoom zoom! Unfortunately our guy came 11th.

I know it all cost a vast amount of money and could have been spent in so many other ways........!. But its been spent now and Olympics is happening so I started watching with an open mind and found the whole thing creative and imaginative and querky.Well done Danny Boyle! Loved the humour too especially with the Queen and Rowan Atkinson but do think its time Paul M. retired

Loved all of the ceremony, a wonderful celebration of British culture and I marvelled at the energy and commitment of the volunteers who took part. I even enjoyed the enthusiasm of the Arctic Monkeys and Dizzy Rascal! I think Danny Boyle should be congratulated and all participants should be proud of the parts they played.

DH and I stayed awake until the bitter end and enjoyed nearly all of it - although Paul Mc is a disappointment these days and the Queen could have managed a smile. But it made a change from normal Saturday night nonsense - e.g. Superstar - and thank goodness the ceremony wasn't marred by some ghastly atrocity. I think we should be proud of everyone's efforts and give Danny Boyle a gong.

I was quite prepared to sneer and go to bed after fifteen minutes but actually I thought it was great and stayed up for the whole thing. So did DH ditto. Glad I did to see that fantastic flame. I think some of it might have been a bit opaque for foreign viewers - some journalist in LA said it sometimes seemed like a prolonged in-joke - but the main points, all volunteers, multicultural country, like having a laugh at ouselves, even Her Maj, came across. Greatnan - Jerusalem not an Anglican hymn but weird poem by visionary - Abide with me now a football anthem. Lighten up!

" GOOD EVENING MR. BOND ''

Priceless! And the corgis were a bonus.

Greatnan You realise that the answers to Blake's questions in Jerusalem are all no don't you!!! However they fitted so well last night

A marvelous spectacle which must have involved a lot of planning and organization. The point of it?? - appreciated by the Brits, but must have left the majority of viewers worldwide somewhat bemused!!

At first I thought it was bonkers but as it gathered momentum I started being charmed and delighted with it. And then, the James Bond sketch just blew me away - how that dear woman has gone up in my estimation - she's a natural! She did her image a huge favour by agreeing to do that. And Mr Bean! hilarious. It was all so beautifully organised and went off like a dream .....until.....until......The Arctic Monkeys followed by Pauly and his sorry attempt at Hey Jude - ooh dear. Talk about going out with a damp squib! Why not Elbow and 'One Day Like This'? They've written the theme music after all. Ok I'm biased.
eGJ I have just laughed my head off at your comment about Blakey and his questions..wish I'd thought of that when we sang it as our school song!

Luckily my son made a copy of the opening ceremony and I was able to watch it last night. It was brilliant, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Mr Bean was hilarious, I think he has a new fan, GS6 was really laughing. We loved the Queen and Mr Bond and the rest was great, even the NHS was well done. My son (who has a British father) said the Brits know how to laugh at themselves. I love British humour and I think it was the best Opening Ceremony I have seen.

I must say I thought the Industrial revolution bit was absolutely brilliant, though I was a bit worried about the fiery sperm. It rather went downhill from there, and got quite idiotic trying to cram in scenes from films and tv programmes. Having nodded off in the middle I awoke for the final bit, and some of that was very moving, especially the people chosen to hold the Olympic flag. The cauldron was beautiful, but then I am a great fan of Thomas Heatherwick. It makes up for B of the Bang rusting last time. Hope this won't.

My friends in other countries texted me last night to comment on how proud I must be of our wonderful Olympic opening ceremony!
We watched on iPlayer today and Her Majesty as a Bond Girl made the Wonderful Man howl with laughter - as did Mr. Bean. The whole thing was eccentric and therefore so very British! I actually found quite a bit of it very moving.

Apparently Danny Boyle wanted it to go out without the voice over commentary. Huw Edwards managed to persuade him otherwise. It definitely needed a few verbal pointers. I'm pretty sure I would have mised bits here and there without.

Good to know that people in other countries 'got it' *granny-a'.