This is the opening ceremony? It looks like a high school performance. Amateurish. nt

[Honeycombe8]

[valerief]

1. Thank you for your concern, Willard. nt

[fried eggs]

17. rofl

I'm not watching and don't plan to, but that sounds just like something Mitt would say!

[FSogol]

18. Duzy!

[Lex]

19. Priceless!

[malaise]

40. +1,000

[peacebird]

2. I think it has been really impressive, the fact they showed workers covered in soot was awesome

[Graybeard]

5. Soot and sweat.

I thought the show was very well done.

[obamanut2012]

21. And celebrated the NHS, with real doctors and nurses!

[MichiganVote]

3. Sorry Matt, you'll have to wait till 2morrow to offer yr real commentary.

[otohara]

4. I was wondering if they are held in CO

Someday...what would they come up with for open, closing?

[myrna minx]

6. You would rather lonely in that assessment.

I can only imagine how outraged the US right wing is for the UK to *celebrate* workers, woman's suffrage and the National Health Service. Amateurish indeed.

[HangOnKids]

9. Indeed

There should have been GAZILLIONARES smoking cigars, with big breasted women twirling on poles, while Rolls Royce's drove by. Yes that would be The Olympics!

[Marrah_G]

7. I disagree- I loved it.

[Odin2005]

8. As opposed to the inhuman robotic-ness of the Bejing ceremony?

[obamanut2012]

23. This

[Codeine]

30. Oh god, were you here four years ago?

People all over DU were in ecstasy over that Triumph-of-the-Will-With-a-Wal*Mart-Factory bullshit. It was really quite disgusting.

[FailureToCommunicate]

10. Well, the performers ARE amateurs, but I thought it was professionally done

And the health care segment into children's literature was brilliant!

[obamanut2012]

25. That and the James Bond parts have been my favorite!

And how all of the flag carriers have done something for human rights.

[HangOnKids]

11. Really?

Often good art is just a wee bit difficult to understand.

[UTUSN]

12. It had its astonishing moments. And the middle of nowhere weren't them. n/t

[Spazito]

13. Gosh, celebrating health care and childrens' literature....

what a bore, having doctors and nurses, hospital volunteers dedicate their off time to practice and participate in celebration.

It was a beautiful ceremony, full of meaning and artistic creativity.

[HangOnKids]

14. It was lovely, poignant, and authentic

I loved it.

[Spazito]

15. Me too, I thought it was very creative...

different from I expected, a pleasant surprise, very well done, imo.

[SoutherDem]

16. I am watching it from a recording so I can skip commercials

I am just up to the health care salute. I am actually impressed. Something I could not say about 2008. IMHO.

[obamanut2012]

20. It is the best opening ceremony I have ever seen

And I have seen every one since 1972. Danny Boyle isn;t an amateur.

It has been glorious and cool and educational.

And Queen Elizabeth is a frigging ROCKSTAR!!!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

22. It was funny

I especially liked the James Bond and Queen 'landing' from a helicopter

[snooper2]

24. what skill can you bring to the table for us?

[Raster]

28. bitching, carping, criticizing, complaining

This is the second thread I've seen this poster has chosen to "embelish" with their opinion.

Perhaps she should turn off the television.

[The Midway Rebel]

26. Oh c'mon...

Didn't you see Mary Poppins save the children from Valdermort after the Industrial Revolution?

[itsrobert]

27. Well, at the most off-Broadway

But I think it's the way NBC is chopping it up for commercials. It has no flow.

[mysuzuki2]

29. What was with all the atheletes with cell phones?

it looked like they were all calling 900 numbers and having phone sex.

[Bonobo]

31. Worst outfit had to be the UK's white uniform with the gold piping.

It made me realize where the US got such an atrocious sense of taste -from the UK.

Blech. And the boat thing with Beckham was trashy and classless too.

It reminded me of the last episode of Survivor when Jeff Probst goes off with the vote.

[pnwest]

32. I'm in the minority with you. I'm being lightly shredded

in another thread for saying its not moving me at all. James Bond part was funny, but I thought the healthcare part was odd.

[pnwest]

37. but now mr. bean has me rofl-ing!

[TalkingDog]

33. Oh Kanye....

[gkhouston]

34. You forgot

to

[southernyankeebelle]

35. I thought the show was excellent. Very British I think. Mittens say the country doesn't have

anything to sell. What an idiot. Music and literature isn't bad. Paul I love you but honey it's time for you to retire.

[AnnieBW]

36. NOthing like those thousands of synchronized Chinese

On break from the sweatshops where they make cheap crap for Wal-Mart. At least Great Britain honors their workers!

[procon]

38. I enjoyed it

It may not be the mindless razzle-dazzle of a Hollywood blow-stuff-up spectacle that Americans crave, but I liked seeing the real people who actually live there and volunteered to put on a very entertaining tribute to their country's history and accomplishments.

What struck me most was the focus on the human condition, a narrative of their culture and the enormously positive and uplifting social changes-- like the national healthcare system -- that have profoundly improved people's lives.

[ChazII]

43. +1 n/t

[Bryn]

39. I thought it was brilliant. I loved it.

Maybe you could watch it again on one of your better days on a dvd to appreciate it?

[Gin]

41. I loved it!

[XemaSab]

42. I'm with you

I don't see an overarching theme. It's jumping around with no narrative.

It's also disconcerting that Britain is turning its own history into a joke. Why?

(China's was impressive and scary. Definitely a reflection of a fascist ideology.)

[nolabear]

44. I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Musical, literary, social, hip.

And I'll bet it was a BUGGER to put together!

[Brother Buzz]

45. I looks more like a polished Super Bowl half-time show...that's going on way to damn long

I say bring on the sports, dammit.

[Ikonoklast]

46. Yeah, they didn't have any guns.

Must be a disappointment to you.

[DevonRex]

47. I thought it was personal, intimate, welcoming.

Completely the opposite of China's ceremony. In a good way.

It was inviting rather than overwhelming.

[HappyMe]

48. lol!

And YOU, of course, would have put together a much better ceremony!