Opening/Closing Ceremonies Discussion

[Pinion]

I was expecting to read a bunch of posts about how amazing the opening ceremonies here based on how most on this board were unwilling to accept any criticism before this point. Good to see we're not totally delusional.

[Distill3d]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

Watching on TV, I really can't believe that KD was lip-synching. Everyone else definitely was though.

I was really proud of the ceremony. Parts were definitely stunning. The quotes read by Donald Sutherland were poetic and spiritual. KD brought her huge, amazing voice as per usual. I loved the use of a Joni song, as I am a big fan.

I found the sound to be a much more rich and full on NBC as opposed to CTV, but otherwise CTV is impressing me so far in ways I didn't expect.

My major complaint was the First Nations opening segment. Much more could have been done with that. It came across as boring. I would have loved to see something re-enacting the Bill Reid creation myth sculpture at the Museum of Anthropology.

I think KD and Bryan Adams were the two most obvious when it came to the lip-synching. KD was over dramatic and missed a cue or two, but was otherwise good. It was Sarah Maclachlan that I had the hardest time believing she was lip-synching.

I could've done without most of the performance, but thats just me. I'm a "meat and potatoes with a side of A.D.D." kinda guy when it comes to things like this. Basically, its do an opening bit like you did with the 4 Host First Nations, then sing a song, then parade the athletes, then raise the Olympic Flag, then open the games, say the oath, light the torch, and finally, change the channel.

Few high and low lights/personal changes:

I will start by saying this, whomever decided THAT arrangement for O Canada was a smart idea deserves to be shot. Sure, our national anthem doesn't have the grandeur of The Star Spangled Banner, or the wonder of Waltzing Matilda, or even the history of God Save The Queen, but by god it should not sound like whatever cracker jack thing THAT was. Ugh, I was about to swallow a cyanide capsule after hearing that. Even my rabbits wanted to flee to the country after that mess.

I was amazed though at the "Prairie Girl" dance with the Joni Mitchell song. Being from the prairies myself, I can safely say I feel like I'm flying when I go back home. Such an amazing rush to see all the big, open, virgin land.

I also loved that guys poem about Canada. He certainly seemed to speak from the collective of frustrated Canadians that are trying to escape from our image around the world.

I was happy Betty Fox didn't light the cauldorn. I feel the role she did play as one of the lead flag bearers was awesome. It was nice to see Jacques Villeneuve (one of my personal heroes, and one of the most under recognized Canadians IMO) out with the flag as well. As famous a Canadian as Anne Murray is, and I love Anne, I think Gaétan Boucher, Marc Gagnon could've taken her place. Both of course were at one point Canada's most decorated Olympians (Cindy Klassen is now...). It was also great to see Bobby Orr out with the flag.

Torch lighting was AMAZING even if the pillar didn't rise to the occasion. I think the point they made was significant, having the 5 of them light the cauldron in the stadium. I kept thinking Gretzky would hand it off at the end outside to 4 members of the 4 Host First Nations. However, it was only fitting that he lit the cauldron.

[dreambrother808]

I just re-watched KD, but on CTV instead of NBC this time. Yes, she was lip-synching. NBC seemed to not show many close-ups on there broadcast. Don't want to scare middle Americans with the fat, manly lesbian in a suit I guess? Bloody Americans....

[delboy]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

I did think the poem was a tad inappropriate for this occasion, and just an extended Molson Canadian commercial.

it was modeled after this commercial, the zed thing was a nod to our humour and was not meant to be taken too seriously:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRI-A3vakVg&feature=player_embedded

[nova9]

Originally Posted by delboy

it was modeled after this commercial, the zed thing was a nod to our humour and was not meant to be taken too seriously:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRI-A3vakVg&feature=player_embedded

Only in the most superficial of comparisons and mostly because he talked about Zed. The rest of it was creative.

I think most people just don't 'get' beat poetry or that they still have a very clicheed understanding of beat poetry. just like musical preferences, people need to know when something 'sucks' because it sucks or if perhaps it doesn't suck but is just not their taste. Just like the National Anthem.

[Yume-sama]

I knew what he was doing, I've seen the HBO special

However, I don't think it was appropriate for such a Global audience.

I mean, it's far worse than Canada claiming we hope to win! And you know the scandal that caused lol

[johnjimbc]

A lot of what I'd want to say about the opening ceremonies has already been said. But I did want to note something about the prarie sequence . . .

In person I found it an intriguing and emotional performance. Seen from the audience, you had the focus on this one individual in a vast arena (which felt even larger by the way the seating was configured and swept out).

The twisting and tumbling was dreamlike, close enough to see it and feel the performance of the individual, but not close enough to be distracted by the techno-gizmo devices that enabled it. The performer was graceful and amazingly expressive, even from a distance. And having that distance heightened the sense of scale. It made the dapples of the field as it was "painted in" feel magical. The choreography of the performer and the video wonderfully complemented the haunting tune. Later, when the performer swept from side to side, the feeling of expansiveness washed over you (literally and figuratively).

It ended, of course, receding back to that single plot of land and one small individual, who acted out the themes of the song from first note to last.

Being in the audience, I was overwhelmed by the whole performance.

THEN, I came home and watched it on TV. I could still enjoy it, but it was like looking at pictures to remember the real-life moment. Suddenly the camera was too close. I could see rotator devices. I could see strings. I couldn't appreciate as well the patterns across the ground rippling underneath. The broad sweeps of the camera were nice, but some were brief and showed more of the audience then the field of blue becoming a prairie as the tale unfolded. The continuity just did not flow. It did not translate as well as I would have liked.

Having seen both, I think it could have been filmed better. It may have been better showing most of it from a single wide angle, or a moving camera sweeping slowly across in wide angle, punctuated by just a few close-ups of the performer's face (which was the one nice touch the TV added).

I would love to find a recording of that performance from a single spot in the stadium. If I hadn't been so engrossed and had known how much I would enjoy it, I might have recorded the whole thing myself . It was that good.

[Yume-sama]

I liked the prairie sequence, too I had to watch the screens to see the effects, though, because I was sitting right by the "stage".

For me the most emotional part was the standing ovation to Georgia. I can't imagine what was going through the heads of the Georgian athletes.

I noticed CTV cut *a lot* of the performances from the TV broadcast, though. They went on commercial for like 10 minutes at a time lol

On another note, the food was really good. I had a 1/4 chicken rotisserie dinner. It was better than Swiss Chalet And it was only $9. At a Flames game, $9 won't buy you ANYTHING.

[vancityrox]

Have the tickets for the closing ceremony been sold out yet? I havent heard anything bout it...

[Distill3d]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

.....At a Flames game, $9 won't buy you ANYTHING.

It'll get you at least 1 beer and some ice cream...

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by Distill3d

It'll get you at least 1 beer and some ice cream...

A beer is $7.50 and an ice cream is at least $5. Though, you can get a Haagen Dazs bar for $3.75.

The Canucks have somewhat more reasonable pricing. I'm just used to spending $25 on a gross sandwich and a soda in the Saddledome.

[Yume-sama]

The Canadian ratings are in. Over 2/3 of Canadians watched, over 26 million people.

That is AMAZING.

[thenorthofvan]

Originally Posted by Delirium

i hate to say this but these games are turning out terrible. i mean, the weather is such an issue and posing major problems at Whistler and cypress, someone has died during training AND the cauldron did not lite properly in front of billions..

what else could possibly go wrong? seriously. we're on day two --

mindblowing

[NewfBC]

Funny.. when Wayne Gretzky was in the back of the truck en route, Brian Williams was talking about the torch and how it could only stay lit for about 15 minutes.. he commented that Wayne must have some kind of 'super' torch because it was burning for much longer than 15 min.

Even though it was clearly seen that Wayne exchanged torches 2 times.. once as he headed out of the stadium.. and once in the truck.

Ron.

[duper]

I find that people either loved Gretzy's trip to light the outdoor torch or hated it. Personally, I think the people running beside giving Gretzky high-fives made the event seem even more accessible and human. Loved it.

[Yume-sama]

It reminded me of Rocky, when they were chasing the truck It was very "human".

Reminds me of the 80's or 90's for some reason. I don't know why. Just seems like something that only happened on old TV shows.

Or, like, everyone chasing Charlie home when he gets the Golden Ticket. It was a classic moment, whether or not you recognize it now.

[johnjimbc]

I saw it when we got home, and I loved it. It was such a real moment, and though it was "planned," it was also unscripted. I thought of the Rocky sequence as well, and then admonished myself because it was a real moment, not a movie sequence . I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the surprised look on the faces of people surprised as it passed. The fans chasing it with smiles and cameras was great, but I also enjoyed the people on the sidewalk suddenly jumping and pointing and shrieking.

It really captured the positive spirit I've been seeing around town. I also loved that a crowd had formed to greet Gretzky for the final lighting. I think that means more to us here in Vancouver since we know it was only a speculated secret that the torch would even be there. I know word was leaking out the past few days, and a couple of photos, but it wasn't like this was an announced event. I knew that while watching the sequence, though I realize many people watching from outside Vancouver wouldn't have known.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

The Canadian ratings are in. Over 2/3 of Canadians watched, over 26 million people.

That is AMAZING.

it was like christmas eve at the stores yesterday afternoon everyone rushing to get home to watch them

[clooless]

The whales. Holy shit, the killer whale sequence was incredible. Actually, all of the screen effects were impressive. And I'm glad it didn't drag on like the ceremonies in Beijing, which although stunning, lost my attention after the first two hours.

[Ayreonaut]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

I noticed CTV cut *a lot* of the performances from the TV broadcast, though. They went on commercial for like 10 minutes at a time lol

Perhaps this morning, but I don't think so last night. My mom watched it again this morning and she said they cut out a lot from the live one last night. She told me they didn't even show the orcas this morning.