Opening/Closing Ceremonies Discussion - Page 38

ozonemania · #**741** Posted **Feb 13, 2010, 11:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinion

I thought the anthem singing was one of the only good parts, along with the orcas, and the rest was really bad.

Think about it: the show ended with a morbidly obese "slam poet" spewing nationalistic garbage, a mechanical failure during the lighting of the cauldron and Gretzky riding through downtown on a back of a pick up truck looking like he's going to puke. And that's just the end. I won't even get into the fake punk fiddler crap. If someone said that's what the opening ceremonies would consist of ahead of time, you'd be laughed off the board.

I had low expectations and it still disappointed me more than I could have possibly imagined.

Wow, so negative, how typically Canadian of you!

Ayreonaut · #**742** Posted **Feb 13, 2010, 11:55 PM**

Wow, now I know who not to party with.

Pinion · #**743** Posted **Feb 13, 2010, 11:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayreonaut

Wow, now I know who not to party with.

VANOC? Yeah, I agree.

Seriously, the inane sarcastic comments towards any honest opinions about the ceremonies are not needed. It was bad - lots of people are saddened by the effort. If you disagree, say something worth reading at least.

mr.x · #**744** Posted **Feb 14, 2010, 12:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinion

VANOC? Yeah, I agree.

Seriously, the inane sarcastic comments towards any honest opinions about the ceremonies are not needed. It was bad - lots of people are saddened by the effort. If you disagree, say something worth reading at least.

The same people also criticized the money being spent putting on the Ceremonies as well as renovations to the stadium.

Ayreonaut · #**745** Posted **Feb 14, 2010, 12:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinion

If you disagree, say something worth reading at least.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayreonaut

KD Lang with the performance of the night, I couldn't believe how great her voice still is. The girl who sang the anthem has a hell of a voice as well.

Definitely nothing to be ashamed about after that ceremony, I was really impressed. The only part I didn't really like at all was the opera singer, but maybe it's just not my thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayreonaut

Ashley MacIsaac kicks ass. He's one of my favourite Canadian musicians. IMO tap dancing is the most entertaining form of dancing as well, so I really enjoyed that segment.

And last but not least.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayreonaut

touraccuracy · #**746** Posted **Feb 14, 2010, 12:11 AM**

i've never enjoyed an opening ceremonies before... before yesterday that is.

the atmosphere of each season mixed with the mood of every canadian region and then told along a cultural/historic timeline - brilliant.

the country entrances were boring, as always. the speeches were long and unimportant, as always.

the music, visuals, audience participation, and storytelling were fantastic.

delboy · #**747** Posted **Feb 14, 2010, 12:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by nova9

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.

I did n't mind it, think it would have been lost on many though.

sono65 · #**748** Posted **Feb 14, 2010, 1:16 AM**

Unfortunate about the final torch malfunctioning. Up until that moment, it was quite entertaining. I would love to see it again. Anyone watched it online since? I can't seem to get CTV's video player to work. NBC's is of course only available to Americans, and there is nothing on Youtube. Thoughts???

SpongeG · #**749** Posted **Feb 14, 2010, 4:48 AM**

• Video Link

Waders · #**750** Posted **Feb 14, 2010, 8:07 AM**

An article by The Christian Science Monitor weekly edition tried to
interpret the Opening Ceremony messages: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Olympics/...g-ceremonies-statement-we-re-not-America

Rusty Gull · #**751** Posted **Feb 14, 2010, 8:19 AM**

Yes, there were some major mistakes - notably the cauldron fiasco and the VIPs scrambling around at the beginning. The Gretzky truck relay was amusing but could have been executed better.

But - compare this to any Junos program or any other made-in-Canada entertainment special. Have you ever seen anything better? I can say without hesitation that I haven't. People will be talking about this show for years.

KD doing Cohen was 100 times better than any musical performance I've seen during a Super Bowl halftime. The Joni Mitchell prairie sequence was pure magic.

SpongeG · #**752** Posted **Feb 14, 2010, 8:21 AM**

it seems people from other parts of canada felt left out and not represented by it

windscar · #**753** Posted **Feb 14, 2010, 8:37 AM**

Wow so much bitterness and negativity, no wounder I'm so cynical and annoyed with the majority of people. All I can say about the Opening Ceremonies was it was just amazing, being there I just had chills and tingles happening all night, heck still do. Best $750 I have every spent.

Rusty Gull · #**754** Posted **Feb 14, 2010, 8:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

it seems people from other parts of canada felt left out and not represented by it

What other parts of Canada are you referring to?

The Maritimes? I don't think so.

Quebec? Nuh-uh.

The North and/or First Nations? Not a chance.

Prairies? No again.

Who exactly felt "left out"?

SpongeG · #**755** Posted **Feb 14, 2010, 8:52 AM**

just from remarks on other sites/forums I have looked at the last couple days

one person from Toronto said something to the effect of AND ONTARIO IS LEFT OUT COMPLETELY

In the Canada section someone from Manitoba didn't think it represented Canada at all

I have heard many comments say it was too "ABORIGINAL" which i find offensive

anyway no matter what they did people will whine and complain

Yume-sama · #**756** Posted **Feb 14, 2010, 9:01 AM**

I thought the Maple Leaf part was Toronto-ey

We don't got Maple Leafs!

mr.x · #**757** Posted **Feb 14, 2010, 9:11 AM**

LOLLL...Toronto and Ontario were left out? They didn't see it on TV, but if you were in the stadium you'd know that the skyline of Toronto was projected onto the stadium floor at one point during the "rah rah Canada" poem.

SpongeG · #**758** Posted **Feb 14, 2010, 9:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

I thought the Maple Leaf part was Toronto-ey

We don't got Maple Leafs!

thats how i saw it too we don't have those here

what do people expect though?

the concept was cool - the four corners, the four seasons

did montreal not do a montreal french canadian centered show? and calgary too? why shouldn't the host cities show themselves off?

ozonemania · #**759** Posted **Feb 14, 2010, 4:36 PM**

I agree, I thought that the Poem segment with the Toronto Skyline projected around the centre stage was really much about the 'identity' of Toronto. It's like the speaker is representing Canada -- and Toronto encompasses it. Toronto is our biggest stage to the outside world.

While applicable to all Canadians, alot of what that poem talks about, civility, multiculturalism, acceptance of diversity, cosmopolitan, etc, are the values that Torontonians are most proud of themselves about.

s211 · #**760** Posted **Feb 14, 2010, 7:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatnext

Is it just me, or is the sound on the NBC coverage really bad? I can barely hear the commentary.

If anything, Bob Costes' commentary was the highlight for me. Injected just the right amount of glib humour to what was otherwise an embarrassing display of "Canadiana". The punk fiddlers were just about the most jaw-dropping display of "WTF" excreted in public.