When the Opening Ceremony began, all the viewer heard was a single voice. This voice was strong and from a small child. The voice rang true, not quavering on any note. As this boy continued to sing a popular child's melody, the camera began to show choirs of small children from the other three countries of the United Kingdom singing the same song. These children from Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales represented and incorporated the rest of the country in a simple and pure way. The children of London were then brought back into the main frame and their singing was then heard as a group. This was a brilliant idea because there is nothing more true and uncorrupted than a child's voice.
From this beginning the development of the United Kingdom was shown to the public, going from a simple pastoral setting on stage to one of industrialism, ending in a technologically run society. This honest representation of the nation brought the viewer closer to the host country. There was only truth in this ceremony. I think that is a very rare characteristic. I remember the 2008 Summer Olympics when Beijing presented their Opening Ceremony. No one will forget the jaw dropping drum scene with hundreds of drummers beating a rhythm in unison, but that was not the true identity of China. What was shown in the London Olympics Opening Ceremony was the actual face of the nation.
Another excellent feature of the Opening Ceremony 2012 was that it celebrated different contributions the citizens made to the country and the world. The scene highlighting the health care system of the UK was not only entertaining, but also commemorated the efforts of doctors and nurses of the state by incorporating them into the performance. As the children "slept" and their dreams were acted out for the audience, the different literary figures drew viewers at home into the performance highlighting the achievements of British authors. I loved when Mary Poppins beat Voldemort to the ground; I just hope Harry Potter will be able to find another job. The ending performance by Paul McCartney was also one of the most entertaining Beatles shows I have ever had the pleasure of watching. It was even obvious that Paul McCartney was a little choked up at the beginning. I am sure the audience and location struck a soft spot for him. It was awesome that the Olympics were able to honor famous British people like McCartney, J.K. Rowling, Shakespeare, and J.M. Barrie in a worldwide performance.
Lastly the visual effects put on for the audience were awe-inspiring. The light show displayed throughout the stadium was amazing. The lights were actually on the seats, incorporating yet another feature into the stadium. The fireworks display was also fantastic. It blew any Fourth of July show out of the park. There were a few things I would have changed, however. For one, the commentary made by the NBC announcers should have been minimized. When there would be things that different performers and Olympic chairmen would say, all you could hear was the commentators talking about pointless topics. One other aspect I would change is the torch. It was awesome the way they lit it and put it together, but I thought that the torch was suppose to be visible from anywhere in the Olympic area. The torch, as it stood last night, is way too small. I guess nothing can be perfect.
In the end, the 2012 Opening Ceremony began an Olympic competition that will undoubtedly be full of amazing moments. From Phelps trying to become the most decorated Olympian to the US Women's Soccer team trying to win three gold medals in a row, the action will never stop. I cannot wait for the next two weeks to continue. An update will be on its way as the competition continues. I guarantee that.
No comments:
Post a Comment