Thoughts on the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony

Courtesy of PopSugar

I was totally befuddled when the 2012 London Olympics opened with scenes of grass, sheep, a maypole, etc.

Having watched The Tempest twice does not mean I recognized the lines from the Shakespearean play when actor-director Kenneth Branagh uttered them.

Shots of children’s choirs on breathtaking vistas in the UK made me tear up. The montage also reminded me of the first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows when Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) wandered in desolation after Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) departed.

Being a fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the huge tree on the hill reminded me of Bilbo Baggins’s party tree in The Fellowship of the Ring. The five glowing golden Olympic rings seemed to multiply the fascinating horror that the One Ring was being forged once more by Sauron for nefarious reasons. LOL

With chimneys shooting up into the sky and a huge manufacturing wheel churning, I half expected the participants to lip synch the lyrics from some West End musical. The industrial scene also displayed the groundbreaking techniques employed on West End when awe-inspiring sets are used. I think Sir Cameron Mackintosh would have been delighted.

Seeing JK Rowling at the opening ceremony made me hope that the trio of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint would also make an appearance.

The child reading under the bed with a flashlight reminded me of the opening sequence of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, which showed Harry in the same position, except, instead of a flashlight, he had a wand saying “Lumos,” which, in retrospect, should have caused him to receive owl mail from the Improper Use of Magic Office.

The children on the glowing beds with nurses reminded me, of course, of Peter Pan. And Nanny McPhee.

The commentator on Solar Sports said that at some point, the British health care system recognized the fact that all persons who seek medical aid must be attended to with no concern regarding their ability to pay. (Did the Brits start this? I’m not sure. I hope such a liberating system will also be in place in the Philippines in the near future, which is common practice in a number of countries.)

I got scared when the flock of black witches descended. To my relief, they were later revealed to be Mary Poppins clones.

I feel dimwitted for not recognizing the inflatable, towering Voldemort. He was holding a wand. Duh!

Author Ian Fleming’s work was represented by Daniel Craig as James Bond and the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Honestly, I have to watch the film adaptation of this charming children’s story. Thankfully, I am now in possession of a Php 40 hardbound version from Book Sale.

I laughed so hard during the Queen’s reveal. Combining the fictional James Bond with the real Queen Elizabeth was cheeky and brilliant. And, the guarded Queen Elizabeth can act! (Interestingly enough, not everyone can play himself.) And, it was a total surprise when she jumped out of the helicopter, followed by Daniel Craig, with the iconic James Bond theme music playing in the background. It showed that the monarch is not averse to poking fun at herself. Brava!

Since they had to shoot the James Bond sequences way ahead of time, that means the Queen’s frock for the 2012 London Olympics also had to be decided upon at a very early date.

I adore Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean. Love him!

I did not know that the world wide web was invented by a Brit! I clapped really hard for Sir Tim Berners-Lee.

The design of the Olympic torch is just magnificent. I’m so impressed with the one on the speedboat with David Beckham, held by Jade Bailey, Arsenal and England Under 17 ladies footballer player. It showed the iconic symbol enclosed in a clear plastic cone to protect it from the wind and water, with a cut out for the gripping hand.

I tried to spot Rupert Grint as one of the Olympic torch bearers during the film montage. My blinking eyes utterly failed.

My sister pointed out that the strange sculptures being held by the children accompanying the athletes during the parade were actually part of the design to light up the cauldron. One child was shown raising it to the sky reverently, probably mimicking some pagan ritual. (Or, I’m being too imaginative. Haha!)

The design of the cauldron and the manner in which the Olympic fire was lit were inspiring and inflaming.

Whoever decided to show the Queen examining her nails during the parade of athletes is an idiot.

I liked the Filipino uniform designed by Rajo Laurel. However, in the whole scheme of things, surrounded by millions of elements, it needed a theatrical touch to make it easier to spot.

A flying bike, even with wings, will always remind me of ET.

The fireworks were a testament to the fusion of science and spectacle.

I’m shocked that the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony only cost US$42M.

Those involved with the royal wedding, the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympics are excellent Secret Keepers.

While watching the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony, I was able to verify that I’m familiar with some British facts, but nowhere near being an Anglophile.

Writing this post has confirmed that I love fantasy books and films. Note that I did not mention Sir Paul McCartney and the other musical artists, not because they weren’t fantastic, but my knowledge on that particular subject is middling to non-existent. And, yes, I am not a Beatles fan.

Director Danny Boyle profusely thanked the volunteers. My sister and I are contemplating the future possibility of becoming volunteers for the Olympics. Obviously, it must be at a time when we can afford to take one year off and live in some foreign country.

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