London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony: Isles of Wonder

I just rewatched the opening ceremony 10 years later in 3D (a TV capture from BBC back when they still broadcast in 3D) and it was even better than I remembered, and also better in 3D. A beautiful colorful production full of surprises and happy emotion, it just put a smile on my face. It also made me nostalgic for a few reasons. First is the sad demise of 3D broadcasting. Even in the era of UHD 4K HDR, the 3D broadcast from ten years ago looks absolutely fantastic on the right screen. Second is that in hindsight 2012 feels like the happy pinnacle of modern times. No hint of Brexit, or bitter partisan politics, or populist leaders, or fake news and misinformation, or Covid, or war in Ukraine. Just looking at the opening ceremony makes me want to teleport back in time into that happy place, where everybody and every nation celebrates together as one. Since there's no actual way to do it, rewatching the London Olympic games opening ceremony in 3D is probably the next best thing.

Wonderful choreography, music, and theme tell the story of Britain from its green roots to dark industrial might. A recognition of the country's emotional, cultural, and physical wealth.

Engaging and enthralling people of every nation with intelligence, whit, and charm; a moment of self-deprecation and self-praise, properly delivered with an all-rounded English-ness.

Music from every corner of every type, culturally relevant the ceremony throws out a message of turmoil, of arrogance (perhaps), and of success.

The Baby Boomers, the elderly, the young are enthralled and moved; they get the light, the sound, the message:

"We've done it; we did it brilliantly; I'm bloody proud to be a Brit. (And all those moaning buggers can get back where they belong: in their Early Graves)."

The organisers of the London 2012 had a problem and it has been over 30 years in the making.

Ever since Moscow 1980 when you had all the choreographed banner changing and then LA 1984 when it went all space age. The opening ceremonies have become grander and wildly more expensive culminating in Beijing 2008 with the money no object even though part of the country is backwards and underdeveloped with people starving.

London 2012 had an Oscar winning director leading a creative team and a wildly cut down budget and a seismic creative shift from the past.

What we had was a history of Britain moving from its agrarian past into the Industrial Revolution to the rise of social welfare including the NHS, celebration of arts and culture and leading into the computer age.

We had Kenneth Branagh reciting Shakespeare, Music for a host of performers and James Bond meeting The Queen.

It was very untypical, rather surreal, edgy and smart. In fact it was nice to see the end of the synchronised banner switching.

Simply put, not only was this ceremony a total surprise that worked to the highest possible effect but it was I think the best Olympic opening ceremony. It was certainly the best live event show/ceremony I have ever seen. Firstly, it was informative, totally original and had a huge amount of texture, depth and personality to it. Whilst I thought that Beijing's opening ceremony was amazing and lively and colourful,the first section of Danny Boyle's opening ceremony was I think quite literally like being inside the action of a motion picture. The portrayal of the 'green and pleasant land' into the state of Industrial Revolution was on a purely epic scale. To think that so many performers, volunteers and actors such as Kenneth Branagh in a very true portrayal of Isambard Kingdom Brunel contributed to such an effective telling of the story and history of Great Britains Industrial change was itself a truly impressive spectacle. Even watching it from a television perspective was still the same as feeling the atmosphere, vibe, tension that rose to an epic crescendo with the arrival of the drummers. From that point on the music that accompanied the pandamonium act was epic in parallel play against the very realistic performances and whole act. There was a huge amount of character personality conveyed. You could identify with each character especially Branagh as Brunel and the many workers, women of the revolution, the arrival of the Chelsea Pensioners and the army of 'Brunel' characters. With a strong personality trait there was also the use of some stunning effects,lighting and set design. Everything looked very realistic; from the chimneys and smoke to the fire and spark effects of the forging of the Olympic Rings to the forged rings themselves which is the most stunning use of lighting, design and special effects I have ever seen in live event shows. To actually smell the forged rings and see their formation against the backdrop of the Industrial Workshop was stunning. The whole Industrial Revolution Act alone was simply epic and true. A 10 out of 10 section. The arrival of the Queen via escort by her top agent was utterly suiting both realistically and in a comedic sense. The sequence's short film entitled 'Happy and Glorious' was fun, lively and very royal benefited by a stunning arrival of Her Majesty to the stadium via parachuting, even though this was done by stuntmen. It was very interesting and surprising to see Mr Bean make an appearance in the stadium playing a single repetitive note of Chariots of Fire on a keyboard, looking board, sneeze, play the keyboard with an umbrella then dream of himself running on the beach in the famous Chariots of Fire opening scene from which actual footage from the film was used in conjunction with specifically shot sequences by the BBC. It was even more interesting because after Mr Beans Holiday, Rowan Atkinson mentioned that he nay never play Mr Bean again so it was great fun to see him return for maybe one last time. The ceremonies other acts including hundreds of nurses, beds, children and a portrayal of the NHS, a 60ft or so inflatable Lord Voldemort, 70's culture and Paul McCartney, accompanied by a fascinating arrival and lighting of the torch after its journey down the river to the stadium by David Beckham on boat were well deserved and waited for. The whole ceremony had an incredible poingnacy and vibe about it. It was fresh, dramatic and was on a scale outside of many peoples expectations. It certainly surpassed my own. A fantastic experience. Britains best show ever. Danny Boyle's hard work birthed London 2012 and by so doing birthed a very memorable legacy of the London 2012 Olympic Games. The BBC's Opening ident featuring a virtual timlapse of the outskirts and central London with reference and homage made to Wind in the Willows and a clever incorporation of the all famous Eastenders opening logo seemed rather an unexpected yet suspense building countdown before the actual ceremony commenced. We as a nation haver seemed to be able to offer what is probably a very remarkable contribution to sport. Whereas other host countries have shown a very spectacular and conscious based games, I believe that we have shown a definition of what Britain is and in turn what is means to be British. If there is one thing the opening ceremony of the Olympics achieved it was a very included sense; in other words,it brought everyone as a nation together to tell the story . Although every host country has successfully done this, I think that we, hosting the games in our own nation have brought an all home type of games to the world. We cannot of course dspute an other host countries efforts and achievements in hosting the games but with London, there did seem to be a very strong special presence that absorbed in many of us. In saying this, it is probably thus fair to say that when your own country is chosen to host and be part of something so legengardy, special and backed by many many years of remarkable legacy's then there is always something that feels even more specifically special and a lot of us would have felt this effect.

It was one amazing show both for the audience in the stadium (believe I was there) and audience at home watching it on TV. I think this ceremony had great/key moments that will be talked for years to come in the TV/Olympics history. Such as the Industrial Revolution, the power of the visual of it and the Olympic rings being forged was amazing. The Queen and Mr Bean scenes were brilliantly funny and greatly filmed, memorable TV moments. And the torch what an amazing idea putting it all together. The soundtrack of the ceremony was amazing and powerful as well.

For people who don't understand it... stop being lazy and pay the deserved attention to the ceremony, watch it again if you need and everything makes sense.

It was Britain at his best. In my opinion the best Olympics Opening Ceremony so far. Beijing was good but London was brilliant!