Comments on: Wow

By: It's A Show, not an audition

It's A Show, not an audition — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:51:35 +0000

@ ErikTheRed & Stephanie

"part of the show was fake"

All of the show was fake. The waves of water and wind, weren't really made of water nor wind. The images of things on the giant screens weren't really those things, rather they were only images. The guys rowing the boats, weren't really in boats, and they weren't really rowing them. The flying guy who lit the torch, wasn't really flying.

You guys are missing the point: it was a spectacular show, truly impressive! But it was a SHOW, not a live concert by your favorite band. Lip-synching is entirely acceptable in a show. All kinds of make-believe are not only acceptable in a show, but expected! Realism and fidelity to reality were not even supposed to be factors in this rendition of the opening ceremonies. I'd think that would be obvious.

Enjoy the story! Get wrapped up in the power of the moment! Don't nitpick with comments like "Hey, she's not really singing, and that guy's not really flying!!"

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:33:20 +0000

As spectacular as it was. It has been confirmed that part of the show was fake. And the young lady singing was chosen for her looks. You heard a different girl’s voice. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7556058.stm

But it will be hard to top it. Wonder what the closing ceremony has in store?

By: ErikTheRed

ErikTheRed — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:55:09 +0000

Now it’s being asserted that some of the show was faked: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2534499/Beijing-Olympic-2008-opening-ceremony-giant-firework-footprints-faked.html

By: K

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:29:11 +0000

I think China closed off the big spectacle option. That is for the best. We would think it insane if nations kept bidding for the exclusive right to build the largest pyramid or tallest building every four years.

The UK should reduce the scale - they can hardly increase it - and concentrate on good service and facilities and sensible pricing.

But if they insist on going big they should build new facilities along the Thames, then freeze the river in August and let visitors ice skate to events.

By: Bill Lever

Bill Lever — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 19:55:43 +0000

Many must be expecting the Beijing 2008 Olympics to be a lot like the Berlin 1936 Olympics, so the fabulous propaganda is all planned and going to happen (and it's ok to enjoy it for its techincal achievement).

I agree with Kyle Bennett's comment in that the incentive structure of totalitarianism can produce temporary "photo opportunities", but only the long-term incentive structure of individual freedom and capitalism properly encourages the productity of an entire nation.

A reward system along the lines of "Eat what you kill" is ultimately more productive than "...to each according to his needs."

On your excellent advice, I watched the YouTube clip of "Triumph des Willens", and got the feeling that it was just the 1935 version of "Yes We Can" and the personality-cult productions we have seen since.

Hope in a face. Hitler's then, Obama's now. Add stirring background music.

If the masses start doing the "O" salute for the party convention, it will be even creepier.

By: Billy Beck

Billy Beck — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:57:53 +0000

I've remarked here & there: I've worked as a stage-lighting designer and director for thirty-one years. That was the biggest cued lighting production I ever saw. That was an enormous space for them to be playing it the ways that they did, and the technical aplomb was astounding. The "floating rings" gag was very cute: it's not terribly complex in concept or execution, until you realize the space they're playing it in. The fly-rigging in the whole show was just crazy.

It set new standards in rock-production (yes; that's what it is) scale.

I could weep when I consider where it comes from. Ayn Rand wrote about this stuff: "The Monument Builders".

By: The Choir

The Choir — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 06:09:19 +0000

Freakin' spectacular. Really, truly impressive.

@Bryan Pick

Don't worry. As great as it was, there'll be a huge demand for it on DVD.

@Bob Prangnell

Dude, what are you talking about? How is the world could you not have found it stunningly awe-inspiring? It was the best Olympic opening ceremony I've ever seen, and I've seen them all since '84.

I love the idea that they've got 100 million people enjoying capitalism, and 1.2 billion waiting in the wings. Look out, world.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 04:21:21 +0000

Thank you so much for being the only blogger to have the courage to comment on this. It’s not PC to even mention how beautiful it was. I found it extraordinary and breath taking. The artistry, dance, talent and sheer enormity of the human effort was beyond anything I could have imagined or that will be repeated in our lifetime.

By: Vangel Vesovski

Vangel Vesovski — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:08:47 +0000

It certainly was not cheesy or tacky. I thought that Zhang Yimou created a show that is unlikely to be topped in my lifetime. I do not mean just an opening ceremony but any live show of a material duration. The contrasts presented were amazing even if much of what was seen is too subtle for the average Westerner who is not familiar with Chinese symbolism and culture. When a DVD of the opening ceremonies is put on sale I will certainly buy one.

By: bob prangnell

bob prangnell — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:35:56 +0000

Am I alone in finding is cheesy, tacky and vomit-inducing?