JPB that would have been interesting to watch but number 9 would involve people waving giro's around whilst getting impregnated by a toothless Jeremy Kyle ''contestant'' as an old lady is mugged by an MP of her savings beside a police beating a child to death

Also the ludites or the recent riots never got a sniff last night

1. bloody battles between scots, english, irish welsh
2. forming of the union
3. industrial revolution
4. waterloo
5. expansion of trade overseas
6. establishment of colonies
7. britain's role as international peace keeper
8. britain's role in the world wars
9. britain's modern culture
-----------------------------------

JPB, could you imagine how much worse the show would have been.... How the hell do you artisticly depict the establishment of colonies? Without it looking really suss.

It was good that they acknowledged our kids setting fire to stuff though by letting them light the Olympic torch.

7. britain's role as international peace keeper
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kinda sticks out like a sore thumb in that list.

The ceremony was a master piece.

It made me genuinely proud to be British & I can't remember the last time I felt that particular emotion.

The humour was a great representation of what Britishness is, it was sheer brilliance.

Anyone who feels the need to have a pop at it, needs to get a life, sad acts.

Cutting up Nimrods and harrier jump jets would have looked good

maybe Boudicca would have been good.

Anyone who feels the need to have a pop at it, needs to get a life, sad acts.
***

This

you could have done african tribes fighting each other and a load of redcoats coming in and breaking it up.

you could have done the dutch in south africa arguing with their slaves and some redcoats coming in and telling the dutch to get stuffed.

you could have shown brits forming treaties with indian princes and sitting in conference etc with them.


you could have shown classroooms with english teaches teaching english.

you could have shown british workers building railways and setting up communication infrastrrucutre.

it could have been done.

im not saying, it's definitely the way i would go seeing as how sensitive everyone is these days, but if you are going to try to do a history - as they did - I dont see how you can do it without reference to this period.

I think the only caveat to that is the point you made last night which is that brits tend to do things in an understated way, and whereas other countries would still be banging on about it at every opportunity, we are happy enough not to boast about it. as i say though, this still doesnt really justify (imo) doing a partial history without the most important bits.

The opening was great, the countries walking out with the flag was unavoidably dull, but the opening, I thought was pretty impressive I was glad it wasn't too sugary.

7. britain's role as international peace keeper
***
kinda sticks out like a sore thumb in that list.
==========================

it would do to the many people who sadly dont know anything about british history.

They should have had Kelly Brook reenacting Lady Godiva.

JPB

you could have done african tribes fighting each other and a load of redcoats coming in and breaking it up.

you could have done the dutch in south africa arguing with their slaves and some redcoats coming in and telling the dutch to get stuffed.

--I never knew Butlins redcoats were so heavily involved in our history

BM

It was okay not great. You're just overrating because it's because it was the London Oylmpics.

JPB ...The event wasn't a history lesson about the UK but a camp and fun spectacle of Britishness featuring Mr Bean...Trying to convey GB as guys who sort out "African tribes fighting each other" would have been the height of idiotic crassness.

JPB

the olympics is about sport and team spirit, you cant have us celebrating our roles in wars etc

Think the Germans might of walked out if we did that

It started very well I thought and there was some magical moments but it all started to get tiresome by the time the teams came out and heads should roll for NOT pulling the plug out when macca was wheeled out

Quirky, visually stunning, humourous, good music - Superb in every way.

GGC

You have your opinion but please dont tell other people whats theirs should be

I thought it was fantastic but my other half didnt

hardspank...i stopped watching at Sao Tome and Principe...what did Macca do so wrong, did he pay 'hey jude' because if he did that would have surely been a great lifting song?

Yeah it was sad to see one of our greatest living Brits spoil the ceremony at the end.

Yep he played it AGAIN !!

Deja vu Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na

spurtle...what did Macca do??? I didn't see it? Not the poo squat, please not the poo squat?