Beijing 2008 Olympics - Opening Ceremony (NOT a GC thread about the Olympics!)

PoochJD · 09-08-2008, 9:55 AM

Hi,

So, yesterday was the Opening Ceremony in Beijing, to commemorate the beginning of the 29th Olympic Games, and the BBC balls-up the whole thing up!

I set my recorder to record the whole thing. For two reasons: because I am interested in East Asian culture (films, etc), and also because the ceremony was created by Film Director extraordinaire Zhang Yimou - he of "House Of Flying Daggers" fame!

Now, the BBC in typical fashion, (not that they balls things up regularly, but when they do, they do so in spectacular fashion!

), screwed things up in two ways:

1 - Not only did they choose three of the worst commentators, (Huw Edwards, Sue Barker [I think], and some other lady who specialised in Chinese history) who yakked, and yakked, and yakked, and yakked, and yakked, AND YAKKED over every single moment, that viewers weren't able to enjoy the ceremony at all because of their incessant and rather irritating chat, but...

2 - ... the BBC failed to advertise or notify audiences

that the same ceremony was being shown on the BBCi Interactive Service (Red Dot thing), without the commentary, and could be seen in all of its joyful, measured beauty, without any intereference!

This was exactly what I wanted to have!

So, did anyone else manage to record all 280 minutes of the ceremony, via the BBCi Interactive service, and/or know when or if it's being shown at all again anytime soon, in the same version (e.g. sans commentary)?!

This should have been a momentous occasion for the BBC, and they fouled it! Stupid tits!

Truly inforgiveable!

Pooch

Reign-Mack · 09-08-2008, 10:21 AM

Bahh just source it from else where

krish · 09-08-2008, 11:29 AM

Pooch you might be interested in the Monkey: Journey To The West album, of the opera of the same name from Chen Shi-zheng with Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett (both of Gorillaz)
- Hewlett created the intro animation for the Beeb's Olympics coverage, featuring Albarn's music and the Monkey character

www.monkeyjourneytothewest.com
www.find-cd.co.uk/cds/B001CVCBEO-Damon-Albarn-Monkey-Journey-to-the-West.htm

oakland · 09-08-2008, 11:30 AM

Spot on about the shoddy commentators! They completely ballsed it up in my opinion. Not only were they yakking on forever but they also took the surpise away by constantly telling you what was going to happen next! AND why oh why were they 'poo pooing' every achievement China has ever made!?!? "They claim they invented the typewriter...but we have no way of proving that!!!" They claim they invented the kite... but we have no way of proving that!!!" and on and on they went!!!

And there were the constant little digs about China's human rights record... Pollution etc. We know ALL about that and those who don't can do their own research into the subject if they are that way inclined. What we don't need is to be told during an Olympics opening BLOODY ceremony!!!

Rant over!

And Reign-Mack is right! Just source it from some where else!

krish · 09-08-2008, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oakland

And Reign-Mack is right! Just source it from some where else!

... yup, but you know Pooch

PoochJD · 09-08-2008, 1:26 PM

Hi,

Krish is right. I won't be sourcing it from any non-legit sources, and in all honesty, it's hardly likely to be the kind of thing that's going to be available on Bittorrents sites. I mean, the whole thing did last nearly 4hrs 20m in total!

Still, if anyone wishes to PM me privately, who can offer me some sensible solutions, then please feel free to do so.

Thanks, in advance.

Pooch

IAN P · 09-08-2008, 2:10 PM

Great ceremony,the commentators were crap,"Carol Vorderman would've been proud of that countdown"was one of the more asinine comments

maverick177uk · 09-08-2008, 5:41 PM

Was really miffed when they kept saying "Oh and there is a suprise at the end of this and this" so they just spoilt it then , great

Joe Pineapples · 09-08-2008, 6:04 PM

The commentary felt like an extended news bulletin - 'now we go live to the Beijing olympics, with Hugh (who can take that voice seriously) Edwards.

Toasty · 10-08-2008, 10:38 AM

Totally agree, shouldn't commentary be comments on events that have happened, not tell us what's about to happen?

krish · 10-08-2008, 1:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PoochJD

...and in all honesty, it's hardly likely to be the kind of thing that's going to be available .... I mean, the whole thing did last nearly 4hrs 20m in total!

oh yes it is, from one of the most popular ... ahem ... 'providers', along with daily "Games Today" highlights

drunkenmaster · 10-08-2008, 2:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krish

Pooch you might be interested in the Monkey: Journey To The West album, of the opera of the same name from Chen Shi-zheng with Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett (both of Gorillaz)
- Hewlett created the intro animation for the Beeb's Olympics coverage, featuring Albarn's music and the Monkey character

www.monkeyjourneytothewest.com
www.find-cd.co.uk/cds/B001CVCBEO-Damon-Albarn-Monkey-Journey-to-the-West.htm

Went to see this a couple of weeks ago-superb, stage sets and music were

Cant wait for the score to be realesed in a couple of weeks

Sorry to go off topic.

Oh yeah the commentators really p****d me off as well.

soundstory · 11-08-2008, 11:27 AM

I read something in the paper about some of it being cgi.

That's got to be a first !

discostewart · 11-08-2008, 1:43 PM

Did they use the new logo design at the ceremony ?

http://www.freetibet.org/files/Mens%...20white(1).jpg

(thought you might enjoy that Oakland

)