2012 Olympics: Photo Highlights from Danny Boyle's Bizarre, Beautiful Opening Ceremony
Well. Orchestrating a luminous, fiery 2012 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony celebration that somehow managed to combine film, music, live theater, dance, the Beatles, a giant baby, flying men on freaking jetpacks, Mr. Bean, James Bond AND The Queen, Danny Boyle set the world abuzz with his tribute to British culture. While Olympics-watchers process the epic Brit-centric extravaganza, we've got good looks at 9 beautifully bizarre moments from the Opening Ceremony. Dive right in to Movieline's Olympics gallery and revel in the Boyletastic theatrics. Your move, Brazil '16.
Maybe I missed the memo and someone out there can explain why so many of the random UK cultural icons in Boyle's uber-British, at times verging on Gaga-esque mad dance party are words that begin with the letter B? Beatles, Bond, Bowie, (Mr.) Bean, that terrifying baby, the bubble people, Beckham ... on a boat!
1. James Bond and The Queen
Her form is impeccable.
2. David Beckham
"He's on a boat (I'm on a boat)..." etc., etc.
3. David Bowie
A nice segue into the "Starman" segment, and perhaps a visual approximation of what Danny Boyle was thinking at this very moment.
4. Mr. Bean
Instagram waits for no man.
5. That Giant Baby
Homage to the Great Ormond Street Hospital for sick children, or preview of tonight's nightmare visions?
6. Winged Bicyclists
Great new Olympic sport idea, or best new Olympic sport idea?
7. He Who Shall Not Be Named
If he wasn't terrifying before, kids...
8. Flying Mary Poppinses!
Shout out to Bert, over in the corner sweeping the world's largest chimney tidying up after the molten Industrial Revolution rings.
9. FREAKING. JET. PACKS.
DANNY BOYLE'S GREAT BRITAIN IS THE FUTURE.
Click here for the full 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony Gallery.
[Photos: Getty Images]
Follow Movieline on Twitter.
Subscribe to the new Movieline on YouTube
Comments
Boring. Disturbing. Pointless.
Don't be so hard on yourself.
Us Brits got 'over ourselves' a long time ago; it's about time the rest of the world cottoned on to that - brilliant Mr Boyle!!
I enjoyed the segment featuring all those literary characters -- or as Hollywood refers to them. "Adaptable focus-group content options".
Started slowly for me, but really got going after a while. I really enjoyed it in the end. Everyone was pissed about the health care crap, but who cares? Overall it was a thumbs up for me.
- Jakey
Good picture
I know we men have lots of standards to pick up a woman, and there's one website that can almost meet all our different demands: (((( B-l-a-c-k-w-h-i-t-e-P-l-a-n-e-t. c-0-m )))) my bros told me this; it worked for them, it worked for me; and i'm sure it's gonna work for u, buddy!! I know we women have lots of standards to pick up a man, and there's one website that can almost meet all our different demands: (B-l-a-c-k-w-h-i-t-e-P-l-a-n-e-t. c-0-m ) my sisiter told me this; it worked for her, it worked for me; and i'm sure it's gonna work for u, buddy!!