Anyone watch the opening Olympics ceremony ?

danger boy
danger boy Posts: 15,722
edited August 2008 in The Clubhouse
Man I'm glad I caught most of the opening ceremony for the Olympics. I mean China really blew everyone away. There was so much that was impressive... I can't even begin to write it all down. Easily the best opening ceremony to any Olympics I've ever seen.

http://sports.excite.com/news/08082008/v8293.html
PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
Post edited by danger boy on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • shawn474
    shawn474 Posts: 3,052
    edited August 2008
    That was one incredible ceremony! I usually don't watch them but as I was flipping channels it caught my eye and I could not turn away from it. Maybe the most impressive thing were the cheerleaders in the background that were non-stop the ENTIRE ceremony.
    Shawn
    AVR: Marantz SR-5011
    Center Channel: Polk LsiM706c
    Front: Polk LsiM703
    Rear: LSI fx
    Subwoofer: SVS 20-39pci
    Television: Samsung UN58NU7100FXZA
    DVD Player: Sony PS4
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited August 2008
    It was VERY impressive.
    polkaudio RT35 Bookshelves
    polkaudio 255c-RT Inwalls
    polkaudio DSWPro550WI
    polkaudio XRT12 XM Tuner
    polkaudio RM6750 5.1

    Front projection, 2 channel, car audio... life is good!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited August 2008
    Agreed. None better. I'm glad I tuned in.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NotaSuv
    NotaSuv Posts: 3,860
    edited August 2008
    An amazing show
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bigaudiofanatic
    bigaudiofanatic Posts: 4,415
    edited August 2008
    No eagles were playing so I didnt watch any of it.
    HT setup
    Panasonic 50" TH-50PZ80U
    Denon DBP-1610
    Monster HTS 1650
    Carver A400X :cool:
    MIT Exp 3 Speaker Wire
    Kef 104/2
    URC MX-780 Remote
    Sonos Play 1

    Living Room
    63 inch Samsung PN63C800YF
    Polk Surroundbar 3000
    Samsung BD-C7900
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited August 2008
    Missed the opening ceremony, but saw the lighting of the torch here..... (FYI - I did have to install some new microsoft "silverlight" plug-in to see it)

    Was rather cool, but I still think the arrow shot lighting in 92 (barcelona) was the best I have seen. (could not find a video of it in english, but here it is)

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bobman1235
    bobman1235 Posts: 10,822
    edited August 2008
    I was at a bar last night and it was on some of hte TVs so I only caught bits and pieces... :(
    If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Ron-P
    Ron-P Posts: 8,520
    edited August 2008
    I was at a bar as well and then outside for stogies so I missed it, I knew it was on but I really don't care anyway. Why waste that kind of money on something like this is beyond me.
    If...
    Ron dislikes a film = go out and buy it.
    Ron loves a film = don't even rent.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited August 2008
    I recorded it because I heard Sarah Brightman was singing. Looking forward to watching it now.
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited August 2008
    Ron-P wrote: »
    I was at a bar as well and then outside for stogies so I missed it, I knew it was on but I really don't care anyway. Why waste that kind of money on something like this is beyond me.
    The same can be said of almost anything that you're not personally interested in...
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cmy330go
    cmy330go Posts: 2,341
    edited August 2008
    AMAZING!!!! The precision in everything they were doing was just unbelievable.
    HT
    Mits WD-65737, DirecTV, Oppo DV-970HD, XBOX ONE, Yamaha RX-A1030, Parasound Halo A23, Rotel RB-985, Music Hall MMF-7, Parasound PPH-100, LSi-15, LSi-C, LSi-FX, LSi-7, PSW-1000, Monster HTS2600

    2 CH
    Parasound Halo P3, Parasound Halo A21, Sutherland Ph.D, VPI Classic 3 w/ 3D arm & Soundsmith Aida Cartridge, Arcam CD72T, B&W 802 S3, Monster HTS2500,
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • avelanchefan
    avelanchefan Posts: 2,401
    edited August 2008
    I posted in the other Olympic thread, but the opening ceremonies were by far the best I have ever witnessed. There were moments that actually gave me goosebumps. Usually opening ceremonies are lame and cheesy except for maybe the Atlanta opening ceremonies.

    It was one of the coolest things I have watched in a long time.
    Sean
    XboxLive--->avelanchefan
    PSN---->Floppa
    http://card.mygamercard.net/avelanchefan.png
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,846
    edited August 2008
    My wife, my 21 month old son, and myself all sat there and were just amazed! Our jaws were practically on the floor. It definitely redefines just what an opening ceremony can be.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited August 2008
    how they could ever choreograph that many people in beyond me.. i mean everyone was in perfect timing. They must have been working on that for a couple years at least. I mean precision perfect on everything.. and there was a lot going on.

    The fireworks alone must have been tough to cooridinate.

    I don't know about you all.. but it was somewhat emotional.. thinking about the world coming together for this is just amazing. The faces of the children that were on those giant cards as they were looking back at the audience.. was a nice highlight.. but there were so many highlights too.

    I was at a bar too.. but managed to catch most of it as it was playing on most of the monitors. ;)
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited August 2008
    Yeah, it was pretty impressive.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • haimoc
    haimoc Posts: 1,031
    edited August 2008
    This is the best opening Olympic ceremony I have ever seen...
    -?¿-
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited August 2008
    The Parade of Nations is it for me. It doesn't get any better than watching the face of some hopeful from a small, little known place, waving his or her country's flag or wearing the colors. The Pacific island nations and the small nations from Africa were tops to me last night. Dressed to kill. Great stuff.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • avelanchefan
    avelanchefan Posts: 2,401
    edited August 2008
    You know I have the chance to get the HDTV Xvid if anyone wants it just PM me. It is 2.08Gb.
    Sean
    XboxLive--->avelanchefan
    PSN---->Floppa
    http://card.mygamercard.net/avelanchefan.png
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • polktiger
    polktiger Posts: 556
    edited August 2008
    I couldn't get a definate answer, but was it the total cost $300 million or was that the amount the US paid to China to help cover the cost? Regardless, it was a very impressive display - but a bit of a waste of money for me.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • accasbel
    accasbel Posts: 19
    edited August 2008
    Were you watching the NBC broadcast?
    1) NBC edited the broadcast and had the teams entering in a different order than what actually occurred in Beijing. source: slashdot.com
    2) Not all of the fireworks broadcast was live, part of the aerials were prerecorded (but I don't believe this was by NBC). source: London's Telegraph newspaper care of Yahoo

    Still good opening ceremony, but I'd appreciate a bit more transparency.
    Live free. Dine well. Drink good beer.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Danny Tse
    Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
    edited August 2008
    polktiger wrote: »
    I couldn't get a definate answer, but was it the total cost $300 million or was that the amount the US paid to China to help cover the cost?

    $300 million was the cost to stage the opening ceremony. It was mentioned that certain features of the stadium, such as the membrance around the top edge, was build to enhance visual effects of the opening ceremony. Btw, the director for the opening ceremony was Yimou Zhang, the director of such movies such as "Rise the Red Lantern" and "House of Flying Daggers".
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mutelight
    mutelight Posts: 1,054
    edited August 2008
    The ceremony had my jaw on the floor pretty much the entire time. I want that 500' x 70' LED screen.
    AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »
    The same can be said of almost anything that you're not personally interested in...

    Hahaha, exactly.
    // Panasonic AE8000 // Pioneer SC-57 // Polk Audio RTi A9 // Polk Audio CSiA6 //
    // Polk Audio FXi A6 // SVS PB12-NSD Subwoofer // Logitech Harmony Ultimate // Pro-Ject Debut III //
    // Oppo BDP-103 // Microsoft Xbox One Day One Edition // Sony Playstation 4 1TB SSHD // Nintendo Wii U //
    Photo Gallery
    Movie and Game Collection
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • greg2350
    greg2350 Posts: 544
    edited August 2008
    The drummers is what got me simply amazing.:)
    TV: Philips 42" LCD 1080p
    Front Speakers: Polk Audio RT800i
    Center Speaker: Polk Audio CS1
    Surround Speakers: Polk Audio R50's powered of Denon AVR
    Subwoofer: Polk Audio DSW pro500
    AVR: Denon 3801
    DVD Player: Denon DVM 745 upscale 1080p
    Sat: Directtv HD 10
    Front Speakers Amp: Rotel RB 890
    Center Speaker amp: Rotel 970 BX
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited August 2008
    i don't care that is cost $300 million... it was a spectacular event..

    plus, China now makes all of our electronics anyways.. it's chump change for them. ;)
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • goingganzo
    goingganzo Posts: 2,793
    edited August 2008
    totaly awsome i went to china about 2 years ago (shanghi)and it was a sweet trip.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,842
    edited August 2008
    I didn't get to watch it live but I downloaded a rip of it and noticed something during the torch lighting. It was confirmed this morning when I saw this os Slashdot:

    http://www.smh.com.au/news/off-the-field/bills-blue-screen-of-death-malfunction/2008/08/12/1218306871673.html

    Yes, that is a BSOD projected on the roof. Way to come through in a clinch Microsoft!
    Expert Moron Extraordinaire

    You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited August 2008
    Jstas wrote: »
    I didn't get to watch it live but I downloaded a rip of it and noticed something during the torch lighting. It was confirmed this morning when I saw this os Slashdot:

    http://www.smh.com.au/news/off-the-field/bills-blue-screen-of-death-malfunction/2008/08/12/1218306871673.html

    Yes, that is a BSOD projected on the roof. Way to come through in a clinch Microsoft!

    they should have used Win XP and not Vista I guess :p;)
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,842
    edited August 2008
    They DID use Windows XP!
    Expert Moron Extraordinaire

    You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter