Closing Ceremony Ponderings

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Closing Ceremony Ponderings
Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 12:57AM / Standard Entry / Members only
23 comments

Sorry to blog so much, heh. The Olympics doesn't happen every day, and you guys are my peeps!

Didn't Zhang Yi Mou do an incredible job? Especially with that cycling ring design. Having that "soft" or flowing element mixed in with the firmer element is so holistic and so Chinese. Which it's why it's always ironic that the newscasters emphasize how China needs to soften their image and are doing so even through design in this Olympics (though of course that has to do with more than design, heh).

But they have a point in that it's not expressed successfully so often in modern work - especially in terms of performances I see on CCTV from here, which always have that stodgy, strict "mass games" feeling to them.

But I stray from my point. He really did it this time!

Anyway, other great moments, in my opinion:

Jimmy Paige and Leona Lewis were pretty cool
the child drummers were adorable and surprisingly funky
the little girls in pigtails with the gigantic smiles (do you know what I'm talking about?) were so cute!
it was kind of cool and weird at the same time to see Wang Lee Hom broadcasted on tv screens all over America

I stopped watching after that.

Any thoughts?

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Entry comments (23)

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Brian Yang
posted on Friday, Sep 5, 2008 11:10PM [Report]

after the opening ceremonies, nothing compared! but all in all, great show China! lewis plus page and then jackie chan was all weird...but we love it!
RenRen
posted on Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 1:05PM [Report]

I'm so glad NBC broadcasted the last part of the ceremony with all the Chinese artists. I thought they were going to cut that part out. I love LeeHom!
Lianne Lin
posted on Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 5:58AM [Report]

thanks for the comment. i was really proud of china in the olympics this year!!
Blueamrub
posted on Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 5:08AM [Report]

i saw ANDY LAU!!!
<><
Patrick Chow
posted on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 8:39PM [Report]

leehom rocks!

nicest of all artists .....
Dreamy
posted on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 8:35PM [Report]

btw, and i was excited to see ANDY LAU on tv!!
Dreamy
posted on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 8:35PM [Report]

i loved the opening ceremony and the closing.. he did a GREAT job.. i don't think anyone can out do him in the near future!!!
Yes_Tom
posted on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 4:55PM [Report]

Hrm it seems I'm the only one who didn't get swept up in Olympic fandom.....Does that mean I'm strange? =P
JoanneSanderson
posted on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 4:26PM [Report]

I loved the opening ceremony, but from what I saw of the closing section, I enjoyed China's part, but wasn't over powered with ours. Although Boris was a charming idiot as usual, but Leona Lewis, as good a singer as she is, did not suit 'whole Lotta love'. And I know this is just a northerner's gripe, but a lot of it seemed based around London culture only. Certainly be interesting to see the plans for 2012.
Christopher Lay
posted on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 1:36PM [Report]

Haven't seen it yet, but hope to catch some of it while here in OR. My bro recorded it.
janechu
posted on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 8:18AM [Report]

my mom loved the cycling ring too... hehee... =D I enjoyed the closing ceremony too... I think it was a good way to conclude the wonderful games... =)

I was excited to see Lee Hom on TV as well as seeing Andy Lau too... hahaa... like Butter said, that kind of thing never happens so I was quite happy... wish I got to see other singers too... but oh wells... hahaa....
butter
posted on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 8:05AM [Report]

I would say that I preferred the opening ceremony. It was still great but somehow the closing ceremony didn't hold my attention as much and I didn't feel bad about switching off to watch baseball from time to time. The human torch was pretty cool and I really liked the child drummers as well. They should've had better acoustics for Leona Lewis and Jimmy Page's performance. I could barely hear her. I was kinda excited to see Wang Lee Hom on TV cause that kind of thing never happens. Shame they cut away so quickly, I couldn't tell who else was with him aside from Rain and Kelly Chen.
Batforce
posted on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 5:34AM [Report]

The closing ceremony was superlative. I especially loved the spectacular fireworks.
Jaine
posted on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 5:25AM [Report]

I missed the closing ceremony - it was on too late here.
Plus I have Olympic guilt - guilt for enjoying the Olympics when I know so many peops where kicked out of their homes for the games.
Justice Vancho
posted on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 4:19AM [Report]

Havent seen any of YiMou's stuff for the olympics yet. I keep hearing it's either great or horrible.
silky
posted on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 4:14AM [Report]

I simply enjoyed the whole show - I would have liked to turn off the odd comments of the moderators here...oh and I spotted Jackie Chan and Andy Lau !!!
What I really like about Zhang Yimou are often simple things which have a great effect, like the red/silver covered suits of the guys on the tower....
JRS
posted on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 3:38AM [Report]

These games definately ruled as far as opening and closing ceremonies go....I don't think they will ever be topped! I saw Jackie Chan and Andy Lau singing last night (finally!!!). =)
peachey
posted on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 3:00AM [Report]

The flame was beautiful. The doll-girls didn't do a thing for me. Aside from LL, JP, JC and 2 other vocalists, none of them were intro'd and I didn't recognize half of them. It was cool how the athletes got to mill around at center stage. Love the US polo shirts.
issue76
posted on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 2:10AM [Report]

The closing ceremony was amazing until it came to the london section. God i cringed representing British Culture a .....London Red bus and a lollipop woman what the hell was that ??and then David Beckham kicking a ball yeahhhhhhh at least he got a few cheers from the crowd? Then to top it off Boris Johnson came on the Mayor of London i do love him but it looked like he had just got out of bed .After watching the slick performance before hand this was awful well at least they have 4 yrs to polish it off.
Pauline C
posted on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 1:24AM [Report]

I am wondering what is going to happen in London...

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Wendy Seo-Ling Cheng is writer/filmmaker/songwriter who graduated with a BA in English Literature from Cornell University and an MFA from Tisch School of the Arts in filmmaking, where she received a...
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