We watched the second half first and are now watching the boats. Boats are different but I think it’s cool. I wonder how long the route was - and how it was for the athletes as opposed to walking in a stadium.
The 2nd half with the torches and the lighting really really touched me.
The only thing that I think might have been cut was how the masked guys and silver suits actually passed on the torch and flag and whether you ever see who is under them. I assume you are talking about the implied threesome in the section where they are prancing around the Bibliotheque pulling out books about love and then start getting ideas… I loved the ceremony - it was very original adding a storyline to getting the torch to its destination and the various themes (Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité and a few extras), and I thought the boats made it so lots of people could see the athletes.
OK, I loved the Beyonce hype video!
Fantastic opening ceremonies!!!
I also thought of the trio… but might have also been the fashion show. Some unusual characters were sashaying down that runway. I’d love to see the whole thing!
I am not a Celine Dion fan, but even my cold, cold heart was moved by that performance. The Eiffel Tower is such a beautiful backdrop. I liked that they used a lot of athletes in the lighting.
For anyone wondering what is going on with Celine Dion’s health, take a peek at the documentary I’m Celine Dion on Prime. Words cannot describe what she is dealing with. So happy to see her singing!
The olympic horse on water was incredible!
I’m glad everyone is liking this, but sad that I’m not. For me it was weird and not beautiful. Celine Dion was a star though.
See my first post. I was quite meh on it, but in later posts I was trying to find some positives.
I liked the way the shows took place all over Paris, although I wasn’t enamored of every one. I appreciated that they involved so many French artistes, even if I didn’t know them. It was nice to see the individuals rather than thousands of people on a huge field augmented by technology. Also, maybe just me, but glad there were only three children involved.
The boats prevented us from getting the full effect of the national costumes, which was a shame. Unfortunately the rain and slickers made it even harder to see. Personally I didn’t miss all the zooming in to individual star athletes from each country as has been done with marchers. It made them seem more like teams. I also appreciated not continually cutting to the American team constantly as has happened in prior Olympics. Likely both being on a boat and the rains contributed to that.
The headless Marie Antoinettes were disconcerting. I would have preferred to see more of the Louvre figures come to life.
Is the flame balloon tethered? It would have to be and not floating free around Paris?
I loved the silver horse and really want one of those to ride around our pool!
The headless Marie Antoinettes were super creepy! 
Somehow I missed all the headless women.
Oh, I didn’t even think how few kids there were. Yes, I am glad that was the case. The balloon also confused me.
French creativity and artistry at its finest.
Reminded us of things we had forgotten or took for granted with regard to French history, music, literature.
Makes one ponder the French Revolution and French identity.
We were at first puzzled by the appearance of the minions… they were hilarious as usual! Had no idea the animation company is French! Very cool.
The fashion show was cool. There was an extremely long techno dance segment following that went on a bit too long for this cold and wet American!
The flame is low to the ground this morning, no longer high in the sky.
My husband is reading international news, and it looks like the fashion show is already making some ruffled feathers among certain demographic. I thought it was cool, too! I’d love to go to Paris to attend a fashion show.
Is is my imagination or do the men gymnasts not get the same air as the women? If that’s true, why not?
Watching the US men on the floor, I was stressing the whole time whether they would make their landings whereas when watching the women in their tumbling runs they seem so high. Am I imagining this?
I will admit to absolutely loving the Marie Antoinette stuff. The arc of the story was the history of France, and the French Revolution is central to its story. While some countries whitewash their pasts, France embraced their reality. It was very artistic (as was the entire opening ceremony). Juxtaposing driving metal music and opera was brilliant. The red streamer “blood” was so cool. Maybe I’ve been overexposed to modern art … to me, it felt like an installation created by an artist.
