Specially rushed home to watch the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony last night. I must say it was AMAZING and definitely didn't fail my expectations. I had already been pretty impressed with Beijing's precision in its performances, but this time the precision had stunning choreography to go along with it. Zhang Yimou's colour motifs get a bit irritating in the reel mode, but with large scale mass displays such as these? Colour motifs hit it right on the dot.

I was wondering how they were going to compress 5,000 years of history into one performance, and they didn't fail to deliver by focusing on China's various achievements. It wasn't just physical achievements, it also included things like exploration. Not only that, each of the parts wove into each other. From paper to reading to Chinese cultural performances (opera and puppetry) to silk to travel (to sell the silk) to space exploration, there was a definite flow, even though the use of fireworks to punctuate each part didn't hurt either.

Talking about fireworks, I was pretty amused at the footprint fireworks used to "run" into the stadium and start the performance proper. That was a pretty large scale attempt to bring the Games to the people. In fact, I think half of the fireworks cost was that they reproduced the fireworks display clusters at several locations. Not as awestruck by the fireworks as in other parades, but they were definitely very varied and pretty.

Still, I think "scale" was one of the key things about this performance. Starting with 2008 drummers, who first drummed with their hands, both softly and loudly, there was a palpatable sense that this was going to be something different. I was amused when they started drumming with glowsticks, but when the lights went off... wow. Wow.

But that was just a teaser. A mesh of lights in the form of the Olympic rings lit up, and in front of the wondering audience it was lifted up. Lifted right off the ground, no obvious wires. I actually cried then, I don't know why. It was so moving.

Suspension seemed to be the order for the day. Fairies flew around, astronauts flew around, humongeous pieces of paper were lifted up... so it just seemed right when the athelete who was to light the torch was just lifted RIGHT OFF THE GROUND. He ran around the top rim of the stadium, and it was just another awe-inspiring moment. He soared to the finishing point, lit the tip, and then...

Flames spiraled around the torch, and burst out of the very top of the torch. It was an amazing end to an amazing lead-up, courtesy of amazing designs and stunning choreography. It was a beautiful moment.

I think what I liked best about the performance was that it was about Chinese by Chinese. It got the little details that most Westerns would have missed out or romantised. There were the bamboo-scrolls, which I have always been awed by, that were used to make PERCUSSION for the performance! Now that's a touch I wouldn't have thought of. And all the costumes were lovely.

If I could I would really really love to watch it again.