Why I'm glad my prediction was wrong

Usually one hates to admit he or she is wrong on a prediction. But I, for one, am more than glad to say I did not get it right on the Zhang Yimou-directed extravaganza for last night's Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.

He achieved something I thought he was both incapable of and unwilling to do.

To start with, he went for the high-brow - if we use the CCTV New Year's eve gala as a benchmark - a risky move considering the size of the audience. Of course there was plenty to please the senses, but movable type printing and ancient paintings seemed too archaic a subject. Hey, it turned out to be some of the most ingenious moments of the evening.