Voldemort battles Mary Poppins at uniquely British Olympics show

Voldemort versus Mary Poppins? The Opening Ceremony, directed by Danny Boyle, best known for "Trainspotting" and "Slumdog Millionaire," is splendidly, wholly British. It's hard to imagine any other country saluting its National Health Service at the Olympics. A children's hospital, in fact, proved to be the unlikely launching point for one of the ceremony's highpoints, a battle royale of characters from British children's books. As kids "dreamed," the storybook figures fought it out — beginning with the Child Catcher from "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," and followed, somewhat more accessibly, by a 100-foot inflatable Voldemort. There to save the day: A fleet of Mary Poppinses, dropped into the stadium by wires. (Was Daniel Radcliffe busy?) Team Great Britain for the win.