Kang Xiaoguang, a social science researcher with the Chinese Academy of Science, welcomed the online debate over the government's big show, saying it was a sign the society is maturing. But he added that the singing and fireworks misrepresentations are disconcerting.
"Society also needs basic trust and justice," he said.
There was also online grousing this week about the opening ceremony's aesthetics. The three-hour extravaganza presented an idealized vision of Chinese history and culture, with Confucius heavily represented and Chairman Mao noticeably absent. But some found it pompous and lacking heart.
"It was nationalist clothing over authoritarian underwear," said Sichuan province-based writer and blogger Ran Yunfei.
Zhang, director of well-received feature films "Raise the Red Lantern" and "House of Flying Daggers," said he was pleased with the outcome.
"This kind of three-dimensional performance is a first for the world," he told a news conference. "If London also wants to do it this way, I estimate they won't surpass us in a short time," he added, referring to the host city of the 2012 Games.
Ai Weiwei, an avant-garde artist, said the ceremony focused primarily on giving "face" to the government.
"They tried so hard and wasted so much money," he said, adding that the oversized torch atop the Bird's Nest, which he helped design, resembled an ice cream cone.
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"The ceremony was stupid, a real wasted opportunity," he said.
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mark.magnier@latimes.com
