thank god they couldnt use that who song in the end!!! - Over the Edge (1979) Discussion

[–] jayhn1111 14 years ago

I couldn't disagree more. I thought it did not fit at all. I completely detest that song, but I just think it was out of place and didn't make much sense for the closing scene

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[–] saint-21 14 years ago

watching it again.. your right. it was kinda cheesy. always made me mad that the kids who got away were over the bridge waving them goodbye as they are being carted off to some reform school...

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[–] jayhn1111 14 years ago

It was just out of place in my opinion. Even if I liked the song I'd feel the same. I can only imagine how powerful the ending would've been with the Who song. It would've fit perfectly. I say that because the Who song was exactly about what the teens were going through. But to see the kids sitting on a bus with that oooh child in the background was just a cringeworthy moment for me. But a lot of people did like it and felt it worked for the ending.

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[–] MyDarkStar 14 years ago

Which Who song did they intend to use ?

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[–] ccr1633 14 years ago

Baba O'Riley. "Teenage wasteland" and all that. I think it would've made for a more powerful ending, but the Ooh Child song isn't a disaster. I don't really care for it as a standalone song, but it has a certain melancholic air of optimism about it that is an appropriate comedown from the frenzied proceedings of the night before. The Who song would've kicked ass, but you have to figure by the next day these kids were exhausted and probably welcoming of some chill out time. I'd wager they even would find some relief just going to school. They wouldn't have the emotional strength to keep fighting forever. In that sense, Baba O'Riley would've rang a bit false, giving the impression that the kids would continue doing combat forever, when in fact they wouldn't. They'd eventually run back to their mommies, consistent with the tone of the Valerie Carter song.

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[–] Dear_Oderus_Urungus 13 years ago

The Valerie Carter version blows hard. The original version by The Five Stairsteps is the only version -- they should have used it. The Who song would have fit, but I think the bittersweet melody of OOH CHILD was more appropriate.

To the world you may just be somebody, but to somebody you may just be the world.

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[–] JasonIK75 12 years ago

I was half-afraid that you were talking about "My Generation," and how, as much as I LOVE the Who AND that song, the line "Hope I die before I get old" would have been so wrong here.

"May the Force be with you."
"I can do anything. Is America."

mariafan

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[–] MikeNewYork 13 years ago

I think "Ooh Child" is absolutely perfect in the final scene. I also think this version is superior to the original by The 5 Stairsteps (which is good too).

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[–] tallkennj 13 years ago

Strongly disagree. Clearly, it was the filmaker's intent for this movie to have a MUCH darker ending. "Ohh Child" turns it into an Afterschool Special TV Movie ending where everybody learns their lesson and everything works out for the best. The truth is that everything did NOT work out. Ritchie was dead... DEAD. That is going to haunt these kids for the rest of their lives. ...and, aside from opening some eyes for about 5 minutes, we have no reason to think the town has changed in any appreciable way. Parents will pay attention for a few weeks and then will drift back into the world of willful ignorance while their kids... and remember they are Junior High Schoolers!... do way too much drinking and drugging and vandalizing to be emotionally healthy. Sure Carl and some of the others may... MAY.. clean up their acts, but maybe they won't either. Sorry, but the movie should have ended with the bus heading for "the hill", Roger Daltry screaming, "They're all wasted!" and then fade to black.

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[–] pooninator666 12 years ago

I enjoyed the Ooh Child at the ending but that could partly be because I'm from the 'Boyz N' tha Hood' generation. But I watched the ending again with Baba O'riley playing in the background (which I suggest you try for yourself) and it's true, it was a lot better. Still awesome though. To be honest, I wouldn't really have thought of it but the original song adds a smidge of cheese to an otherwise rad movie.

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[–] jefspicoli82 12 years ago

The Who song would've been a good song to start the movie off, but it would've been out of place for the ending. Ohh Child made a nice comedown song after all the chaos and destruction from the night before. It wasn't cheesy at all. Now whenever I hear the song I think about the movie.

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[–] jefgg 11 years ago

"Ooh Child" was a good fit for the end of the movie. The song was also featured in a notable scene of the 1991 movie "Boyz n the Hood" and in the 1994 movie "Crooklyn".

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[–] jefgg 11 years ago

"Baba O'Riley" would have been better for the beginning of the movie. It seems that the songs of The Who have become very popular for movies and commercials. I like to hear my favorite songs in movies. I don't like to hear them on commercials. But it really doesn't matter how I feel because I don't own the rights to any of those songs.

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[–] jabberttp 11 years ago

"Ooh Child" was a perfect and memorable song for the ending of this film.

If a Who song was used, it would've felt like a dang CSI episode - and we certainly don't need another one of them. lol

"Ooh Child" was poignant and powerful just the same.

---
"Into every life a little coffee must spill."

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