The Five WORST Movies of 2009

Picking the best movie of the year in any year is easy. But, trying to come up with the worst movies is a lot tougher. Truth is there are a whole lot more bad movies than good ones in any given year, and 2009 was no exception. I reviewed over 100 movies for akronnewsnow.com last year, and this is my five worst list.

The Five WORST movies of 2009

1/ Year One - Jack Black and Micheal Cera. What on earth was anyone thinking when making
this hunk of junk. Could be the worst movie of any year. Attempted stone age
satire that backfired horribly. They had to have known on the set it was tragic.
They would have been right. Couldn't be worse!

2/ Bride Wars - Anne Hatahway and Kate Hudson. Insultingly bad. Two best friends set a
wedding date on the same day. Go to war over it. It's embarrassing to think
that someone who gets paid thinks this movie was actually funny in the
slightest. Borderline putrid.

3/ All About Steve - For the great year Sandra Bullock had with The Blind Side and The
Proposal, makes this one really stink worse. Horrible idea about a stalker
and her escapades running around the country chasing this guy. Count
them, one funny moment when she falls into a giant hole. It stinks!

4/ Land Of The Lost - Will Farrell and his adaptation of the 1970's Saturday morning show.
I don't think he's ever do anything even the slightest bit funny again!

5/ Obsessed - Beyonce' stars a wife whose husband is being pursued by a female coworker.
Filled with horrible everything. Not the least of which is Beyonce' acting like
Beyonce the whole movie. She looked like she was getting ready to walk on
stage most of the movie to do a concert. There's not one thing about this movie
that I would call good.

That's my list for 2009! There were plenty of other dogs made too, but these really stand out to me.....Any comments? E-mail me at scott@wqmx.com

The Five Best Movies of 2009!

2009 from my perspective will go down as a very mediocre year at the movies. Even though the box office numbers are through the roof, there were few great flicks. Many big movies, but many times there is a difference. Nothing wrong with the blockbusters I like them too, but with a year end list they seldom make the cut. See if you agree.

The best movies of 2009

1/ Up In The Air - George Clooney's "recession" movie. A fantastic story that you've never
seen before. A movie that speaks directly to our times. Terrific characters
you care about, and a star is born with Anna Kendrick as Natalie. The best
movie of the year 2009...and not by a little.

2/ Invictus - Clint Eastwood directed movie about the early days of Nelson Mandela's South
African presidency. He uses rugby as his vehicle to help curb decades of racial
disharmony in his country. Starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.
Powerful and beautifully done. Don't know anything about rugby? Doesn't
Matter. Story wonderfully told.

3/ Inglourious Basterds - Quentin Tarantino WWII story about Nazi occupied Europe and those
sent to kill as many as possible. Story too complicated for a short
recap here. But riveting movie making. Long build up scenes very
skillfully done. Great mixture of drama, irony and dark humor. Not
for everyone. But terrific.

4/ 500 Days Of Summer - What a surprise hit! Zooey Deschanel stars as Summer. She is a
quirky young, beautiful woman who is enigmatic in love. A story
not told before this way. She is really really great in this movie.
This is not a feel good romantic comedy, but it is real fun.

5/ The Blind Side - Sandra Bullock is so good in this feel good flick, she carries the day. True
story or Micheal Orr and his journey to the NFL after being taken in by
a rich southern family. Movies like this seldom make it this far, but this is
a very good movie, and a rebirth for Sandra Bullock.

Honorable Mentions:

1/ The Hurt Locker - Fantastic, intense Iraq war drama. Story- brilliant.

2/ Law Abiding Citizen - Gerard Butler. Very intense, creative action thriller. Real sleeper.

3/ Star Trek - Really fun. Really well done. Great rental if you missed it.

4/ Sunshine Cleaning - Amy Adams. Great Indy pic about sisters who start a crime scene
cleaning service. She is great!

5/ The Proposal - Sandra Bullock again. Surprisingly good romantic comedy. Caught us all
napping.

That's the list of 2009. If you have any comments you can leave them or e-mail them to me at scott@wqmx.com

MOVIE REVIEW - Up In The Air

George Clooney is back and this time it's Up In The Air. For those of you let down, or left scratching you head at The Men Who Stare At Goats, here's a Clooney redeemer! You've heard that this is a "recession" movie... and it is.....but it is more than that. This movie is just flat out fantastic!

UITA is the story of Ryan (Clooney). Ryan is about 45. He works for an Omaha based company that goes around the country and fires people from their jobs, when the company doing the firing doesn't have the guts to do it. Ryan flies in, fires people, and movies on to the next job. He's on the road 300 days a year. Enter Natalie (Anna Hendrick) She is a 23 year old Cornell graduate who thinks that doing this job over the web is a better idea to ease costs. So to learn the job better she travels with Ryan out in the field to learn the ropes. Ryan too, is having a sort of romance with Alex (Vera Farminga) on the road who also works out of a suitcase in an unrelated field.

Truth is, Ryan has no life. No connection to the real world. No people or the responsibility that goes with any kind of relationship. Is he lonely? What can he learn from these two new women in his life, and his detached family? Is he real or is he a phony? Can he live this way his whole life? Is his the next job to be eliminated? You end up caring about these main characters and want the best for them. That is UITA.

Up In The Air is a movie about realism. Everything about it is real. From people losing their jobs to the people whose job it is to have them lose it. It by no means makes light of this. But it does bring it home on film. The characters are terrific. Very strong,and developed very well. And every character brought into the movie as it moves along, real again. UITA is a movie you have to stick with. It makes you a bit uncomfortable at first, then eases up on you. It starts out as one kind of movie and ends up another in it's raw form. But everything about this movie is great. Really great!

This is a good example again of every great movie starts with a great story. And this is a great story. Characters and a story line you have not seen before, and turns you don't see coming. This movie is NOT predictable, and it does keep you guessing all the way through. It has something to say, and says it. It's a movie for our econimic times. It's honest, and it talks directly to different generations and socioeconomic groups.

Clooney is fantastic as the enigmatic Ryan. And Farminga is wonderful as the sexy Alex. But Anna Kendrick is absolutely fabulous as the eyes wide open, straight laced Natalie. She is a fresh face and steals a scene or two in this movie. UITA needed a hero to put it over the top and she is it. She was a great casting decision, and is the separator for the film. Over all this movie is well cast and wonderfully done!

Up In The Air. The best movie of the year in 2009....and not by a little.

MOVIE REVIEW - It's Complicated

There's a lot to live up to with the new Meryl Streep flick, It's Complicated. All this talk about it being the funniest movie of the year and all. Tons of award show nominations too. What about all this?

Streep stars with Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin and a real nice supporting cast in this modern day comedy about life in America for many divorced middle aged couples. Meet Jane (Streep) and Jake (Baldwin). they were married for 20 years and now divorced for 10, with 3 grown kids. At their youngest child's graduation party in New York City, Jane and Jake get back together for a drunken romp in a swanky NYC Hotel. Jake has remarried a young bombshell, and Jane has never re-married. So Jane turns out is having an affair with a married man. Her ex-husband! All the while Adam (Martin) who is Jane's architect has his eyes on Jane. AND of course they have to keep this a secret from the kids. How will they pull it off?

First off, this is a really funny idea and it is a really nice grown up comedy. Alec Baldwin is terrific in this movie as the sort of sleazy ex-husband Jake. He so looks the part and is really funny in his likable dirt-bag role. John Krasinsky as Harley too. He is engaged to one of the kids, and he steals the show in the movies second half. Steve Martin is fine, in his very limited role as Adam. If you're going to see Martin do a bunch of slapstick, wrong movie. And Streep is who she is. Always good, always liked, always reviewed well and highly nominated.

Sometimes a tough to review a movie like this. Mainly because many movie goers already love this movie before they see it. On paper it seems like it can't miss. But It's Complicated comes in a bit overrated. Nothing really wrong here, but expectations are high, and so is the hype. The real laughs come from Baldwin and Krasinsky, and other side characters. It's fun, but not the laugh fest that is promised. The story though is smart and does have a heart, and takes a good swing at a touchy subject and addresses it with a light hearted look. And with a sense of reality so we don't get swept away to a fairy tale world. A lot of this works.

There are a few really cheesy scenes here, not the least of which are the three adult kids, two girls and a boy in bed together huddling under the covers for security for moms big "I'm sorry" speech hear the end. An obvious "aww" attempted moment. Most rolled our eyes. And there were other eye rollers too. But in the end, it doesn't kill It's Complicated. It survives itself on a few occasions.

It's Complicated. It's fun no doubt....but a bit overrated.

MOVIE REVIEW - Sherlock Holmes

Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law star in the Sherlock Holmes new at the box office this week.

Right up front, this is not you fathers Sherlock Holmes. With all due respect to Basil Rathbone who made 14 Sherlock Holmes movies between 1939, and 1946, things are a little different now. It is still based on enduring character Sherlock Holmes from A. Conan Doyle from the 19th century. But he has been updated here and made almost into an action hero for the 21st century audience.

Doyle's books really revolutionized crime fiction with the intellectual Holmes taking almost a forensic look at crime long before CSI. Holmes has always been a genius in the books and stories, along side his trusty assistant Watson. But as Holmes has been updated for a new audience, I feel it is no more revolutionary than Doyle's books from 130 years ago, and he would approve.

Downey Jr. is Holmes. He still lives at 221 B Baker Street in London. It's still the mid 19th century, and there is still seemingly unsolvable crime on the streets of London. Enter Holmes and Watson (Law). Holmes here is still a genius. But now, he's a bit more rounded. In addition to his intellect, he is accomplished at virtually everything else in the world. He's almost a marshal arts expert, as is Watson, and there's certainly enough action to go around here. Almost James Bond in the 1800's

Downey Jr. is perfectly cast and is really wonderful as the re-vamped Holmes. So is Law. Really great casting and powerful characters here. In fact, they are so well done they seem to upstage the entire movie at times. They overshadow a relatively average story here, that sometimes has a hard time gathering momentum. Most times, a really great movie starts with a really great story. But here, the story is average and sometimes hard to follow. An attempt at a star villain sort of goes by the wayside, and leaves a hole in the middle.

But no matter. If you're looking for just flat out fun, and action in old, cold London, then Sherlock Holmes is your movie. Whatever weakness this movie has, and there are a few Downey and Law, salve it over and pull it off. By the way, try not to watch the usually wonderful Rachel McAdams. The movies only casting flub.

Sherlock Holmes. Great starring performances. Average story. A bunch of fun.

MOVIE REVIEW - Avatar

Writer/Director James Cameron has had this idea in the works for over 15 years, and this week Avatar comes to the screen.

The big Sci-Fi Avatar with its 250 million dollar price tag, and it's 120 million dollar promotional budget has a lot to live up to. Does it? Seems like it can't miss. And at the box office it won't. But what about as a movie?

Avatar is a very complicated story about life in 2149. As much as they may want to try to disguise it, this is a real Sci-Fi movie. There is this moon named Pandorum. On it, are these wonderfully peaceful Avatar people. The are 10 feet tall, and live a wondrous life as a peace loving species that are one with the world that they live in. They live is there harmony with the plant and animal life in their world. Very reminiscent of the Native Americans from the 19th century.

Enter the Americans. They are trying to take over this moon. There is much monetary gain for them and the American Military. They are attempting to harvest all the good from the land, and wipe out the Avatar nations for their own gain. And an epic battle is bound to ensue, and that is the basic premise of Avatar. Too simple to be sure, but the complexity of this movie is too hard to tell in short written form. But after all the hype you've seen, you probably know the basic idea here.

First off. Avatar is immensely imaginative. Visually flabbergasting for the most part, incredibly inventive and marvelously done. The genius of this movie is the vision to see this before you see it. The 3-D is terrific, and groundbreaking. There is much good here. It will be a huge hit, and there will be those who go to it again and again. It absolutely takes you away to this other world in a wondrous and skillful way. Avatar by and large is a young adults movie. That should be noted too.

But to be fair, where I feel many reviewers have not. They loved this movie before they saw it. Avatar is very long, almost 2:40. It is well paced, and doesn't feel overly long and that's still to the good. But, you must be into real Sci-Fi, and you must enjoy watching over 2 hours of animation. There are of course live shots here, but most of Avatar is computer generated. Well done ...but still animated. This will lose some movie goers, and others will love this aspect of it.

Also, there is a very heavy handed social and political message in Avatar. Cameron's vision of Americans in 150 years is still this. We are horrible people that have learned nothing and now run all over outer space taking what we want and wiping out those who are different and weaker than us for our own monetary gain. The American military here, be it futuristic, is not shown in a very good light at all. I know it's all fantasy, but this is the story here. Cameron's vision of us as a people is harsh and negative. There is nothing subtle about Avatar, in it's written script script or in its technical brilliance. As wonderful as many aspects of Avatar are, it's a shame the script is as politically charged as it is. But Cameron has spoken.

Avatar. This could be this generations "Star Wars." Avatar is too intense for young kids in story, language, length and effects. But older kids and young adults will love it. To be honest in some ways you've never seen anything like this on screen. In it's story though, you've seen this movie many times before.

MOVIE REVIEW - Did You Hear About The Morgans?

Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker star in the new romantic comedy, About The MoDid You Hear Morgans? It's Grants first movie in two years. He's always a good time, and we missed him when during his absence. Now all we have to do is hope Parker takes a few years off too. More on that in a minute.

The Morgans is the story of a young married, New York City couple. Both very New York, both very successful, whose marriage is on the rocks. They're separated, and he really wants to reconcile. She's not so sure. After an attempted reconciliation dinner, they witness a high profile murder, and are forced to enter the Federal Witness Protection Program. They're sent to Ray, Wyoming until the trial or until the case is closed. Of course being a romantic comedy, they fall in love again and work it all out when forced to spend this time together. I didn't spoil the ending..... remember, it's a Christmas time romantic comedy.

This move also stars Sam Elliott and Mary Steenburgen, also married, and they are the U.S. Marshall's that the Morgans go to live with in Wyoming. Their performance in this movie is really great. They play real country folk, who live in the middle of nowhere, and love it. Perfectly cast and well acted. A real strength to the movie. Grant is who he is. He basically plays the same character in every romantic comedy he's in, and is fine here. Sarah Jessica Parker..well that's another story.

To be frank, she is terrible in this movie, and not by a little. One reason she was so good in Sex And The City, is that she was Carrie Bradshaw. A total New Yorker...and that was it. In SATC, the idea wasn't to be funny, the show was so well written, it just WAS funny. Here, they ask her to be funny, and she's just not. She is irritating, predictable, and one dimensional. Her physical comedy is awful, her timing is lame, and she has done everything on screen she's ever going to do. She has no new game, and here it kills her, and the movie. She looks borderline unhealthy on screen, and has no engagement with the other cast members, or us in the audience. Doesn't help that the only joke they wrote for her was how much she misses NYC. So it's not all her fault. But in a movie sense, she is the killer of this movie.

This movie is tenuous enough. Mediocre writing, a fragile idea, and predictability shoot this one down for the most part. Plus the first 3 minutes of this movie are enough for you to consider walking out of it. It really stumbles out of the gate. It does recover, but not enough to save the day.

Did You Hear About The Morgans. I dare you to laugh out loud at this one. Moments of fun, but overall, average to well below.

Christmas - Are You The Youngest?

You may be the youngest in your family, or know someone who is in theirs. Although not many I know really like being the youngest, at Christmas time it can be a blessing. I am the youngest in my family and not by a little. My sister is 7 years older and my brother 5. Although it doesn't matter now, it once did. Christmas as the youngest.

When I was about 6 or so on Christmas Day, my brother somehow talked me into riding down the carpeted staircase in our house on board the smooth, cardboard box his new electric football game came in. I FLEW down the steps, all 17 of them at lightning speed. I bolted right down the steps, through the small hall and right into the foyer at seemingly the speed of sound. As I crashed into the front door, my dad was there to pick me up, brush me off and assure me that I was OK and that the sonic boom I created with my jet supersonic run, didn't scare my mom too much. But I was embarrassed, and on that day I really felt like the youngest. Duped by a much wiser, more cunning adversary, who preyed on the meek. - Me. That record breaking Evil Knievel run, burned into my young mind like a branding iron. But all was OK. We were all kids and I was the youngest.

A few years later on Christmas day after we all opened our gifts from Santa, we took the new sled riding toys out to a hill near our house for a test run in the Metroparks. The hill was not too tall, and not too small for me. Just right. I remember it like it was yesterday. We were the only ones there. The fun we had. Run after run, pictures, and home movies. That day it was good to be youngest. Maybe it was because I remember feeling in between that day. My dad was really good at that. That day, I got just enough attention to fill the youngest in me, and enough independence to climb back up the hill all by myself. And if I needed help, I got just the perfect amount of assistance from someone. It was a sunny day, a perfect day. It was Christmas card stuff on Christmas Day, and it was sent special delivery to my memory that very morning, and is still there today - no postage due.

A few years later I was 16. Christmas day that year was the last day my dad was ever home in his own house. He was unable to keep up with the cancer he had been diagnosed with a few months earlier. That morning we went over and picked him up from the hospital and brought him home for just the day. I remember lifting him out of the car, and into a wheelchair. And into chairs at the house. I helped him do about everything he needed that day that needed muscle. I had grown. I was a big kid. I didn't talk a lot with him that day, but there was an understanding, and a transference undeniable that afternoon. For it was that day that I got the full understanding that I was my fathers son. And the cycle was complete. He had done all he could do in the time he was allowed. As I remember it now, I tried to give him just the right amount of help he needed on that day. Just as he had with me on Christmas days gone by.

Sometimes I wonder if I did it right. I hope I did. ....Those kind of times can be a tough balancing act. Plus I was dealing with an expert. After all, my dad was the youngest in his family too.

Merry Christmas!

MOVIE REVIEW - Invictus

The new Clint Eastwood directed drama, Invictus hits the theaters this weekend.

Invictus stars Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela in the early 1990's, and chronicles his days as the newly elected President of South Africa. Mandela of course was jailed in his country for 30 years. But after his release he is elected President, and his job is to put his nation back together after years of violence and terrible racial disharmony.

Mandela chooses many avenues to healing a torn nation, but Invictus focuses on his relationship with the South African National Rugby team. Rugby is huge in his nation, and he channels his energy there. He challenges his team to win the World Cup of Rugby. Mandela believes that this group of athletes and this team, with world wide TV exposure will be the unifying measure to help heal his divided nation.

Invictus is not a sports movie per say. Not many people in our nation know one thing about rugby, and in Invictus it doesn't matter. Eastwood is so skillful as a story teller that you are swept away in this ride without knowing what the sport it all about. Invictus is so well done, so moving and so perfectly put together, it sails right along with the greatest of ease.

Eastwood is Hollywood's premiere story teller right now. Back to Unforgiven, and on to Million Dollar Baby, Changeling, and Gran Torino, Eastwood continues to find stories worth telling. He also tracks down stories and characters you've never seen before on screen. His movies over the past 15 years or so are the best works of his life. He casts these movies extremely well and gets the most out of those fortunate enough to work with him.

All great movies start with a really great story and that's what Invictus is. You don't know the story going in, and you are well aware of it after you leave. In this year of a lot of really mediocre movies, it is great to see this gem in theaters just in time for the movie going public to watch the master in action.

Morgan Freeman, and Matt Damon star and are both fantastic, Toss in a well cast, well developed supporting cast, a killer, and eclectic soundtrack and you've got one of the years best movies.

Invictus........"I am the master of my fate.....I am the captain of my soul." - William Ernest Henley from his famous poem. Absolutely fantastic. One of the years best by far.

Tiger In The Tank

A generation ago, I think it was the gasoline company Exxon had a slogan, "Put a tiger in your tank!" It was in reference to how great their gasoline was. Was it? I don't know, but we bought it anyway. It was believable, solid and trustworthy. Things has changed in our view of the oil companies since.

The sport of golf put a Tiger in their tank too, Tiger Woods. And the sport has taken off to never before seen heights. He too was believable, solid and trustworthy. Things have changed there too. Now Tiger is clearly IN the tank. On and off the air the other day on WQMX my partner Sue Wilson and I were discussing this story, and the were thinking, has any star, anywhere ever gone from this greatest ever, to being just a lousy guy in this short or time? We thought for a while, and couldn't think of one. One day up here, seven days later... well....It's almost unreal.

I can't say I've ever been a Tiger fan. I love golf and have always marveled at the sheer greatness of his game. Golf is probably the worlds toughest game to play well, and I think he's the greatest player to ever pick up a club. I have never cared for his antics on the course though. His club throwing, foul mouth, and overal elitist approach to the game has always troubled me as a fan of the game. And to be frank, I really don't care who, or how many women Tiger sleeps with, or who he sends steamy texts to. If he wants people taking pictures of him in compromising postiions, that's his business. But the the "shark in bloody waters" media does, and so does the "let's watch a car wreck over and over" public. I could also care less what his sponsors do with him. Actually, it makes no difference what they do or not. Tiger Woods is monetarily rich forever.

Even if you're with me on the above points, I still think there is something that bothers us about this whole thing. We feel duped. We feel that even though we may not be fans, we feel badly that we were sold a bag of goods that didn't exist. Because of all the money he's accepted and made in his life, we're buying into so much more than golf. We're buying into an overall image Tiger wants, and relies on us to buy into that has nothing to do with sports. It's tough to watch all the great highlights of his career these days. Seeing all his greatness, and now feeling bad that I ever felt good for him, or that I marveled at his immense talent. In short, it's tough not to think he's just a bad guy.

Trying very hard not to be judgmental, everyone makes mistakes no doubt. Everyone did or does things that we wish we could get back, the author included. But the difference here is, we are not accepting 200 million a year to be something we're not. It's tough not to think that Tiger thought he could do whatever he wanted, when he wanted, with whomever he wanted. AND get the money, AND get the fame on an unparalleled level, AND expect the privacy. And the worst part? That we would be so dumb and never be the wiser, and we would continue to admire and exalt him all the while.

Maybe Tiger should have just given the money back, and played with his buddies on Sunday like the rest of us. Arnold Palmer said that to him once when Tiger was complaining to him that his life was so busy and pressure filled. Very apt. Jack Nicklaus and Palmer blazed the trail for Tiger, generations before and didn't get 200 million a year to do it.

Is Tiger a bad guy? I don't know him so I can't say. But one thing I think we all may agree on is this. If we had someone less famous as part of our own lives that treated us this way, profiting in every imaginable way all the while making a fool of us?

I'm just sayin'.

MOVIE REVIEW - Everybody''s Fine

It's a big, big cast lead by Superstar Robert DeNiro in the new flick, Everybody's Fine new a the box office this week. DeNiro, Kate Beckensdale, Sam Rockwell, and Drew Barrymore star in this modern day family drama.

DeNiro stars as Frank Goode. He is a recently widowed and retired electrical worker who worked his whole life so his kids could grow up and realize all their dreams. His four children are now all grown up and live in various parts of the country. A family weekend is planned, but all of his kids cancel at the last minute. Frank, determined to find out why sets out on a unannounced journey to each of their houses to find out what is going on with his kids. What will he find? That's Everybody's Fine in nutshell.

Right up front. Buyer beware! I have to say I am a bit disturbed by the misleading packaging of this movie. In the trailers, it looks like sort of a holiday, fun, mild family drama, that most of us can relate to. Well true, much of this storyline may be relatable, it is not light or fun. For me it was on the other end. Much heavier, and darker than I think is promised. It's the story of a bunch of dishonest grown children that think dad is some kind of moron, and they go to great lengths to lie, and overall just treat dear old dad horrible when he comes to visit.

Each child he tracks down, tosses him out in lies and deceit...and merrily sends him on his way after he travels thousands of miles to see them. Dad gets the boot, he gets mugged, he gets his lifesaving medicine destroyed and he's just flat out treated horrible by his kids. They are hiding family. and personal secrets from him, and think they are getting away with it. Their not! Ovcr all, it's the story of a 65 year old man, who learns he has a tremendous gap between himself and the younger generation he reared and now has to deal with.

This may be a story worth telling I guess. But in this movie, it doesn't work. Most will be stunned at the lack of any real levity or humor this movie pretends to have. It is not a feel good movie at all. And that's OK. But don't tell me that it's one thing, and then give me another.

Deniro is fine here. It's a big role and new ground for him as an actor. The supporting cast is strong, but misused here. A somber soundtrack, and over used technique on many levels, lead to a very boring and very morose story that's hard to watch at holiday time. This story may read better in book form than be told in movie form.

Everybody's Fine. Truth is NO body's fine here. Misleading, over all sad here with no real reason to be made. You may find this movie fine, and that's fine. But not at all what they said it would be.

MOVIE REVIEW - Brothers

Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllanhaal and Natalie Portman star in the new drama, Brothers at the box office this weekend.

It's a big movie, with and equally big new star cast. I must confess, after seeing the trailers for this one, I had rather low expectations. I was wondering about the timing of putting a heavy, drama from the Middle East war ramifications move in theaters at holiday time. But being fair, I was surprised.

It's the story of two brothers, Sam and Tommy. Sam is a decorated marine, married and has two little girls. Tommy is a dead beat underachiever who can't get his life on track. Sam is deployed to the Middle East, and has the absolute worst trauma imaginable. He is reported to be dead, and his wife goes on with her life. With the assistance of Tommy, who is attempting to grow up and help Sam's widow recover.

Then, Sam is NOT dead. He returns to the states and is reunited with his family. But needless to say he is a changed man in every regard. That is the drama that is Brothers. And it is heavy to be sure.

Brothers is a very hard to watch movie at times. Scenes of extreme torture at times. And also deals with some heavy duty mental illness. This movie could make some squeamish. But if you can wade through, it ends up being a very well done movie, that very well could have gone off the road and become something it didn't need to be. It hold it's head up pretty well, and although it becomes a bit draggy in the second half as compared to the first half, it's not a movie killer.

All performances are strong, Story good. Directed wonderfully, and in the end, not the total downer it could have been.

Brothers. Well done.

A Favorite Day!

We all have days of the year that are among our favorites. Whether it's your anniversary, or birthday, or someone else's special day. There are a few that we each reserve for especially for ourselves.

One of my favorite days of the year is the opening day, and then the ensuing days of the WQMX Tree Of Lights. It is an Akron tradition dating back to the years that were a bustling downtown and O'Neils Department Store. It is now a staple at the WQMX studios in West Akron. This year is our tenth annual celebration of giving back to the community that has supported us so well all year long. This year, as it has been for the past couple of years the charitable organization on the receiving end of your generous donation is Akron's Haven Of Rest. Where those without homes can start again.

When we set out in an act of benevolence for a worthwhile group such as the Haven, there is an inherent goodness that permeates our building on West Market Street. I don't know, there's just something right... about doing something right... for the right people. It's a prefect confluence that unfortunately is much too rare these days. It puts a buzz in the company. It's breathable in the air, and palpable in every employees heart during these precious few December days. The WQMX crew gets slaps on the backs, and congrats from our fellow stations here at Rubber City Radio. Be it told, that simple act from our sister stations, news staff, and office workers really helps you get through the long hours that are a radiothon. It's appreciated more than you know.

It's not easy or comfortable to think about homeless people in our city or any city for that matter. But it is a harsh fact of the changing world around us. The economy has been tough, and seemingly more and more people are in need of help today. We seldom stop to think why some people end up with no place to go. We quietly know that they are there. Most of the time there are dark,hidden factors that lead to someone having no home. Few of them pleasant to really think about. Be that as it may, these souls still need a place to go to shed themselves from falls early chill and winters wicked wind. And it is good to know that the Haven Of Rest is there, every hour of every day...always. Picking up the pieces of those badly broken, and start to put them together again. When the rest of us wouldn't begin to know where to start.

In our line of work sometimes we get to do some really fun things and meet some really interesting people and that's all well and fine. But for me, among the most satisfying days are those set aside to do good. And this is good. But it's more than just being good, it feels good. And it is right.

Thank you for supporting us all these years with the WQMX Tree Of Lights. I know that at weeks end, we will all look up in wonder at our lit tree. We will take pride in that we had a job, pursued and accomplished. As a community we can share in the pride that in the end it was us. All of us, that were in the right place at the right time......doing right.

Let's light the Tree!

Scott

MOVIE REVIEW - Twilight - New Moon

This movie has been out for a while and it's success can not be disputed in any way shape or form. It is an international hit, raking in the cash as fast as people will spend it. But we all know that doesn't always translate into being a great movie.

New Moon is the second in the Twilight series. Bella and Edward are back at it again. Edward of course is the dreamy vampire with an undying love for our damsel, Bella. Bella our Plain-Janey high school senior who also shares the obsession for Edward and his love. To be honest, it's just Romeo and Juliet all over again in it's most raw form. But this time we have a twist.

After Edward leaves Bella because they "just can't be together," Bella starts to use, and hang out with a new local boy, Jacob. And low and behold.....he turns out to be a werewolf. What are the odds? Vampires and werewolves of course are arch rivals, and the eternal triangle is on. Edward returns to the picture after threatening to kill himself, because he believes Bella has killed herself. But truth is, no one killed themselves and now we have to sort out this whole who loves who thing.

I know, to explain this in writing sounds so silly. But to the targeted audience, young girls and tweens, this is serious business. They hang on every word of the low, morose, monotone dialogue that time after time explains how Edward and Bella can't live without each other. This goes on for seemingly....hours. And it must be fun to watch Bella throw herself into a daily hysterical crying fit in her sleep, and mope around in total mental anguish and agony for months after being dumped by Edward. Mix in some dark music, and a super heavy feel and this is the perfect storm for it's fans.

Putting aside all the far fetched plot lines, and dramatic aspects to this movie and trying hard to maintain an open mind, New Moon has some other troubles that go beyond the actual movie making. Some may find it troubling that Bella and Edward at such a young age, live in this world of total obsession where nothing else matters in the world. Wanting to die rather than live apart. It is unhealthy romance personified. But then again so was Romeo And Juliet 500 years ago, so it's nothing really new. It's just here in modern movie form.

But to be fair, the trouble here is the plot line. The odds of the same girl falling for both a vampire AND a werewolf? Well....OK...I guess. But I think we could've gone in a different direction here and we can still be dark, and morose, and over the top dramatic too. It's just too "out there." Trouble too, they better wrap this thing up, because both Kristin Stewart (Bella) and Robert Pattinson (Edward) are looking more 25 these days than 18. I'm just sayin."

Twilight, New Moon. If you're a fan go ahead and get your ticket, throw yourself at the screen and live it up! If you're over say......22 or so?......There are better options for your movie dollar these days.