Alright, folks, here’s the scoop: No “Top Ten” or “Top Five” movies/video games/music/books. No, what you’re going to get is simple. My favourite movie, video game, album, and book of 2009 with some honourable mentions and some disclaimers. Well, perhaps that’s not exactly simple after all, but I think it’ll all make sense.

WTG’S BEST MOVIE OF 2009

Star Trek

I quite honestly can’t think of a better thrill ride this year (Disclaimer: I have not had a chance to see Avatar yet). Sure, there were movies that were more profound, were more critically acclaimed, etc This movie also wasn’t without its faults, but at the end of the year there was no movie I enjoyed watching more. I saw it three times in theatres, and have watched it twice already on Blu-ray. Call me a trekkie if you must (it wouldn’t be totally without merit, however utlimately incorrect), but this movie was just pure fun. Well done JJ Abrams.

Honourable Mentions: Up, District 9, The Hangover, Zombieland, I Love You, Man, Watchmen

Movies I haven’t seen that probably would have made the list: Avatar, Up In The Air, (500) Days of Summer

WTG’S BEST VIDEO GAME OF 2009

Call of Duty – Modern Warfare 2

This was a no-brainer in terms of what I played in 2009. Let’s just say that the week after this came out I picked up both Left 4 Dead 2 and Assassin’s Creed 2 but have yet to even crack the cases as Modern Warfare 2 hasn’t left my 360 since buying it. The single-player campaign may be short but it’s intense, and if a game can get me playing multiplayer despite my fear of being PWN’d, it must be good. If you’re into First-Person Shooters, there’s no better game in the current generation of consoles. And yes, I’m including Halo 3.

Honourable mentions: Batman: Arkham Asylum, Battlefield: Bad Company (not a 2009 game, but played in 2009), Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10

Games I either didn’t play enough or didn’t play at all but probably would have made this list: Assassin’s Creed 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Borderlands, NHL 10

WTG’S BEST ALBUM OF 2009

Thrice – Beggars

Thrice’s previous effort(s), the ambitious Alchemy Index Volumes 1-4 (Fire, Water, Earth and Air), did nothing for me, but I kept the faith that my beloved Thrice could pull off another stellar album. They blew me away when I first started listening to them after The Artist in the Ambulance back in 2003 and they’ve completely rekindled my love for them with this album. I remember, after listening to the leak back in the summer, saying to my friend “I know it’s only halfway through 2009, but this is my album of the year, without question.” If you’re in doubt, have a listen to “In Exile” and you’ll completely understand my stance on this album.

Honourable Mentions: Treelines – S/T, You Say Party! We Say Die! – XXXX, Metric – Fantasies, Joel Plaskett – Three, Two Hours Traffic – Territory, Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice, We Were Promised Jetpacks – These Four Walls, Passion Pit – Manners

Albums I didn’t listen to enough to make an informed decision that might have made the list: The xx – xx, Paramore – Brand New Eyes, Muse – The Resistance, Brand New – Daisy, Said The Whale – Islands Disappear, Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!, Neko Case – Middle Cyclone, Tegan & Sara – Sainthood, Telekinesis! – Telekinesis!

WTG’S BEST BOOK OF 2009

Wil Wheaton – Memories Of The Future

Wait, did I say earlier that I’m not a trekkie? Oh right, I’m still not, but this isn’t exactly helping my case now is it? Wil Wheaton, or you may know and loathe him as Ensign Wesley Crusher from Star Trek: The Next Generation, takes a humorous approach to recapping the first half of the first season of Star Trek TNG which is notoriously known as “This is so bad, how did this show even make it past the first season?” Wheaton has a real knack for comedy, and his ability to look back on these episodes and mock his own character and realize for himself exactly why everyone had a hate-on for Wesley, really legitimizes this book. This is obviously for fans of the series, but would be a great companion novel for those who are watching the series for the first time.

Honourable mentions: (aka, other books I read in 2009 that were pretty good) Guillermo Del Toro – The Strain, Christopher Moore – Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal, Orson Scott Card – Invasive Procedures, Wil Wheaton – Just A Geek

Disclaimer: I’m not what you would call a heavy reader. My Goodreads says I read just 9 books in 2009. My reading time consists of 10 minutes on the train on my way to work, and 10 minutes on the way home.

CONCLUSION

This concludes my week-late look at 2009 in movies, video games, music and books. I have this sneaking suspicion that 2010 is going to be just as good if not better for movies video games and music.