for SO

//group movie_ids to several genre_strings
   var movieID_genreString_grouping = from mtg in db.MovieToGenres
                                                       join genre in db.Genres on
                                                           mtg.genre_ID equals
                                                           genre.genre_ID
                                                       group genre.genre_string by
                                                           mtg.movie_ID;

        //create the list of NITVMs
        var nitvmQuery =
            //left outer join so that all movies get selected even if there's no omdb match
            from movie in db.Movies
            join omdb in db.Omdb on
                movie.movie_ID equals omdb.movie_ID into mov_omdb_matches
            from mov_omdb_match in mov_omdb_matches.DefaultIfEmpty()
            //match the boxarts
            from boxart in db.BoxArts
            where movie.movie_ID == boxart.movie_ID
            //match the genres string
            from grp in movieID_genreString_grouping
            where grp.Key == movie.movie_ID
            //match the genre id

            //create the NITVM
            select new FullViewModel
                       {
                           Movie = movie,
                           Boxarts = boxart,
                           Genres = grp,
                           Genre_IDs = (List<int>)(from mtg in db.MovieToGenres
                                                   where mtg.movie_ID == movie.movie_ID
                                                   select mtg.genre_ID),
                           //OmdbEntry = (mov_omdb_match == null) ? mov_omdb_match.movie_ID= movie.movie_ID: mov_omdb_match
                           OmdbEntry = mov_omdb_match
                       };

        //fill the TV Ratings for the dropdown list
        //get all the tv ratings from the db
        IQueryable<FullViewModel> min_tmeter_res = Tools.GetFullDbQuery(new MovieDbContext());
        var all_tmeters = (from fmv in min_tmeter_res
                            where fmv.OmdbEntry.t_Meter != null
                                 select fmv.OmdbEntry.t_Meter).Distinct()
                                                            .OrderBy( item => item);
        var array = all_tmeters.ToArray();