It's Wednesday morning/early afternoon, and none of us can quite believe how many ambulance cases have passed through so far. It's been a non-stop stream of patients, with every single one of them warranted ( very uncommon ). But it's been pretty exciting, with a variety of cases like severe asthma, accelerated angina, status epilepticus, fractures, sepsis and so on. I'm in resus with my department chief, which helped clear the area fairly quickly, 'cos we're both quite fast.

A prisoner just came in for complaints of chest pain. But this is no ordinary prisoner. He's got 4 or 5 escorts, dressed like CISCO guards, with a couple of guys in plain clothes. I don't think I can be specific, but here's a clue: radical religious sect. Pretty scary-looking fellow.

Only 1.5 hours to go before I can call it a day. And since it's suddenly gone quiet here in resus ( touching wood as I type this ), I'd like to do some movie reviews. :D

But before I proceed further, in case you're wondering about Matrix Revolutions, I've decided NOT to see it in the cinema. Yes, even I'm shocked! :) But after reading Ong Sor Fern's opinions in Life! today, I'm not going to spend that kind of money to get disappointed. I didn't like Matrix Reloaded, and seriously doubt the final installment will fare any better. Would much rather save the cash for Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King, or Harry Potter & The Prisoner Of Azkaban. Maybe those of you who do see Matrix Part III can post your comments here. :)

Okay, I rented a whole bunch of VCDs last week, and loved every single one of them. Here's a rundown:

Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle -- Granted, this is a moronic show, but everyone looks fabulous, no-one makes any pretensions that this is nothing more than fluff ( unlike the Wachowski brothers with their philosophical mumbo-jumbo in Matrix II ), and director McG infuses the film with a giddy, gaudy style that elevates this sequel way above the original. The various set pieces -- from the convent, to a seedy bar in Mongolia, and a striptease joint -- give the gals ample opportunity to dazzle and have fun. And let's not forget Demi Moore, in a spectacular comeback sans chubbiness. Perfect for any occasion, and for both men and women. :)

Chicago -- The one thing going for this movie is Rob Marshall ( the director ). Without his expert leadership, this might have turned into a total disaster. It isn't an easy musical to adapt, with its dual storylines (one anchored in reality, the other literally a product of whimsical daydreaming ), attitude-laden characters and songs, and not exactly musically-inclined actors ( except maybe Zeta-Jones, who has performed on Broadway previously ). Renee Zellweger is the most pleasant surprise here, showing great skill in dancing, and boasting a strong voice. Richard Gere's nasal tenor vocals get a little jarring after a while, but he does a satisfactory job as a publicity-loving lawyer who could care less about his client's guilt or innocence. However, you can't possibly miss Zeta-Jones, with her piercing eyes, growly singing and amazing splits. This lady has certainly got talent written all over her.

X-Men 2 -- I missed this during its theatre run because I was just too tired to get out of the house ( I recall it being screened during the SARS outbreak ). Anyhow, the sequel has its pros and cons. Pros include a much more fleshed out plot, the addition of new and interesting characters, and a good twist in the story ( involving Magneto ). Cons? Well, it's rather long, and can get tedious if you're not in the mood for a talkie. Fortunately, I was wide awake, and riveted from beginning to end. Beats The Matrix anytime in terms of discussions on futuristic moral dilemmas. A must-see.

How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days -- I'm a big fan of Matthew McConaughey. Something about those blonde curls, blue eyes, rascal-ly smile and easy swagger. :) He's been compared to Paul Newman, which I definitely support. Here, he stars with another good-looker, Kate Hudson, generating wonderful chemistry together and helping to make this film a lot more than it actually is. McConaughey has a knack for creating sparks with his leading ladies ( Jennifer Lopez in The Wedding Planner, Jenna Elfman in EdTV, Sandra Bullock in A Time To Kill ), reminiscent of Michelle Pfeiffer's own agility with leading men ( my favs being Jeff Bridges in the saucy, classy The Fabulous Baker Boys, and George Clooney in One Fine Day ). Wish someone would put McConaughey and Pfeiffer in the same movie -- that'll floor me for sure! :D
Anyhow, after that little digression, HTLAGITD is enjoyable in a light-hearted way, with both protagonists holding up nicely. This is a character piece, so don't pay too much attention to the script ( which is apparently based on a book ). Good for dates, but also for relaxing at home after a long day.

The Emperor's Club -- My favourite of the lot, this one. Starring Kevin Kline as Mr. Hundert, a Roman history teacher, it traces the progress of one particular class at a prestigious boarding school, where he strives to mould young minds and, hopefully, the future of America as well. Things get complicated when he is confronted by Sedgewick Bell, the privileged but neglected 15-year-old son of a powerful Senator. What then transpires is a constant battle of wits between Hundert and Bell, culminating in a dramatic twist in the plot during the school's Julius Caesar competition. This is no straightforward film, and the story will carry forward 25 years later and teach you even more valuable lessons.
Quite similar to Dead Poets Society, but unable to surpass it in my book. :) Still, this is a gem of a movie, and one of the best lines from it is this:
"One's life is not measured by a single failure -- or a sole success." Highly recommended. :)

10 more minutes to go! Have seen quite a few other cases since I began this entry, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, woohoo! CSI:Miami is on tonight. :D More another day then.