Admiral Yi Trilogy

Choi Min-sik

Ryu Seung-ryong

Cho Jin-woong

Jin Goo

Lee Jung-hyun

Kim Myung-gon

Kwon Yul

No Min-woo

Kim Tae-hun

Ryohei Otani

Kim Kang-il

Park Bo-gum

Lee Hae-yeong

Jang Jun-nyeong

Moon Young-dong

Kim Won-hae

Choi Deok-moon

Park No-shik

Shin Yoo-ram

Ha Soo-ho

Kim Hyeon-tae

Kang Tae-young

Kim Koo-taek

Jo Bok-rae

Go Kyung-pyo

Lee Jae-gu

Jo Ha-seok

Lee Joo-sil

Kyul Hwi

Ju Seok-tae

Kim Min-sik

Lee Seung-joon

Jung Je-woo

Kim Moon-jong

Jeon Sung-ho

Kim Yong-ho

Shin Bo-ra

Lee Jong-il

Byun Ki-yun

Kevin Kang

Gang Tae-gyun

Yoon Dae-won

Kim Nam-sik

Shin Jae-ho

Kim Han-min

Lee Tae-yeong

Lim Wang-sub

Lee Hyun-dong

Lee Yoon-ho

Jeon Cheol-hong

Park Jun-ho

Jang Seok-ho

Lim Seung-mook

Kim Tae-sung

Han Tae-jung

Park Yoon-seo

Ahn Tae-woon

Kim Min-gi

Kim Yeon-ho

Jeong Byeong-wuk

Kim Ju-kyung

Choi Tae-young

Jang Chun-sup

Im Seong-mi

Jeon U-hyeong

Kim Chang-ju

Lee Gyeong-ja

Rim Seung-hee

Kim Tae-seong

Jeong Tae-sung

Kwon Yoo-jin

Bang Ok-kyung

Kim Hyun-woo

Kim Woo-hyun

Steven Nam

Han Mi-yeon

Park Yeong-su

Kim Byung-in

Kim Gyeong-seok

Kang Bong-sung

Seo Doo-hyeong

Sin Jae-myeong

Park Choul-yong

Park Sung-won

Kim Dae-jun

Hong Eui-jeong

Oh Serk-keun

Jung Jin-mo

Ko Gwang-hyun

Action

Drama

History

명량

Big Stone Pictures

South Korea

Reno

> At war, it's not all about the manpower, but strategy.

The highest domestic box office ever as well as internationally as a Korean movie. Based on the naval wars of Japanese invasion of Korea that took place in the last decade of the 1500s. The battle was fought for six long years, but this film focuses only the final one called 'Battle of Myeongnyang' in the year 1597. The famous face from the Korean filmdom, Choi Min-sik can be seen in the title role. For the international market, he was badly needed than the role wanted him. But I don't say that, he was amazing as always, like the character was specially created for him.

As an important historical subject of the Korea, it was a very carefully made flick. But the product was more commercialised than being practical, especially in the battle scenes. You can't expect logic and accurate historical account, but entertainment is promised as the film's main intention. Awesome visuals, but as I said lacks the reality. Not a bad film either, because a very much acceptable for having interesting tiny bits in the battle. The first half was more a drama and as we are viewers, there is a chance to lose the focus. Barely generates any interest, kind of a setback to the movie. Not even the character constructive was handled that better in those sections where it should have been.

Exactly after the first hour the pace picks up as the war commenced. Then it was a non-stop action, one must buckle up his seat belt for onwards to enjoy. Mostly never seen before style, because it was exhibited in the Korean style of a sea battle. It involves some kind of oceanography like the second half of the title say, 'Roaring Currents'. But not in a theoretical calculation rather a practical by observing the pattern and executing the plans like any old civilization was doing in any field. In one of the dialogue, the admiral uses the word 'virus' about fears spreading among his men. I don't think so the virus was discovered not before the late 19th century.

> "Fear does not discriminate,
> it can equally affect our enemy."

It may be a Korean answer to the '300: Rise of an Empire'. There are no similarities, one is a fictional war and the other one is a biographical war film, but deals on the same theme. Especially when the hundreds of soldiers fight against the thousands, definitely reminds '300'. Actually, it was 12 Korean warships against the 330 Japanese fleets. There are so many characters, the editing was much better to give space for everyone to show their parts in this 2 long hour run. The music was equally matched to the visuals. It includes some emotional segments too, but not the appealing one like you are going to have tears rather the narration demanded it and it worked.

In the last two decades, Korean filmmakers going after the untouched territories and their success were inevitable. The quality of graphics in the world cinema is the revolution. Something is sure that now it does not belong to Hollywood alone. Because of this technology the world cinemas can compete with Hollywood. When I was a kid, my frequent question was 'why its so gloomy?'. The one thing I liked in this film was they were not afraid to create the battleground (atmosphere in the sea) in the daylight. You can see sunshine, shadows as well as gloomy as the clouds passing by. This film was a spectacular piece, that does not mean I said it a masterpiece. Like I always say, knowing/learning history through the films are easier than the textbooks. Hope there is a part 2, seems I want one.

8/10

日本語

한국어/조선말

The Admiral: Roaring Currents

The Admiral: Roaring Currents Official US Release Trailer (2014) - Choi Min-sik War Drama HD

The Admiral: Roaring Currents Official Trailer 2 (2014) - Korean Historical War Movie HD