The admiral roaring movie
![the admiral roaring movie the admiral roaring movie](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-50eK4ctYhdk/U93TOjFhCmI/AAAAAAAAMXA/TB1uGByvcfU/s1600/2014+-+Roaring+Currents+(still+4).jpg)
Not a character is wasted being built up so when someone meets their unfortunate end - you feel it right in your guts.
![the admiral roaring movie the admiral roaring movie](https://nekosdrama.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/thumbnail_19157.jpg)
From lead star Choi Min-Sik, to Seung-ryong Ryu as General Kurushima to Ku Jin as the mute love of a Korean sailer - every character has a place and a purpose to the film. On top of the incredible production design, this film is populated with an incredible cast that is absolutely committed to their characters. Everything feels real and tactile, so much so that when cannon balls rip through the hulls of warships, or when swards are drawn for close combat - the hairs on my arm stood on end and I starred wide-eyed at my screen. Having these practical set pieces on display brings home the crushing reality of the battles and the intensity of these scenes. While there is a lot of CGI trickery on display, the spectacular production design needs to be singled out for building eight scale historically accurate replica ships in addition to the numerous costumes and sets. Korea is not a newcomer to dramatic epic films and this is a massive production. During the first naval battle, I don't think I blinked my eyes to took a breath during the entire sequence. When the action hits - it hits hard and fast. We actually feel for them and the sacrifices they make.
![the admiral roaring movie the admiral roaring movie](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/xx701fnV2e4BlQGwgISLYUG0DsG.jpg)
We get time to care about the characters in meaningful ways that isn't just surface motivations. Rather than jumping into the action right out of the gate, the filmmakers take a lot of time to build up the dire situation the Korean forces face, introduce both Korean and Japanese characters as well as their personal motivations. Taking pages out of the 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World' playbook, director Kim Han-Min wisely keeps things calm and dramatic for much of the film's two hour run time. 'The Admiral: Roaring Currents' is one of the most thrilling films I've seen in a great long time. Boy was I absolutely dead wrong in that estimation. I'd assumed it was going to be some over-the-top high-octane action flick with goofy camera work that simply exploited the historical context of the film. Going into this movie, I honestly didn't know what to expect. By strategically baiting the Japanese force to sail into the Myeongnyang Strait - a thin stretch of water with particularly rough waters - Admiral YI has placed the Korean's last line of defense. Knowing the importance of a final stand, Admiral YI Sun-shin disobeys orders to abandon the navy and transfer his men to ground units and leads his fear-riddled men into battle - if only to buy ground forces the time they need to protect the capital city. Everyone around him believes the mission to be futile, after all how can twelve ships stand a chance against an invading armada of over 330 Japanese vessels? YI must deal with his faltering commanders, doubting sun, and the fear that grips the hearts of his men, all while making the final preparations for a battle that statistically he can not win. Falsely accused as a Japanese spy, YI Sun-shin is imprisoned, beaten, tortured, starved and demoted to the rank of common soldier as those who betrayed him ascended to his former rank.Īfter a catastrophic defeat leaves the Korean navy with a scant twelve ships, YI Sun-shin is reinstated to his former rank and given the insurmountable task of leading these few ships against the invading Japanese army. With the odds against him, he experiences victory after victory using sound battle tactics and his redesigned, heavily armored Geobukseon or Turtle Ships to break the Japanese lines, YI Sun-shin quickly earns the respect of his men as well as the jealousy of other generals and commanders. What it turned out to be is one of the best historic action dramas I've ever seen.Īdmiral YI Sun-shin (Choi Min-sik) takes command of Korea's navy without having any kind of formal naval training.
THE ADMIRAL ROARING MOVIE MOVIE
Prior to this review I hadn't ever heard of Korean Admiral YI Sun-shin or his numerous naval victories against a massive Japanese in the late 1590s so going into 'The Admiral: Roaring Currents I didn't have any historic frame of reference for accuracy or preconceptions about what the movie would be. The Roman Colosseum in Ridley Scott's 'Gladiator,' the battle of Iwo Jima for Clint Eastwood's 'Letters From Iwo Jima' just to name a couple.
![the admiral roaring movie the admiral roaring movie](https://www.fwweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Film-221.jpg)
Historic battles or settings often provide the perfect backdrop to build a big budget, mega scale block buster movie around. "It is said that a commander's loyalty must lie with the king, and the king must follow his subjects."