The film depicts the storied real-life battle of Myeongnyang in 1597, when Yi led 12 ships to fend off a fleet of 330 from Japan near what is today the South Korean island of Jindo. Review: ‘The Admiral: Roaring Currents’ a thrilling look at sea battle Choi Min-sik as Korean Adm. Yi Sun-shin in “The Admiral: Roaring Currents.” (Handout) I write swashbucklers & historical adventure novels. Movie Review Inside a 16th-Century Naval Battle "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" is based on a battle in 1597 in which a dozen Korean battleships took on many more from Japan. Screenwriters: KimHan-min, Jun Chul-hong, Producers: Kim Joo-gyeong, Jung Byeong-wook. The Admiral: Roaring Currents Family Reviews + Ratings Favorite Movie Button Overview; Movie Times + Tickets; Movie Reviews; More. There are still good movies to celebrate, no matter how we see them, so make the 2021 Oscars a PSA for an embattled film industry. Endorsements. History, Pirates, Pirates/Nautical Gal Gadot has been tapped to play Cleopatra, and fan reaction is split. The Admiral: Roaring Currents (Korean: 명량; Hanja: 鳴梁; RR: Myeongryang), or simply The Admiral, is a 2014 South Korean epic action-war film directed and co-written by Kim Han-min.Based on the historical Battle of Myeongnyang, it stars an ensemble cast led by Choi Min-sik as the Korean naval commander Yi Sun-sin. Quickly rising to the top of the South Korean box office following its opening on July 30, writer-director Kim Han-min’s 16th-century historical epic is stirring nationwide enthusiasm that may be mostly lost on audiences Stateside, where muted response can probably be expected, although the film’s expansion to offshore Asian markets should generate additional momentum. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. EMAIL ME. We also get a nice glimpse of Yi Sun-sin’s brilliance in naval tactics and using the constantly changing tides to his advantage and as a numbers equalizer. HONOR AMONG THIEVES now available in paperback and Kindle. Also, his troops are plagued with fear. ‘Pirates 5’ answers the question: Do dead men tell tales? Writer-director-star Jim Cummings plays another unraveling cop in the quirky crime thriller-comedy “The Wolf of Snow Hollow,” with Robert Forster in his final role. In a trailer for the new action comedy “Fatman,” written and directed by Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms, Mel Gibson plays a hard-bitten Santa Claus, working for the U.S. military and on the run from a hitman. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing The Admiral: Roaring Currents near you. What issues are on the ballot in California and Los Angeles County. Emmys Toronto Film Festival What to Watch Now Movie Reviews TV Reviews Roundtables 'The Admiral: Roaring Currents': Film Review 6:17 PM PDT 8/14/2014 by Justin Lowe Much of the naval action is realistically and thrillingly staged with blazing cannon fire and slashing swordplay that sufficiently diverts attention from the sometimes unrealistic special effects. FACEBOOK © 2014-2015 J.M. AUCOIN All Rights Reserved. Get our revamped Envelope newsletter, sent twice a week, for exclusive awards season coverage, behind-the-scenes insights and columnist Glenn Whipp’s commentary. I highly, highly recommend The Admiral: Roaring Currents to anyone who enjoys sea adventures and/or Asian historical fiction. Full-time nerd. Yes, and here’s why. Usually reliably expressive, Choi is in far different territory here than his recent role in Luc Besson’s Lucy or any of his other memorable gangster turns, constrained by playing the part of a revered historical figure. 6:17 PM PDT 8/14/2014 It is all here. Author. by Currently, the movie is on Netflix but you can also pick the movie  up on BluRay & DVD. What they discover puzzles even Yi: Wakizaka has been sidelined by the arrival of Kurushima (Ryu Seung-ryong), a “pirate” appointed by the Japanese ruler to wage the battle against Yi, with Wakizaka’s ships lending support as their army pushes overland toward the capital in the meantime. The decision caused much dissension and rank-pulling, to the point that Cmdr. Sometimes actor. November 11, 2015. “Squadrons” is no exception. But who cares? The characters are rich and relatable, the action is well choreographed and not overdone or over the top, and the plot lines truly captivating. “The War With Grandpa”: If you think Robert De Niro is too good for this kind of thing, you’re right. “Wonder Woman” collaborators Gal Gadot and Patty Jenkins are slated to team for a Cleopatra movie. The admiral acquires substantial firepower by loading dozens of deadly canons onboard the few remaining Korean vessels and boldly sails his flagship out to confront his opponents, entirely uncertain whether his ruse and the courage of his forces will hold long enough to draw the Japanese navy into his trap. Are the best ‘Star Wars’ stories now in video games? Yi defied a royal order to join forces with Korean Gen. Kwon Yul and instead embarked on what most regarded as a suicide mission to stall the Japanese invaders en route to the capital, Hanseong (now Seoul). There’s plenty of action in this movie and we get a nice look at the ships, weapons and armor of the time. Reviews; Review: The Admiral: Roaring Currents. The Japanese commanders (played by Korean actors) are more interesting for their internecine conflicts than any brief direct confrontation with Yi. By that point, more than 10,000 Korean men had perished in a valiant but losing effort in the Imjin War. Privacy | TWITTER Tags: Joseon Dynasty pirates sea adventures South Korea swashbuckling The Admiral: Roaring Currents Yi Sun-sin. The Admiral concerns Yi Sun-shin (Choi Min-sik), the disgraced commander of the Joseon dynasty navy who was imprisoned and tortured for failing to neutralize a Japanese double-agent in his ranks, only to be recalled to his post when a second invasion from Japan appeared imminent in 1597. Cast: Choi Min-sik, Ryu Seung-ryong, Cho Jin-woong, Kim Myung-gon, Jin-gu, Lee Jung-hyun, Director: KimHan-min Some of the best “Star Wars” narratives are in video games. Should the 2021 Oscars happen? 4217 A look at California’s November ballot propositions. Neighbors in Silver Lake have been sounding the alarm, trying to prevent yet another death of a homeless person in a city where it happens far too often. The Admiral: Roaring Currents was first brought to my attention by a follower of my Facebook page.I mentioned how well done The Pirates was (I should review this movie, too) and it was strongly recommended to me.. And after watching The Admiral, I can see why. Action filled and emotionally stirring, it’s impossible not to root for Admiral Yi and his dwindling crew. The sea battles are absolutely epic, more realistic and thrilling than John Woo’s 2008 “Red Cliff” or even Peter Weir’s 2003 “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.”. The movie’s score is also top notch and I’m about to fire up iTunes to see if I can buy it. I mentioned how well done The Pirates was (I should review this movie, too) and it was strongly recommended to me. Admiral Yi Sun-sin (who was almost put to death but was reinstated) led the only 12 ships remaining in his command to against an invading Japanese fleet numbering above 300 vessels. The film was released theatrically in South Korea on July 30, 2014. What it turned out to be is one of the best historic action dramas I've ever seen. Kurushima Michifusa (Ryu Seung-ryong), explaining his personal vendetta. Kim, who saw major box office success with his 2011 period action film War of the Arrows, orchestrates some rousing seaborne set pieces, featuring eight replica Korean and Japanese ships purpose-built for the production and adequately augmented with CGI techniques. First, Yi’s king tries to have him killed because he refuses to leave his post. Recognizing that even against an overpowering aggressor the Koreans hold a strategic advantage in their home territory, Yi dispatches his spies to ascertain the scope and configuration of the Japanese fleet, commanded by his former opponent admiral Wakizaka (Cho Jin-woong). Your guide to the 2020 election in California. 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. © 2020 The Hollywood Reporter Directed by Han-min Kim. | Cookie Settings, The homefront battle may have been won, but crossing over remains the challenge. Mel Gibson as a gun-toting Santa Claus? Justin Lowe What’s playing at the drive-in: ‘Yellow Rose,’ ‘Tenet’ and more. Bae Seol (played in the film by Kim Won-hae) conspired to assassinate Yi. Here are the Los Angeles Times’ editorial board endorsements for president, California ballot measures and more. Find a flick with our guide to new and classic movies playing outdoors at L.A.-area drive-ins, pop-ups and rooftops.