The Admiral: Roaring Currents

Name: The Admiral: Roaring Currents
Genre: Adventure, Biography, War
Released: August 15, 2014
Duration: 126 min

2014

METASCORE

No score yet based on 2 Critic Reviews Awaiting 2 more reviews

tbd

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Ratings

See All

6.4

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6.4	Your Score
6.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

The Admiral: Roaring Currents (US)

Now Playing: The Admiral: Roaring Currents (US)

Movie Details & Credits

CJ Entertainment | Release Date: August 15, 2014 | Not Rated

Summary: Korea 1597, the Joseon Dynasty has been under Japanese attack for six years. As the Japanese military charges fearlessly to the capital, Admiral Yi is appointed the Chief of Naval Operations and assembles a group of soldiers to defend the nation against Japanese attack. Japanese Chief Commander Kurushima, notorious for his cruel personalityKorea 1597, the Joseon Dynasty has been under Japanese attack for six years. As the Japanese military charges fearlessly to the capital, Admiral Yi is appointed the Chief of Naval Operations and assembles a group of soldiers to defend the nation against Japanese attack. Japanese Chief Commander Kurushima, notorious for his cruel personality and clever strategies, responds by destroying Joseon's one last hope, the Turtle Ship. With just 12 battleships and an army of doubtful soldiers, Admiral Yi and his soldiers face 330 Japanese battleships in The Battle of Myeong-Nyang.… Expand

Director: Han-min Kim

Genre(s): Adventure, Biography, War

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 126 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Metascore

tbd

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Justin Lowe

Aug 14, 2014

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. Read full review

Ben Kenigsberg

Aug 14, 2014

A turgid, foursquare naval epic. Read full review

SEE ALL 2 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

LeZee

Sep 2, 2015

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, butAt 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… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Sep 6, 2017

Epic under its concept, this film is an attempt to mythologize in cinema the figure of an important general of Korea and achieves it with his very well done staging, lavishly in moments fulfills most of its ambitions and positions itself as a quite interesting work.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 2 REVIEWS