The Admiral: Roaring Currents

Plot
The Admiral: Roaring Currents is a 2014 South Korean epic war film directed by Kim Han-min, which dramatizes the Battle of Myeongryang, a pivotal naval engagement that took place during the Imjin War. The film is an adaptation of Kim's own novel and stars Lim Ye-jin as Song Hwa, a female admiral who disguises herself as a man and joins Admiral Yi Sun-sin's crew. The movie begins with a brief glimpse into the life of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, played by Han Suk-kyu, a skilled and charismatic naval commander who is revered by his men for his bravery and strategic thinking. In 1598, war has broken out between Korea and Japan, and Yi Sun-sin finds himself at the forefront of the battle against the enemy. Despite being severely outnumbered, Yi Sun-sin has always employed unorthodox tactics and clever strategies to outsmart his opponents. However, in a shocking turn of events, Yi Sun-sin is betrayed by his superiors and arrested on charges of disloyalty. With his military credentials revoked, he is stripped of his command and forced to flee to a remote island in the Myeongryang, a small peninsula in Korea, where he must navigate treacherous waters to avoid capture. Meanwhile, a massive Japanese naval fleet, led by Admiral Kurushima Michifusa, is approaching the Korean coast, determined to crush the enemy's spirit and claim victory. The Japanese army is led by General Yoshiaki Araki (played by Park Won-sang), who is confident in his own superior strength and technological advancements. With his own life at risk, Yi Sun-sin becomes acutely aware of the gravity of his situation. However, he soon learns that his trusted subordinate, Admiral Min Byeong-hwa, has managed to escape arrest and reaches his hideout with a cryptic message - that the Japanese plan to use an advanced technology called the 'Narayama' to defeat him. Realizing that the enemy has acquired information about his command strategies, the Admiral realizes that time is of the essence. On a stormy night, Min Byeong-hwa brings Yi two ships that had managed to escape the enemy's net, including two young female warriors, Song Hwa and the young, hot-headed Shin Rin-nyeo. In desperate need of additional personnel, Admiral Yi decides to disguise the two women as men and allow them to join the crew. Song Hwa, however, is more confident and is quickly chosen as a leader on the ship. As the battle for the peninsula begins, Yi Sun-sin is faced with a daunting challenge: defending his homeland against over 300 enemy ships with only 13 Korean vessels. Desperate to save face, he calls upon his men to launch an ambush against the enemy. Yi's crew sets sail in the midst of a violent tempest, battling against treacherous sea conditions while facing down the sheer might of the Japanese naval fleet. Yi takes advantage of his in-depth knowledge of the Korean coast to identify a spot where a narrow passage between two cliffs would be vulnerable to an enemy vessel passing through at high tide. He plots his strategy meticulously and uses this narrow passage to attack the enemy fleet with calculated precision, making use of guerrilla tactics that utilize smaller but faster naval vessels, including smaller ships, floating shields, and ramming attacks. However, as the battle rages on, Yi Sun-sin realizes that the Narayama is on the horizon, heading straight for the fleet. It dawns on him that a desperate gamble is in order - he must lead a smaller team to attack the Narayama at its exposed stern and destroy it. Despite knowing that failure will be catastrophic, Yi Sun-sin decides to put his faith in his loyal crew and orders them to engage the enemy ship. The final act of the film sees Yi Sun-sin's plan unfolding in slow motion: Song Hwa, who proved herself in combat, takes center stage, along with fellow sailor and ally, Shin, they fight valiantly in hand-to-hand combat, taking on countless enemy warriors while Yi launches a last-ditch attack on the Narayama. In what would prove to be a crushing victory, Yi Sun-sin's gamble succeeds in taking down the Narayama, which explodes in a massive fireball that obliterates nearby enemy ships. Yi's victory proves to be a testament to the bravery, ingenuity, and resilience of the Korean people in the face of overwhelming odds. The Admiral: Roaring Currents concludes on a poignant note, as Admiral Yi Sun-sin reflects on the human cost of war and the importance of standing up for what is right in the face of overwhelming opposition. Despite the loss of comrades, he takes pride in having fought for something greater than himself and the ultimate sacrifice made by his crew.
Reviews
Aurora
Not bad. The girl next to me was in tears... and the uncountable number of dragon heads on Admiral Yi Sun-sin's armor – more than just four – it felt like he was about to start a rebellion.
Joy
How can a nationalistic South Korean historical war film be so emotionally overwhelming that it brings tears to my eyes? I wonder when Chinese war movies can reach this standard? When can our viewership reach one-fifth of the population? It seems hopeless in the next few years... More tears (T_T)
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