The Admiral: Roaring Currents Explained

The Admiral: Roaring Currents
Native Name:
Hangul:명량
Rr:Myeongryang
Mr:Myŏngryang
Director:Kim Han-min
Producer:Kim Han-min
Starring:Choi Min-sik
Ryu Seung-ryong
Cho Jin-woong
Music:Kim Tae-seong
Cinematography:Kim Tae-seong
Editing:Kim Chang-ju
Studio:Big Stone Pictures
Distributor:CJ Entertainment
Runtime:127 minutes
Country:South Korea
Language:
Budget:[1]
Gross:

The Admiral: Roaring Currents, or simply The Admiral, is a 2014 South Korean epic historical 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.[2] [3] [4] The film was released theatrically in South Korea on July 30, 2014.

The film recorded 10 million admissions only 12 days after its premiere and set a record in South Korea for achieving such a high number of viewers in the shortest amount of time. The movie also surpassed Avatar’s record of 13 million viewers to become the most-watched and highest-grossing film of all time in South Korea with 17.6 million admissions and a worldwide gross of .[5] [6] [7]

Plot

The film revolves around the titular Battle of Myeongnyang around 1597, which is regarded as one of legendary Joseon Admiral Yi Sun-sin's most remarkable naval victories. He led only 12 ships, which remained in his command, to a heroic victory against an invading Japanese fleet of 333 vessels.[8]

At the onset of the battle at their base in Haenam, the Japanese invaders under Tōdō Takatora are confident that their planned expedition to Hansong to capture King Seonjo will meet with success. However, they remain reserved over the news that Joseon's greatest admiral, Yi Sun-sin, has been restored to his former command after the disaster at Chilcheollyang, which has reduced the Korean navy to a mere dozen battle-ready ships. To ensure the success of the operation, Hideyoshi sends one of his finest naval war leaders to Joseon, Kurushima Michifusa, the commander of the Murakami Clan Navy who is an expert in naval combat but enjoys a shaky reputation among his fellow daimyō as a pirate. One of the admirals of the Japanese Left Army, Wakizaka, first meets Kurushima and his lieutenant, Kimura, while he finishes off the remnants of a group of Joseon soldiers. He especially distrusts Kurushima and draws his sword on him several times, especially after the latter insults him by shaming his defeat at Hansan Island. Later, Kurushima and Haru, his sharpshooter, drink sake as Kurushima elaborates on his personal vendetta against Yi Sun-sin, stating that his brother Michiyuki had been killed by the latter earlier in the war.

In the meantime, Yi Sun-sin is facing the despair mounting among his officers and troops. Facing an enemy force that far outnumbers them and seeing no reasonable chance of success in the inevitable clash even with one single turtle ship remaining, many consider the fight lost before it has even started. Despite his outwardly indifferent demeanor, Yi is hard-pressed to maintain morale among his men and desperate to find a solution for his problem. However, the breaking point seems reached when General Bae Seol, the deserter of Chilcheollyang, burns the turtle ship and has his men try to assassinate Yi. Although Yi escapes and Bae is killed for his act of treachery, the ship is lost, which boosts confidence among the Japanese and further dispirits Yi's troops. To seek an answer, Yi travels to the Myeongnyang Strait, an area notorious for its strong and treacherous currents, which the Japanese intend to cross on their way to Hansong. Later, he confides in his son Hoe that to win the fight, he must turn the fear paralyzing his men into courage.

Upon hearing that the departure of the Japanese attack fleet is imminent, Yi abandons his base and moves to Usuyeong after burning the naval facilities to the ground. The next morning, Yi's fleet arrives in the strait and is shortly met by the Japanese, who are using the morning tide to move into the channel, with Kurushima leading the vanguard. Yi engages Kurushima's fleet in battle, but as the other Korean commanders are still hesitant to involve themselves, Yi's flagship is quickly surrounded and attacked by boarding parties. In the apparently hopeless situation, Yi commands several cannons to be fired from the rower deck's port hatches in a concentrated volley, to use their recoil to blast the ship free of its encirclement. As Yi had hoped, this bold act of survival inspires the rest of his countrymen to take the fight to the enemy.

When the tide turns and forms a whirlpool in the middle of the channel, thus solidifying Yi's defensive position, Kurushima orders an all-out attack with the rest of his ships. Despite the efforts of Haru and a ship loaded with black powder charges, the renewed courage of the Koreans prevails, though heavy sacrifices are made. Kurushima's desperate situation is observed by Todo, who merely laughs at Katō's suggestion of reinforcing him. Kurushima, realizing that he is now on his own, boards the Korean flagship but is decapitated by Yi himself after he takes several arrows from Korean archers, and his head is hung from the tip of the ship's mast.

When Yi's ship itself is caught in the whirlpool, his civilian navy servants and local fishermen courageously drag the vessel back to safety. Joined by the rest of the fleet, Yi leads a counterattack which deals the Japanese forces a crushing blow, forces them into retreat, and leaves the Koreans triumphant. The film ends with the reminiscence to the first encounter of the Japanese with the turtle ship in 1592.

Historical background

In the 16th century, General Toyotomi Hideyoshi unified Japan, and the long civil war in Japan was ended. At that time, most Koreans did not think about any possibility of invasion from Japan and ignored its readiness for war. Therefore, the army and the navy except for Admiral Yi Sun Sin were not prepared for any invasion from Japan. Only Admiral Yi Sun Sin prepared for a war against Japan by building up ships and developing weapons. In 1592, the Imjin War broke out when Japan invaded Korea. From the beginning of the war, the Japanese army, which were well experienced as a result of their civil war, were easily defeating the Korean army and quickly advancing to the north. However, at sea, Admiral Yi Sun Sin's Joseon Navy destroyed the Japanese naval fleets in consecutive battles. This stifled the Japanese advance through the Korean Peninsula, and cut off the sea lines necessary for resupplying the army.

However, in 1597, due to a Japanese espionage plot and political conspiracy in the Korean royal court, Admiral Yi Sun Sin was imprisoned by the Korean government and another admiral (Won Gyun) was appointed to command the Korean navy. Admiral Won, in his first and last naval engagement, attacked the Japanese navy but was seriously defeated by Japan and lost most of the warships, more than 200 of them. Won was killed in action.

After that defeat, the Korean government released Yi and put him back in the position of admiral, but the fleet consisted of only 12 warships because of the prior defeat. The Korean government suggested that Yi forgo sea warfare and join any land-based battle. However, Yi believed that he should instead prevent the Japanese navy from advancing via the sea. He knew that not everything consisted in the number of ships, but a correct strategy would give him the victory although he did not count on the support of his men. He did not let himself be overcome and he overcame the fear. In October 1597, a Japanese fleet of 330 ships tried to attack the small Korean fleet of 12 ships.

As the Japanese moved toward the Korean fleet, Admiral Yi enticed the Japanese fleet to a long and narrow strait with a fast and strong current. He also hampered the Japanese fleet's navigating by blocking the strait with steel chains. (Whether that actually happened is uncertain.) Therefore, many Japanese ships were gathered and stuck in the narrow strait, as the tide turned.

The cannons on Korean warships outside the strait bombarded the Japanese ships. The Japanese fleet, having lost more than 31 warships, retreated to the east, and it finally gave up advancing toward the west by sea.

Cast

Release

Dates

CountryDate ReleasedRelease title
South Korea30 July 2014명량
US15 August 2014The Admiral
Vietnam5 September 2014Myeong-ryang
Netherlands12 April 2015Myeong-ryang
Germany20 July 2015The Admiral : Roaring Currents
Japan12 August 2015バトル・オーシャン 海上決戦
("Battle Ocean Kaijō Kessen")
Philippines2 SeptemberMyeong-ryang
Germany (extended version)14 March 2016Myeong-ryang
BrazilAugust 2014O Almirante: Correntes Furiosas

Credits

Festivals

Film Festival
13th Firenze Korea Film Festival (2015)[11]
19th Busan International Film Festival (2014)
2nd Silk-Road International Film Festival (2015)

Reception

Box office

South Korea

The Admiral: Roaring Currents drew 682,882 viewers on its first day in theaters on July 30, 2014, grossing . This was the all-time highest opening day box office in South Korea, for both a foreign and domestic film, breaking the previous record set by .[12] [13] It went on to set other new records: highest opening weekend, with 3.35 million admissions, surpassing s record of 2.37 million (set in 2011) by 41%; biggest single day for a film in South Korean history with 1.25 million admissions ; the first time that a film generated over in a single day; and the quickest film to reach 10 million admissions.[14] [15] [16] [17]

By August 15, The Admiral: Roaring Currents became the all-time most-watched film in South Korea, breaking the previous record held by Hollywood blockbuster Avatar (13.62 million). By August 17, it became the first film to sell more than 14 million tickets in South Korean theaters and the first domestic film to exceed the mark.[18] [19] At 17,607,820 admissions,[20] it has grossed in South Korea.[21]

Korean Box Office Chart : http://www.kobis.or.kr/kobis/business/stat/boxs/findFormerBoxOfficeList.do?loadEnd=0&searchType=search&sMultiMovieYn=&sRepNationCd=&sWideAreaCd=#none

DateNumber of ScreenNumber of playIncomeViewersTotal IncomeTotal ViewersRanking
First day (07/30)1,1596,1474,708,879,000682,7014,881,110,000705,2011
Second day (07/31)1,2026,2585,243,409,900705,07010,124,519,9001,410,2711
Third day (08/01)1,3006,6996,918,410,307867,43717,042,930,2072,277,7081
Fourth day (08/02)1,4947,6059,826,541,2091,232,52926,869,471,4163,510,2371
Fifth day (08/03)1,5877,96310,031,212,5001,257,38036,900,683,9164,767,6171
Sixth day (08/04)1,4437,5517,455,501,400990,02244,356,185,3165,757,6391
Seventh day (08/05)1,5077,7796,511,760,400869,15350,867,945,7166,626,7921
Eighth day (08/06)1,2216,7885,273,445,400702,88756,141,391,1167,329,6791
Ninth day (08/07)1,2396,7764,892,511,700652,77661,033,902,8167,982,4551
Tenth day (08/08)1,2787,0265,493,530,692690,12366,527,433,5088,672,5781

Regional Total Viewers and Income http://www.kobis.or.kr/kobis/business/stat/boxs/findFormerBoxOfficeList.do?loadEnd=0&searchType=search&sMultiMovieYn=&sRepNationCd=&sWideAreaCd=#none

RegionNumber of ScreenTotal IncomeTotal Viewers
Gyeonggi-do36031,089,294,900 (22.9%)4,051,862 (23.0%)
Gangwon-do513,651,401,100 (2.7%)485,685 (2.8%)
Chungcheongbuk-do613,653,185,700 (2.7%)497,938 (2.8%)
Chungcheongnam-do524,117,556,000 (3.0%)550,058 (3.1%)
Gyeongsangbuk-do734,971,368,900 (3.7%)631,366 (3.6%)
Gyeongsangnam-do1037,991,499,700 (5.9%)1,043,045 (5.9%)
Jeollabuk-do604,333,219,300 (3.2%)581,423 (3.3%)
Jeollanam-do392,814,587,500 (2.1%)399,688 (2.3%)
Jeju221,457,782,500 (1.1%)191,760 (1.1%)
Busan12810,646,578,200 (7.8%)1,384,083 (7.9%)
Daegu1127,925,679,600 (5.8%)1,017,360 (5.8%)
Daejeon434,782,608,000 (3.5%)628,648 (3.6%)
Ulsan283,066,071,200 (2.3%)382,935 (2.2%)
Incheon767,082,728,000 (5.2%)902,944 (5.1%)
Gwangju734,834,892,500 (3.6%)671,037 (3.8%)
Sejong5209,480,000 (0.2%)30,367 (0.2%)
Seoul30133,125,286,210 (24.4%)4,164,840 (23.6%)

International

It opened in limited release across 30 theaters in North America, beginning August 15, 2014.[22] Due to favorable reviews from critics and moviegoers, it expanded to 42 theaters on its second week, and its first week gross of surpassed the previous record held by Masquerade as the highest-grossing film directly distributed by a South Korean distributor.[23] The film has grossed in China,[24] in the United States,[25] and internationally.[26]

Critical response

Positive

Negative

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryRecipientResult
2014Best FilmThe Admiral: Roaring Currents
Best DirectorKim Han-min
Best ActorChoi Min-sik
Best Supporting ActressLee Jung-hyun
Best Cinematography Kim Tae-seong
Best Art Direction Jang Choon-seob
Best MusicKim Tae-seong
Actor of the YearChoi Min-sik
Best Actor
Best Art DirectionJang Choon-seob
Critics' Top 10The Admiral: Roaring Currents
Best Film
Best DirectorKim Han-min
Best ActorChoi Min-sik
Best CinematographyKim Tae-seong
Best LightingKim Gyeong-seok
Best Art Direction Jang Choon-seob
Best Costume DesignKwon Yu-jin, Im Seung-hee
Best MusicKim Tae-seong
Technical AwardYun Dae-won (special effects)
Best PlanningKim Han-min
Best FilmThe Admiral: Roaring Currents
Best DirectorKim Han-min
Best ActorChoi Min-sik
Best CinematographyKim Tae-seong
Best LightingKim Gyeong-seok
Best Art Direction Jang Choon-seob
Best MusicKim Tae-seong
Technical AwardYun Dae-won (special effects)
Audience Choice Award for Most Popular FilmThe Admiral: Roaring Currents
2015Best ActorChoi Min-sik
10th Max Movie AwardsBest FilmThe Admiral: Roaring Currents
Best DirectorKim Han-min
Best ActorChoi Min-sik
Best Supporting ActorRyu Seung-ryong
Best TrailerThe Admiral: Roaring Currents
Best Poster
Best Director (Grand Prix)Kim Han-min
Best ActorChoi Min-sik
Technical AwardChoi Tae-young (sound)
Best ActorChoi Min-sik
Grand Prize (Daesang) for Film
Best FilmThe Admiral: Roaring Currents
Best ActorChoi Min-sik
Best Supporting ActressLee Jung-hyun

Sequels

While producing The Admiral: Roaring Currents in 2013, Big Stone Pictures announced plans to produce two more films related to Yi Sun-sin if the first film was successful.[33] It was later confirmed that the rest of the trilogy would be produced with Kim Han-min directing.[34]

The second film in the trilogy, , was released in 2022 to box office success. It is based on the Battle of Hansan Island, with Park Hae-il playing Yi Sun-sin.[35]

The third film of the trilogy, , based on the Battle of Noryang, was released in December 2023.[36]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ju. Ji-yeong. July 29, 2022. '억 소리 난다' '명량'의 2배... 영화 '한산' 제작비 얼마길래?. Pinpoint News. December 21, 2023.
  2. Web site: Sunwoo. Carla. Roaring Currents takes epic sea battle to big screen. Korea JoongAng Daily. 2014-07-25. 25 July 2014.
  3. Web site: Baek. Byung-yeul. Joseon's war hero back on screen: Choi Min-sik's Roaring Currents retraces 16th century maritime battle against Japan. The Korea Times. 2014-07-04. 30 June 2014.
  4. Web site: Chung. Joo-won. Choi Min-sik, Ryu Seung-ryong pose for Roaring Currents. The Korea Herald. 2014-06-20. 19 June 2014.
  5. Web site: Lee. Hyo-won. South Korean Box Office: Roaring Currents Beats Avatar to Become Biggest Film of All Time. The Hollywood Reporter. 2014-08-19. 17 August 2014.
  6. Web site: Ma. Kevin. Roaring Currents sets Korean B.O. record. Film Business Asia. 2014-08-19. August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140819082943/http://www.filmbiz.asia/news/roaring-currents-sets-korean-bo-record. 2014-08-19. dead.
  7. Web site: Roaring Currents Most Successful Korean Film of All Time. The Chosun Ilbo. 2014-08-19. 18 August 2014.
  8. Web site: Lee. Claire. Period blockbusters to fill silver screens next year. The Korea Herald. 2014-05-22. 26 December 2013.
  9. Web site: Lee. Eun-sun. Yi movie sweeps audiences away. Korea JoongAng Daily. 2014-08-04. 4 August 2014.
  10. Web site: Lee. Ji-hye. Roaring Currents & Lucy CHOI Min-shik: Balancing Korea in one hand and Hollywood in the other. Korean Cinema Today. 2014-10-30. 17 October 2014.
  11. Web site: 명량 (Roaring Currents). March 14, 2016. Korean Film Council (KOBIS). KOFIC.
  12. Web site: Conran. Pierce. ROARING CURRENTS Smashes Through Opening Day Record. Korean Film Biz Zone. 2014-08-04. 31 July 2014.
  13. Web site: Frater. Patrick. Roaring Currents Obliterates Korean First Day Box Office Record. Variety. 2014-08-04. 30 July 2014.
  14. Web site: Conran. Pierce. Records Fall in Colossal THE ADMIRAL: ROARING CURRENTS Debut. Korean Film Biz Zone. 2014-08-04. 4 August 2014.
  15. Web site: Lee. Hyo-won. South Korean Box Office: Local Epic Roaring Currents in Record Breaking Debut. The Hollywood Reporter. 2014-08-04. 3 August 2014.
  16. Web site: Kim. Nemo. Korean Box Office Dominated by Record Breaking Roaring Currents. Variety. 2014-08-04. 4 August 2014.
  17. Web site: Ahn. Sung-mi. Newsmaker: Yi Sun-sin sensation takes hold in cinemas. The Korea Herald. 2014-08-06. 5 August 2014.
  18. Web site: Roaring Currents Breaks Korea All-Time Box Office Record. 16 August 2014. Variety. Frater. Patrick. 2014-08-19.
  19. Web site: Roaring Currents sells record 13.62m tickets. The Korea Herald. 2014-08-19. 17 August 2014.
  20. Web site: Stars, directors and film lovers flock to Busan. The Korea Herald. 2014-10-10. 5 October 2014.
  21. Web site: Box Office: 8 International Hits That Challenged the Studio Tentpoles . Scott. Roxborough. 22 December 2014. 2014-12-22. The Hollywood Reporter.
  22. Web site: Korean blockbuster The Admiral: Roaring Currents comes to U.S.. The Korea Times. 2014-09-03. 8 August 2014.
  23. Web site: Roaring Currents earns over US$1.18 mln in North America. GlobalPost. 2014-09-03. 25 August 2014.
  24. Web site: http://www.cbooo.cn/m/628761. zh:鸣梁海战(2014). 2015-01-10. Cbooo.cn. zh.
  25. Web site: The Admiral: Roaring Currents. 2015-01-10. Box Office Mojo.
  26. Web site: Transformers 4 Tops 2014's 100 Highest-Grossing International Films – Chart. Nancy . Tartaglione. David . Bloom. 10 January 2015. 2015-01-10. Deadline Hollywood.
  27. Web site: [리뷰] '명량' 이순신의 위대함, 최민식의 용감한 도전 [Review] 'Roaring Current' the greatness of Yi Soonshin, brave tryout for Minshik Choi]. 송 . 지현. entertain.naver.com. 2016-03-14.
  28. Web site: [리뷰] 영화 '명량' [Review] Movie 'Roaring Current']. 최 . 수문. Naver News. 2016-03-14.
  29. Web site: '썰전' 허지웅 "'명량' 전쟁신, 할리우드서도 힘든 일"; 'SSUL war' Jiwoong Hu "'Roaring Current' war fight scene, hard to make even in Hollywood". 이 . 승길. entertain.naver.com. 2016-03-14.
  30. Web site: [리뷰] '명량', 이순신을 되살려낸 김한민·최민식의 정공법 [Review] 'Roaring Current', standard tactics of Hanmin Kim·Minshik Choi brought back Lee Soonshin back to life.]. 김 . 지혜. entertain.naver.com. 2016-03-14.
  31. Web site: 졸작? 명작? …'명량'의 작품성 논쟁이 의미 없는 이유 Rubbish? Masterpiece? ... the reason why 'Roaring current's cinematic quality controversy is useless. 김 . 현식. entertain.naver.com. 2016-03-14.
  32. Web site: [M+리뷰] '명량', 이순신이 이끌고 민초들이 만들었다 [M+ Review] 'Roaring Current', led by Yi Soonshin and made by grass roots]. 유 . 명준. entertain.naver.com. 2016-03-14.
  33. Web site: 초대형 '명량대첩' 영화 '명량-회오리 바다' 크랭크인. Crank-in of the super-large 'Battle of Myeongnyang' movie 'Myeongnyang - The Sea of Whirlwinds'. Yunhap News. Naver. January 21, 2013. June 4, 2022. ko.
  34. Web site: 역대 1위 '명량', 이순신 3부작 확정되나 "언젠가는..". 'Myeongryang', the all-time No. 1 'Myeongryang', a trilogy confirmed by Lee Soon-shin, but "Someday...". OSEN. Naver. August 16, 2014. June 4, 2022. ko.
  35. Web site: 조 . 연경 . 이순신 '한산 리덕스'·이정재 '헌트' 넷플릭스로 본다 . 2023-07-30 . entertain.naver.com . ko.
  36. Web site: 충무공 3부작 '노량' 내년 12월로 개봉 잠정 연기된 이유는? . 2023-07-30 . entertain.naver.com . ko.