S

outh Korean'€™s latest blockbuster Roaring Currents, released for the American market as The Admiral: Roaring Currents, was based on a battle in 1597 in which a dozen crummy Joseon (Korean old kingdom) battleships took on a fleet of 300-plus warships from Japan backed by fearless pirates.

The movie, directed by Kim Han-min, pictured this David-and-Goliath naval battle with a nationalistic fervor that translated well in the profit it booked the first two weeks after its premiere at home and in the US on Aug. 15.

It has started playing in Indonesia on Aug. 27.

It received over US$110 million during that period, a whooping figure compared to The Thieves (starred Kim Soo-hyun) that got $91 million and Miracle in Cell No. 7 that booked $89.44 million in corresponding period.

The production budget for the movie was reportedly hovering around $18.6 million.

However, there were more elements in the movie that made it phenomenal.

Director Kim, also a co-writer of the movie, said that the details and setpieces in the movie were history accurate that included the all-wooden battleships but with some twists in the story.

A semi-biopic on the legendary Admiral Yi Sun-shin, the movie was more on the battle of wits among the men of the sea.

The movie was indeed memorializing the admiral, who used the force of nature to defeat both the fear of his men and the enemy.

It gave a big picture of the politics in both kingdoms at that time, the conflicts between the army and the navy and how personal vendetta played a role in a battle.

Choi Min-sik (Oldboy) assumed the role of Admiral Yi, who had earlier defeated the Japanese army with his turtleship strategy, but the Emperor tortured him in a disciplinary action he did not deserved.

As the Japanese navy encroaching, Yi was reinstated and was given order to join forces with the army.

Yi stood his ground '€” or rather, stream '€” in argument that by facing the enemy on the sea would slow them down reaching the Joseon capital Hanseong (now Seoul).

Upon hearing the return of Yi, the Japanese chancellor sent Captain Kurushima Michifusa (Ryu Seung-ryong) '€” the Pirate King '€” who had yet have a fear on Yi.

The movie was a recount on how despite setbacks, Admiral Yi and his few loyal men could gain victory.

The sea battles were realistic and epic in every way, which perhaps more thrilling than the Britain versus Spain'€™s staged in Peter Weir'€™s 2003 Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.

Even for most viewers without knowledge on this signal moment of Korean history, Choi'€™s acting skill made it easy to sympathize with Yi by making him mortal.

The admiral was often shown as a strong-headed, loyal soldier, but there were scenes where Yi was actually a frail old man but could still use the weapon to defend himself even at his delusional state of mind.

The male cast mainly fell into the familiar type of soldiers in any war movie, with some exceptions.

It is, however, an Asian movie, which had to cater to the demography of the viewers.

The appearance of sweetly handsome Kwon Yul as Comr. Yi Hwoe, the admiral'€™s son, and No Min-woo as Haru, the mute pirate gunman, at the heart of the battle was seemed out of place not to mention the undeserved face time.

The unrated movie was a bit violent, especially in its depictions of the mass-killing of Joseon people and soldiers.

In all, the movie is not only for the lovers of art-of-war '€” who would be impressed with its detailed maneuvering '€” but also for those who would find the canny computer-generated effects, the camera angles and even the music score fascinating.

Roaring Currents is currently screening at the Blitz Megaplex.