The Admiral: Roaring Currents Blu-ray Review

"The Admiral: Roaring Currents" delivers an exceptional visual experience, thanks to its 1080p transfer sourced from a 5K digital intermediate. Shot on RED cameras, the film exhibits outstanding clarity and fine detail, from every splinter of the warships to the intricate design of the Japanese armor. This Blu-ray presents colors vibrantly, particularly the primaries, which pop alongside the gorgeous replica armor. Flesh tones are depicted authentically, with battle-worn faces accurately reflecting the harsh conditions faced by the characters.

The video compression is skillfully handled, maintaining an average bitrate of 23.94 Mbps. This allocation ensures the action-heavy latter half of the film receives the necessary bandwidth for smooth presentation. Blacks and shadow details are flawlessly rendered, enhancing night vigils and firelit scenes without any noticeable crush. While there are minor instances of banding and video noise during transitions, these imperfections are negligible and do not detract from the overall image quality.

The Blu-ray displays superb contrast and sharpness levels, providing a reference-quality visual experience. The ocean scenes, although digitally enhanced, appear convincingly real, adding depth to the imagery. Practical effects like cannons and period costumes retain impressive fine detail, contributing to a visually immersive historical drama. Despite minor flaws like light banding at scene transitions, "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" offers an astounding and clean visual presentation, making it a demo-worthy Blu-ray release.

The audio presentation of the Blu-ray for "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" is a standout feature, providing both English and subtitled Korean soundtracks in lossless PCM 2.0 and DTS-HD MA 5.1 formats. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 track, in particular, showcases a meticulously crafted sound mix that excels in creating an immersive experience. Especially distinguished in the second half of the film during the naval battle, the soundtrack envelops the viewer with a symphony of surging oceans, creaking and breaking hulls, cannon and gunfire, clashing swords, and flying arrows. This comprehensive arrangement plunges the audience into the historical setting with striking realism. The bass extension reaches impressive low-frequency registers, enhancing the tension and intensity of the battle scenes while Kim Tae-seong’s musical score, rich with resonant drumbeats, provides a powerful auditory backdrop.

Switching to the Korean 5.1 track is highly recommended for an authentic experience. This track distinguishes itself through its sheer dynamic range and power, with superb bass impact that makes it feel like the subwoofer could almost take flight, contributing to an adrenaline-pumping viewing experience. During quieter moments, the audio levels remain stable and consistent without any unwarranted fluctuations. The sound mixing is balanced to maintain clarity and prevent distortion, allowing for a captivating auditory experience without necessitating constant adjustments to the volume controls. Imaging is precise and deftly handled, giving ample space for dialogue, sound effects, and Tae-seong Kim's evocative score to harmonize splendidly. This exceptional auditory composition significantly enhances the film’s impact, transforming "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" into an enthralling sensory experience.

The Blu-ray disc of "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" offers a solid range of extras that complement the main feature effectively. The "Making Of" featurette provides insightful, though brief, behind-the-scenes glimpses into the film’s production, including the use of green screens and elaborate machinery. The "Highlights" compilation is an odd addition, primarily consisting of key scenes assembled without new context. Trailers for both "The Admiral" and other films give an engaging preview. These features are all presented in high quality with English subtitles, ensuring accessibility. While the content is varied, it would have benefitted from more depth and duration.

Extras included in this disc:

• Making Of: Brief insights into production challenges and techniques.
• Highlights: Key scene selections from the movie.
• The Admiral (Teaser): Quick and loud preview.
• The Admiral (Trailer): Better paced, cleaner depiction of the movie.
• Trailers: Additional film trailers with English subtitles.

"The Admiral: Roaring Currents" is a remarkable feat of historical drama, deftly capturing the grit and grandeur of the Battle of Myeongnyang. Directed by Kim Han-min, the film portrays the near-miraculous victory of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin (played by Choi Min-sik) in 1597, where a tiny fleet of 12 Korean ships vanquished a formidable Japanese armada of 330 vessels. Despite the dense historical context that may initially challenge Western viewers, the film excels in establishing the dire stakes and complex motivations on both sides, making the eventual confrontation all the more gripping.

The film is segmented into two distinct halves: the buildup and the battle. The first half invests heavily in character development and setting up the tactical landscape. The screenplay by Kim Han-min and Jeon Cheol-hong introduces us to Admiral Yi's complex state of mind and the political maneuvering on both Korean and Japanese fronts. This narrative richness is supported by meticulous production design, featuring historically accurate models of the ships and authentic period costumes. The filmmakers utilize CGI judiciously to enhance rather than overwhelm the visual authenticity, creating a visceral viewing experience.

When the action erupts in the second half, it's both intense and masterfully orchestrated. Naval warfare scenes are captured with stunning realism—cannon fire, flaming arrows, and brutal hand-to-hand combat unfold in a meticulously choreographed symphony of chaos. Kim's direction ensures each moment is both grand in scale and intimately emotional, making Admiral Yi’s strategic genius and indomitable spirit palpable. The cast delivers uniformly strong performances, especially Choi Min-sik, whose portrayal of Yi embodies stoic resilience. Ultimately, "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" goes beyond mere spectacle to deliver a compelling study of leadership and courage under insurmountable odds.

"The Admiral: Roaring Currents" delivers an enthralling cinematic experience that combines historical drama with intense action, portraying one of Korea's most celebrated military victories. The film, led by Choi Min-sik's compelling performance as Admiral Yi, effectively captures the transformation of Korean forces under his tenacious leadership. Early scenes depict the initial fears and hesitation of the troops, underscoring the extraordinary nature of their eventual bravery— a crucial element that endears the narrative to viewers. The Blu-ray edition amplifies this story with exceptional audio and picture quality, creating an immersive experience that enhances every meticulously crafted scene.

Production values are high throughout, with remarkable attention to detail in costume and visual effects design. Despite a somewhat slow first hour of intricate plotting, the film rewards patience with a spectacular visual feast. Each battle sequence is rendered with impressive clarity, showcasing both strategic brilliance and raw emotion, truly bringing history to life. The Blu-ray’s thin extras might leave some yearning for more behind-the-scenes content, but they do not detract from the overall high-quality presentation of the core film.

In conclusion, "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" stands as a superb representation of historical courage and leadership, honored through powerful performances and stunning visuals. While its patriotic fervor may seem heightened to some, it serves to underscore the significance of the depicted victory. This Blu-ray edition comes highly recommended, promising an engaging journey into a pivotal moment in Korean history that will appeal to both casual viewers and discerning cinephiles alike.