L'amiral

Whether you love it or hate it, you have to admit the movie was an amazing technical achievement. The staging and choreography of the naval battle scenes almost defy comprehension, the planning and execution was extraordinary. Though historical accuracy is put to the test here, the overriding theme of courage and rising above one's fear of death is at the core of the story. Admiral Yi Sun-Shin (Min-sik Choi) rallies his forces to take on an overwhelming adversary, using his wits and knowledge of the elements to take advantage of conditions that were overlooked by a superior Japanese naval force. There was only one scene that defied credibility, that when the dying man on the gunpowder vessel asked his fiance to signal for it to be destroyed. Amid the chaos, confusion and noise of battle, there's no way that the woman would have been able to understand his request from such a distant vantage point. It made for good drama, but wasn't credible at all. Otherwise, the film was gloriously presented, colorful, and exciting to watch.