The film achieved record-breaking box office numbers both domestically and internationally as a Korean production. It's based on naval conflicts during the Japanese invasion of Korea in the late 1500s. The fighting lasted six years, but this movie focuses specifically on the final year, known as the 'Battle of Myeongnyang,' which occurred in 1597. Choi Min-sik, a well-known actor from Korean cinema, plays the lead role; his presence was likely more about attracting an international audience than what he personally desired, though he delivered a consistently strong performance that felt perfectly suited to the character. Given its significance as a historical subject in Korea, considerable care went into making this movie. However, it leaned toward commercial appeal rather than strict adherence to historical accuracy, particularly noticeable in the battle sequences. Don't expect precise details or a historically accurate account; instead, the film prioritizes entertainment. The visuals are impressive, but they lack a sense of realism as I mentioned earlier. It’s not a bad movie overall and has some engaging moments within the fighting scenes. The first half felt more like a drama, which risked losing the audience's attention; it didn’t immediately grab me, and the character development in those early sections wasn’t particularly strong. The film really gains momentum after about an hour when the war begins. From that point on, it's essentially non-stop action, so viewers should prepare themselves for what follows. The style of sea battle presentation is largely unique, reflecting a Korean approach. It incorporates elements of oceanography—as suggested by the subtitle 'Roaring Currents’—but in a practical way, observing natural patterns and implementing plans as older civilizations would have done in any field. There's even dialogue where the admiral uses the term "virus" to describe how fear spreads among his men, which seems anachronistic since the concept of viruses wasn't understood until much later, around the late 19th century. > “Fear does not discriminate, > it can equally affect our enemy.” It could be considered a Korean equivalent to '300: Rise of an Empire.' While there are no direct similarities—one is a fictional conflict and the other a biographical war film—they both explore a similar theme. Specifically, the image of a small force battling overwhelming odds strongly echoes ‘300.’ In reality, it was 12 Korean warships facing off against a Japanese fleet of 330 ships. The editing did a commendable job of giving each character enough screen time to contribute meaningfully to the story’s two-hour length. The music complemented the visuals effectively, and while there are emotional moments, they felt more like what the narrative demanded rather than genuinely moving. Over the past couple of decades, Korean filmmakers have been exploring previously untouched subjects with considerable success. The advancements in visual effects technology represent a revolution in world cinema; it’s no longer solely a Hollywood domain. This technology allows cinemas outside of America to compete on a more even playing field. When I was younger, I often wondered why historical films seemed so dark. One thing I appreciated about this film was its willingness to depict the battlefield—the sea itself—in daylight, showing sunshine, shadows, and moments of gloom as clouds passed by. It’s a spectacular piece of filmmaking, although that doesn't mean it's perfect. As I always say, learning history through films is often easier than reading textbooks, and I hope there will be a sequel because I definitely want one. 8/10

Source on TMDB