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The Admiral: Roaring Currents
Movie

The Admiral: Roaring Currents

2014 • Unknown

Woke Score
1
out of 10

Plot

Admiral Yi Sun-sin faces a tough challenge when he is forced to defend his nation with just 13 battleships against 300 Japanese enemy ships in the Battle of Myeongryang.

Overall Series Review

The Admiral: Roaring Currents is a 2014 South Korean historical war epic depicting the 1597 Battle of Myeongnyang, where Admiral Yi Sun-sin led 12 Korean battleships against a massive Japanese fleet. The narrative is a straightforward, intense celebration of national courage, ingenious military strategy, and moral fortitude in the face of annihilation. The core plot revolves around Admiral Yi's personal sacrifice and leadership, inspiring a frightened, demoralized force to unify and defeat an overwhelmingly superior enemy. The film is a pure expression of Korean patriotism, focusing on the tactical brilliance of a historical hero and the power of unity and self-sacrifice for the defense of one's homeland. There is no infusion of contemporary social or political commentary; the themes are timeless and universal: duty, leadership, and turning fear into courage. The focus remains tightly on the military conflict, the human cost of war, and the transcendent importance of national defense.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics1/10

The movie is focused on a historical national conflict between the Joseon Kingdom (Korea) and Japan, framed as a heroic defense of the nation. Character value is determined purely by military merit, courage, and loyalty to the Admiral and the nation. The casting is historically appropriate and authentic to the setting, with no forced insertion of diversity or 'race-swapping' for political reasons. The narrative does not employ an intersectional lens.

Oikophobia1/10

The central theme is deep national pride, gratitude, and defense of the Joseon nation against foreign invaders. Admiral Yi Sun-sin is portrayed as a revered national hero whose strategic genius saves his civilization. The story celebrates the sacrifices of ancestors and positions the nation as a shield against chaos, which is the direct opposite of civilizational self-hatred.

Feminism1/10

The story is a war epic centered on a male military commander and his all-male naval officers and troops, fitting the historical context. Male characters are celebrated for their protective masculinity, strategic skill, and courage. Female roles are minor, consisting of supportive civilian figures like the scout's wife, which accurately reflects traditional societal roles during wartime without any presence of the 'Girl Boss' trope, male emasculation, or anti-natalist messaging.

LGBTQ+1/10

The narrative is a traditional historical war film. There is no presence of alternative sexualities, gender ideology, or a critique of the nuclear family structure. The focus remains entirely on military and national themes, maintaining a normative structure where sexuality and gender are private and unaddressed in a political context.

Anti-Theism1/10

The film does not show hostility toward religion. The Admiral is depicted engaging in traditional spiritual practices, including prayer and contemplation, where he invokes the guidance of his ancestors. This traditional 'mixed pagan worldview' is presented as a source of moral strength and acknowledges a transcendent law of duty, aligning with the idea of faith as a source of strength.