This is a war that we have ignored and a history that will be remembered by the Korean people. This contrast is also reflected in the attitude towards film. "Ming Liang Sea Battle" was finally released in China. Compared with the excitement of the Korean audience, the Chinese audience seemed much calmer. Many people put it and Tear Devils into the same camp without even looking at it, and of course, some people still think so after watching it. Indeed, the movie does have too many incredible.
The earliest I knew about Yi Sun-sin was from watching a Korean movie, "The Army of Heaven". The North Korean soldiers and South Korean soldiers who traveled to ancient times, regardless of their past suspicions, sacrificed together to protect Yi Sun-sin. At the end of the film, there is also a picture of Yi Sun-shin commanding the navy to fight against Japanese pirates, which can be perfectly combined with "Ming Liang Sea Battle". Therefore, "The Battle of Mingliang Sea" is also like a myth. Yi Sun-sin's panok boat was surrounded by the Japanese army several times and came out safe and sound. Even if he was caught in the whirlpool, he was dragged back by the fishermen. In the hearts of Koreans, Yi Sun-sin is so unreasonable.
The genius of the film is that it makes sense of the myth with a series of details. At night, Yi Sun-sin dreamed of his fallen subordinates, and when he stood up in tears and apologized, he was just a helpless old man, which was touching. Kneeling in front of his mother's spiritual seat when he set out on the expedition, he said his goodbye deeply and decisively. The existence of these scenes has shortened the distance between Yi Sun-sin and the audience, and people will care more about his responsibility as a son and a father. As for naval battles, the film also demonstrates the miracle of winning more with less. In the face of an opponent that is dozens of times his own, if the main general is not charging ahead, how can the rest of the warships dare to go into battle? Looking at the historical data, it is unimaginable that the Korean army escaped in the Imjin War, so Yi Sun-sin's charge can indeed greatly boost morale. However, if it weren't for his previous victories, it is estimated that his subordinates would not dare. Some people may say why the Japanese warships do not come together. In fact, in the long and narrow Mingliang Strait, it cannot accommodate so many ships swarming up. Therefore, although the number of opponents is large, they do not have many advantages, not to mention that Anji Wakisaka, who is sitting behind, seems to be not so pleasing to the eye. Seeing that he couldn't beat Yi Sun-shin in front of him, and he was beheaded on the island, he simply stopped fighting.
Of course, this is the interpretation of the movie, and although it seems reasonable, it is not necessarily the truth. There are many different accounts of this war. I am not a witness, nor a historian, and have no way of knowing the truth. In my opinion, Mingliang naval battle is more symbolic. It was Yi Sun-sin's comeback battle, which greatly boosted the morale of the Ming coalition forces. War is like that, and so is film. This is not a catharsis of nationalism, but an eulogy to a hero, a tribute to an old man's strong will.
This is indeed an excellent film, if the first 20 minutes are not cut. Some people may think that the editing makes the naval battle larger and more compact. But without the foreshadowing of literary drama, the story seems thin, and some plots seem inexplicable. For example, the rise and fall of Yi Sun-sin, the hatred of Hae-do for him, the disappearance of the turtle ship, the transformation of Lee Jung-hyun into a mute, etc. When I entered the movie theater, I accidentally was a minute or two late, but when I saw the back, I felt that I had missed a lot.
In addition, there are some flaws in the film, which are unpleasant:
1. The film has always emphasized that if Mingliang loses, Seoul will not be guaranteed. In fact, not long after the Imjin War began, the Japanese captured Seoul and even Pyongyang. Only later was driven back by the Ming army. Later, when the peace was negotiated, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was unhappy, so he started fighting North Korea again...
2. Although Governor Konishi was mentioned many times, he never showed up. In fact, I really want to see him. In "The Last Glory of the Empire", President Konishi is still a very interesting person.
3. Li Zhenxian, I don't know if you recognize her name, anyway, I still liked her very much when I was young. The one who puts the microphone on the little finger and sings should be unique. When I watched the movie, I couldn't recognize it at all, I thought it was just the same name, but it turned out to be the same person. As a singer, she actually played a dumb girl...
4. The actor who played Li Sunsin's opponent, Mr. Laishimatong, was called Liu Chenglong, and the person who promoted Li Sunsin was called Liu Chenglong.
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