Noryang: Deadly Sea (Korean: 노량: 죽음의 바다; RR: Noryang: Jugeumui Bada; lit. Noryang: The Sea of Death) is a 2023 South Korean historical war action film directed by Kim Han-min. It is the third and final film of Kim's trilogy about battles led by Yi Sun-sin, that started with 2014 film The Admiral: Roaring Currents and followed by 2022 film Hansan: Rising Dragon.[4][5] The film depicts the historical Battle of Noryang, the last major battle of the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598).[6] It was worldwide released theatrically on December 20, 2023.[7][8]
| Noryang: Deadly Sea | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Promotional poster | |
| Hangul | 노량: 죽음의 바다 |
| Hanja | 露梁: 죽음의 바다 |
| Literal meaning | Noryang: The Sea of Death |
| Revised Romanization | Noryang: Jugeumui Bada |
| Directed by | Kim Han-min |
| Screenplay by | Kim Han-min Yun Hong-gi |
| Produced by | Kim Joo-kyung Lee Dae-hee |
| Starring | Kim Yoon-seok Baek Yoon-sik Jung Jae-young Huh Joon-ho |
| Cinematography | Kim Tae-seong |
| Edited by | An Hyeon-geon |
| Music by | Kim Tae-seong |
Production company | Big Stone Pictures |
| Distributed by | Lotte Entertainment[1] |
Release date |
|
Running time | 153 minutes |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
| Box office | US$34.2 million[2][3] |
Synopsis edit
Yi Sun-sin learns that the Japanese army is trying to hastily retreat from Joseon after the sudden death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the leader of the Japanese army. Yi Sun-sin, who believed that completely annihilating the Japanese army would be the right way to end this war, decided to form a joint fleet with the Ming Dynasty to block the Japanese army's retreat route and annihilate the enemies. However, Chen Lin (Jung Jae-young), the governor of the Ming Dynasty who fell for the Japanese army's bribery, tries to open a retreat route for the Japanese army, and to make matters worse, Shimazu (Baek Yoon-sik), the head of the Japanese army, heads to Noryang to help the Japanese army retreat.
Cast edit
- Kim Yoon-seok as Yi Sun-sin[6]
- Baek Yoon-sik as Shimazu Yoshihiro, commander of the Japanese naval force[6]
- Jung Jae-young as Chen Lin, Ming Dynasty navy admiral[6]
- Huh Joon-ho as Deng Zilong, Ming Dynasty vice admiral[6]
- Kim Seong-gyu as Junsa, a Japanese defector who resisted the Japanese invasion[9]
- Lee Kyu-hyung as Arima Harunobu, Konishi Yukinaga's subordinate[9]
- Lee Moo-saeng as Konishi Yukinaga, the leader of the Japanese army who develops a strategy to eliminate Yi Sun-sin[10]
- Choi Deok-moon as Song Hee-rip, a Joseon General and subordinate of Yi Sun-sin[9]
- Ahn Bo-hyun as Yi Hoe, Yi Sun-sin's son[10]
- Park Myung-hoon as Moriatsu, Shimazu's confidant and uncompromising Japanese general[11]
- Park Hoon as Lee Woon-ryong, a military official of Joseon [9]
- Moon Jeong-hee as Lady Bang, Yi Sun-sin's wife[9]
- Ahn Se-ho as General Hyung[12]
- a person who commanded the battle on behalf of Yi Sun-sin.
Special appearance edit
- Yeo Jin-goo as Yi Myeon, Yi Sun-sin's youngest son[13]
- Lee Je-hoon as young Gwang-hae, Crown Prince of Joseon[14]
Production edit
Development edit
In 2013, while producing The Admiral: Roaring Currents, Big Stone Pictures revealed their plans to produce two more films related to Yi Sun-sin, titled Appearance of Hansan Dragon and Noryang Sea of Death as sequels, depending on the success of The Admiral.[15] Following the box office success of The Admiral which became the most-watched and highest-grossing film of all time in South Korea, production of the sequels was confirmed.[5]
Filming edit
Principal photography began on January 14, 2021, and wrapped on June 15, 2021.[16][17]
Behind point edit
The launch poster was released on September 19, 2023, and the title logo changed to be more sophisticated than the logo poster. It is more straightforward than before, and the 'ㄹ' letter of Noryang has changed to be easier to recognize.
Release edit
On December 15, 2023, there was a preview of the film at the Chungmugwan Command of the Second Fleet of the South Korean Navy, which was attended by around 700 spectators, including Navy personnel and family members. The director and some cast members attended: Kim Yoon-seok, Kim Seong-gyu, Lee Moo-saeng, Choi Deok-moon and Park Hoon.
Noryang: Sea of Death was released on December 20, 2023. After filming in 2021, intense post-production work took place, which meant that the release could not take place in 2022. Furthermore, this it was combined with the director's desire to release it in winter, the same season in which the battle of Noryang took place.
Outside of South Korea, it is scheduled to premiere in the United States on December 22, and in Australia and New Zealand on January 4, 2024.[18]
Reception edit
Critical response edit
Kim Jun-mo (Oh My News) begins his film review remembering that Kim Han-min's trilogy is the series that has achieved the most monumental audience results in the South Korean commercial film industry, and in addition to reproducing it on the screen spirit of national hero Yi Sun-sin. He praises the grand scale of the naval battle, "difficult to see even in Hollywood", which achieves the immersion of the spectator in it; and also the technical skill that involves passing on a single basis from the Ming army to Joseon, to the Japanese, and to Admiral Yi. He concludes by highlighting that the action scenes, which made director Kim famous, led him with this last installment of the trilogy at the top of his career.
Son Jeong-bin (Newsis) argues that the film largely depends on the protagonist Kim Yoon-seok. If he follows the style of his predecessors, he surpasses their weak characters with Kim's work: «although the poor script of this work alone could not convince the audience of Yi Sun-sin's feelings, the performance of Kim Yoon-seok goes beyond the script and makes the audience feel the spirit of Yi Sun-sin». The narration of the battle continues to be powerful despite being repeated for the third time, even though it does not present elements of innovation and is resistant to the surroundings of the launch of Hansan, in the summer of 2022. He criticizes the story, «superficial», and instead praises the scene in which Admiral Yi faces his death, it results with «a somewhat common elegance thanks to the directing skills of director Kim Han-min and the acting skills of Kim Yoon-seok».
Accolades edit
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2024 | Best Film | Noryang: Deadly Sea | Pending | [19] |
| Best Director | Kim Han-min | Pending | |||
| Best Actor | Kim Yoon-seok | Pending |
References edit
- ^ "노량: 죽음의 바다". Naver (in Korean). Retrieved June 16, 2022.
- ^ "Noryang: Deadly Sea (2023)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
- ^ "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2023". KOFIC. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
- ^ Lee, Hae-ri (August 4, 2014). "'명량' '한산' '노량' 이순신 3부작 나오나" ['Myeongnyang', 'Hansan' and 'Noryang' Lee Soon-shin trilogy coming out] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Retrieved April 18, 2022 – via Naver.
- ^ a b Kim, Kyung-ju (August 16, 2014). "역대 1위 '명량', 이순신 3부작 확정되나 "언젠가는.."" ['Myeongryang', the all-time No. 1 'Myeongryang', a trilogy confirmed by Lee Soon-shin, but "Someday..."] (in Korean). Osen. Retrieved April 18, 2022 – via Naver.
- ^ a b c d e Pierce, Conran (December 14, 2020). "KIM Yun-seok to Play Admiral YI Sun-shin in KIM Han-min's NORYANG". KOFIC. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
- ^ Bae, Hyo-joo (September 19, 2023). "이순신 3부작 김윤석 마무리한다..'노량:죽음의 바다' 12월 개봉" [Kim Yun-seok concludes Yi Sun-sin's trilogy... 'Noryang: The Sea of Death' to be released in December] (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved September 19, 2023 – via Naver.
- ^ Jo Ji-young (November 13, 2023). "[공식] "올겨울, 마지막 출정"...'노량: 죽음의 바다' 12월 20일 개봉 확정" (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Retrieved November 13, 2023 – via Naver.
- ^ a b c d e Kim, Bo-young (September 19, 2023). "이순신 최후의 전투...김윤석 '노량: 죽음의 바다' 12월 개봉" [Lee Soon-sin's last battle...Kim Yoon-seok's 'Noryang: Sea of Death' opens in December] (in Korean). E-Daily. Retrieved September 19, 2023 – via Naver.
- ^ a b Jeong, Tae-yoon (November 9, 2023). "'노량: 죽음의 바다', 3부작 대미..."최후의 전투, 더 치열하다" [Noliang: Sea of Death', the trilogy finale..."The final battle, more intense] (in Korean). Dispatch. Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via Naver.
- ^ Jung, Yu-jin (November 9, 2023). "'노량: 죽음의 바다', 1차 스틸...치열했던 이순신 최후의 전투" ['Noryang: Sea of Death', 1st still...Yi Sun-sin's final battle was fierce] (in Korean). News1. Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via Naver.
- ^ "안세호, 영화 '노량: 죽음의 바다' 출연". Naver (in Korean). Retrieved December 14, 2023.
- ^ Kim, Mi-hwa (February 19, 2021). "여진구, 김한민 감독 '노량' 특별 출연" [Yeo Jin-goo, Special appearance in 'Noryang' directed by Kim Han-min] (in Korean). Star News. Retrieved June 25, 2022 – via Naver.
- ^ Jo, Yeon-kyung (November 18, 2022). "'한산 리덕스' 김한민 감독 "이제훈 '노량' 광해로 대미 장식" [Hansan Redux' director Kim Han-min "Decorated the US with Lee Je-hoon's 'Noryang' Gwanghae] (in Korean). JTBC. Retrieved November 18, 2022 – via Naver.
- ^ Song, Hyeong-il (January 21, 2013). "초대형 '명량대첩' 영화 '명량-회오리 바다' 크랭크인" [Crank-in of the super-large 'Battle of Myeongnyang' movie 'Myeongnyang - The Sea of Whirlwinds'] (in Korean). Yunhap News. Retrieved April 18, 2022 – via Naver.
- ^ Lee, Joo-hyun (January 20, 2021). "정경재 롯데컬처웍스 콘텐츠사업부문장 - 확장성 있는 IP를 우선으로 보고 있다" [Jung Kyung-jae, Head of Content Business, Lotte Culture Works - Prioritizing scalable IPs]. Cine21 (in Korean). Retrieved June 16, 2022.
- ^ Jeon, Hyeong-hwa (July 2, 2021). "김윤석의 이순신 '노량: 죽음의 바다' 크랭크업..후반작업 돌입" [Kim Yoon-seok's Lee Soon-sin's 'Noryang: Sea of Death' cranks up, post-production begins]. MT Star News (in Korean). Retrieved June 16, 2022.
- ^ Kim, Bum-seok (December 28, 2022). "충무공 3부작 '노량' 내년 12월로 개봉 잠정 연기된 이유는?" [Why was the release of Chungmugong trilogy 'Noryang' postponed to December next year?] (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved December 28, 2022 – via Naver.
- ^ Hwang, So-young (April 8, 2024). 60회 맞은 '백상예술대상' TV·영화·연극 후보 공개 [60th 'Baeksang Arts Awards' TV, Film and Theater Candidates Revealed] (in Korean). JTBC News. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024 – via Naver.