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Edmund Lee

3.5/5 stars
Fans of Chinese-language martial arts movies could hardly have asked for a more satisfying revival than this ferocious wuxia epic, directed by the legendary Yuen Woo-ping (Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy) and anchored by a visceral turn from superstar Wu Jing (Wolf Warrior 2) as a master swordsman haunted by his past.
Adapted from a popular Chinese comics series of the same name by a quartet of screenwriters, Blades of the Guardians is, as expected, crammed with so many semi-developed characters and backstories that it may well prove a daunting watch for those wishing to keep up with every detail.
Then again, Yuen knows exactly what his audience craves. His film, running at 126 action-packed minutes, never stalls too long for exposition – right from the exhilarating opening section, which culminates in a three-way swordfight to the death involving action greats Wu, Jet Li Lianjie and Max Zhang Jin.


Set in the twilight years of the Sui dynasty (581-618), the film is centred around Dao Ma (Wu), a formidable bodyguard who used to work for the imperial court until a tragic incident turned him into the land’s second most wanted fugitive and saddled him with an orphan, Xiao Qi (Ju Qianlang), who follows him everywhere.
Dao Ma is tasked by his old friend Mo (Tony Leung Ka-fai), leader of the Mo Clan in the western regions, to escort Zhishilang (Sun Yizhou) – the thinker behind a growing rebellion against the state, and thus its most wanted fugitive – to the capital Changan. Reluctantly, he is joined by Ayuya (Chen Lijun), Mo’s headstrong daughter.
While the carnage proves a delight for viewers who like their set pieces frequent, gritty and gruesome, the endless chases by bounty hunters feel a little hollow after a while. Everything changes in the final third, however, when the violence takes on an emotional dimension following a surprise death.
Among the sprawling cast, Yue opera performer Chen Lijun is a stand-out, while rising star Yosh Yu Shi impresses as a rival swordsman. However, Nicholas Tse Ting-fung – despite his second billing – remains peripheral until the showdown, leaving his character’s conflicted history with Wu’s protagonist undercooked.


The desert vistas, meanwhile, leave an indelible impression, providing a stunning visual backdrop to the bloodshed. While the spectacle cannot mask a narrative so convoluted it screams for the breathing room of a limited series instead, it is hard to fault such a muscular effort, especially given how endangered the genre has become.
Blades of the Guardians may not rank among the greatest wuxia films ever made, but it is easily one of the fiercest entries we have had in years.
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Starring Wu Jing, Nicholas Tse and Chen Lijun, the visually stunning Blades of the Guardians is one of the fiercest wuxia films in years


Starring Wu Jing, Nicholas Tse and Chen Lijun, the visually stunning Blades of the Guardians is one of the fiercest wuxia films in years.


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.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Starring Wu Jing, Nicholas Tse and Chen Lijun, the visually stunning Blades of the Guardians is one of the fiercest wuxia films in years

Starring Wu Jing, Nicholas Tse and Chen Lijun, the visually stunning Blades of the Guardians is one of the fiercest wuxia films in years