Film Review: Blades of the Guardians

Blades of the Guardians
Director: Yuen Woo-ping
Woo Ping Pictures, Beijing Damai Entertainment
In Theaters 02.17.26

Sometimes it feels like the action genre is on life support. Hollywood churns out bloated superhero movies with stakes too cosmic to matter and CGI driven showdowns that literally turn into cartoons, or grim, John Wick knockoffs that are built so much on escalating sadism with each revenge based killing that they feel like slasher movies. Blades of the Guardians is a bracing reminder that we can get great action at a reasonable price, it’s just made in China. 

During the final years of the Sui Dynasty, Dao Ma (Wu Jing, Tai Chi Boxer, Fatal Contact), a renowned bounty hunter and the “second most wanted” man in the empire, is hired by tribal leader Leo Mo (Tony Leung Ka-fai, Farewell China, Double Vision) to transport the “most wanted man,” the fugitive Zhi Shi Lang (Sun Yizhou, Forever Love), a political and spiritual leader who hides his face under a mask, to the capital city of Chang’an. The journey across the western deserts draws relentless pursuit from imperial soldiers, rival clans, and assassins who want Shi Lang dead before he can reveal secrets that could destabilize the court. Traveling with Dao Ma are Xiao Qi (newcomer Ju Qianlang) a boy he has taken under his protection; Ayuya (Chen Lijun, Xin Longmen kezhan: Yue ju), Leo Mo’s skilled warrior daughter; and Shu (Yu Shi, Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms), a dangerous swordsman known as the Jade-Faced Ghost, who is transporting a prisoner, the beguiling Yan Ziniang (Li Yunxiao, Long Gu Fen Xiang). As ambushes intensify and loyalties are tested, Dao Ma’s past resurfaces. If they are going to reach Chang’an, the group will have to face overwhelming forces, betrayal, and a final confrontation that will determine Shi Lang’s fate and the empire’s future.

Blades of the Guardians is a rousing Eastern Western that sweeps across sun-baked deserts with the swagger of a classic cowboy picture and the timeless elegance of epic wuxia. Under the masterful direction of Yuen — the legendary filmmaker behind Drunken Master and fight choreographer for The Matrix and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon — the film delivers an unrelenting barrage of duels, ambushes, and horseback chases that fling sand, steel, and adrenaline in every direction. Yuen’s choreography is a remarkable balance of balletic grace and bone-crunching impact, making each fight feel both epic and intimately visceral. The sprawling desert journey is packed with shifting loyalties, political intrigue, and moral dilemmas, which occasionally tangle the narrative, yet the movie never loses its forward momentum. Anchored by a cast of magnetic, sharply drawn characters, the film keeps audiences invested in both the action and the human stakes. Even when the story gets a little blurred, the pacing never falters, creating a thrilling spectacle that rides on pure craftsmanship, and the sheer exhilaration of watching a master at work.

The performances are anchored by the pairing of Wu Jing and Yu Shi. Wu imbues Dao Ma with a roguish intensity that hides a bleeding heart, making him a fun protagonist with a strong character arc, and Yu makes a great match for his energy. Li Yunxiao shines as Yan Ziniang, providing comic relief and seductive charisma that punctuates the tension with wit and flair. Chen Lijun adds striking elegance and precision to the fight sequences, navigating Yuen’s complex choreography with conviction. Meanwhile, Sun Yizhou commands attention even under a mask, his presence lending an enigmatic weight to the story and elevating every scene he inhabits, proving that mystery can be as compelling as dialogue. Jet Li (Once Upon a Time in China, Hero) is underutilized as Chang, a scheming senior official in the Imperial military. Li gets to be in one fight scene early in the film, and then only appears in occasional cutaway sequences. While he adds a certain sense of menace and authority, he gets little to do, and his primary purpose seems to be to tease a possible sequel.

If razor-sharp thrills delivered at breakneck speed are your jam — and you don’t mind subtitles — Blades of the Guardians is a rollicking ride that’s more than worth the ticket. It’s a kinetic, exhilarating antidote to the tired formula of most recent American entries in the action genre, and it earns a very enthusiastic recommendation from me. –Patrick Gibbs

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