The Chinese film “Blades of the Guardians” directed by Yuen Woo-Ping leaves no doubt there should be no disparaging of Chinese film. True, it is yet another martial art centric film, but can there be one more spectacular?
Majestic cinematography, enthralling costuming, creative sets, momentous and artistic martial arts choreography and a Gobi Desert location all combine to create an epic Chinese cinematographic masterpiece.
Martial arts to the extreme. Levitating bodies and stunning acrobatics. Hard core martial arts aficionados have just found their Cinema Paradiso! Newbies to martial arts films may find the scenes impossible to believe due to the special effects and implausibility of one against 500 victorious but isn’t that part of the fantasy of martial arts films?
The plot is intricate enough to pique the interest of viewers with sharp minds and eyes for detail to process the extensive parade of characters. Some viewers may be overwhelmed by this so my advice may be to focus on good guys and bad guys and enjoy the action.
The Sui Dynasty is in decline with the desert clans fighting amongst themselves for control of their territory. The leader of the Flower rebellion Zhishilang represents a challenge to the Sui Dynasty and becomes the most wanted man of the dynasty with a huge bounty placed on his head.
Dao Ma (Jing Wu) a bounty hunter and former imperial guard participates in the slaying of corrupt desert war lord Chang (Jet Li) and has a bounty, the second largest in China, placed on his head by Chang’s clan due to Dao Ma’s slaying of Chang. Dao Ma’s benefactor Lao Mo (Tony Ka Fai Leung) convinces Dao Ma for the good of China (and the liquidation of all his debts) to transport Zhishilang to safety and hence the epic journey commences.
Dao Ma is pursued by dynasty forces, bounty hunters and clans seeking desert prominence. Meeting foes and enemies and friends some of which are in fact enemies present martial arts display scenes never seen before on the screen.
Be prepared for political treachery and intrigue, astounding martial arts and battle scenes, colourful characters, chopped off body parts, pools of blood, romance, fair damsels, handsome dudes, armies of extras in Ben Huresque proportions and a new quasi-Darth Vader bad guy.
Of course, the good guys win but at a terrible cost but what are hundreds of victims in a martial arts film?
You can watch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJjGHK0qL88
Released in the People’s Republic of China and North America 17February2026.
RKS 2026 International Film Rating 86/100.
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