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.