Blades of the Guardians – Yuen Woo-Ping’s Triumphant Return to Wuxia

It was evident with 2018’s Master Z that director Yuen Wo-Ping (The Matrix, Drunken Master, IP Man 2) hasn’t lost a step, but now, 8 years removed from his last feature, the legendary choreographer/director returns for the first time in nearly a decade with Blades of the Guardians, a donhua adaptation and Lunar New Year blockbuster. For many coming to this film as fans of the source material, it may serve as an introduction to the work of Wu Jing, Jet Li, and Yuen Wo-Ping, among others, and what an introductory point this is. This incarnation delivers an excellent, non-stop wuxia film filled to the brim with charisma, world-building, and some of the best action set pieces audiences will see this decade. Through his latest effort, Yuen proves that he still has it, and then some, packing the film with gorgeous visuals accompanying the exceptional wirework and broader action set pieces, making Blades of the Guardians one of the cannot-miss films of the year for fans of action and international cinema.

As mentioned, Blades of the Guardians is the second adaptation of Xianzhe Xu’s hit web comic of the same name, following a 2023 animated adaptation, one that remains ongoing. Yuen’s adaptation follows Dao Ma (Jing), a bounty hunter with a decorated past on the run from a previous bounty, accepting a job to escort the Desert’s top fugitive Zhi Shi Lang, one whose rise in power has enraged the families of the Desert. Dao Ma must protect his bounty from the families and factions of the Desert, all of which are convening on their location steadily. What follows is the Wuxia equivalent to Mad Max: Fury Road, fit with all the sandstorms and gore one would expect. Although, admittedly a bit loose on plot, the film is filled with genuinely engaging political intrigue that roots the action and characters into legitimate stakes (with a classic structure to boot).

That being said, any potential plot issues are further circumvented by an engaging cast of characters, all of which are equipped with unique fighting styles, costumes, and quirks, which all tell the story that a lesser film would waste with exposition. Nicholas Tse’s Di Ting is equipped with two-bladed batons and enters every scene with an authority that demands attention. Audiences learn just about everything they need to know about him once he enters the room, and it is difficult to express just how much this is needed in modern action blockbusters. Similarly, words can seldom describe how great it is to see actors such as Jet Li and Wu Jing back on the big screen in martial arts glory. Aside from the nostalgia or enjoyment from their presence, the cast all give fantastic performances; the charisma of Wu Jing, in particular, is infectious and a stark contrast to the stoicism portrayed in his recent mainland blockbusters. The whole film plays off of his charisma and really allows its set pieces to shine as he glides around sword-fighting hundreds of people in and out of sandstorms.

Similar to 2024’s ‘Twilight of the Warriors‘, Blades of the Guardians has its share of love towards the era of Hong Kong cinema that built the foundation the film stands on. Suffice it to say, in what will be great news to all audiences, that Yuen Woo-Ping has not only still got it, but is exceeding expectations. While it is unclear whether or not the plans are for him to continue with the aforementioned animated series, the eventual return of these great characters is most likely to result be the best action film of that year, because so far, Blades of the Guardians is THE film of 2026.

still courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment

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Brad Simon

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