Notable Cast: Wu Jing, Yu Shi, Chen Lijun, Nicholas Tse,
Sun Yizhou, Ci Sha, Li Yunxiao, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Max Zhang, Jet Li, Zhang Yi,
Kara Wei, Liu Yaowen, Xioung Jinyi
Considering the substantial cast and having an icon like
Yuen Woo-Ping sitting in the director’s chair for this one, I could start this
review out by stating things how Blades of the Guardians is an action
fan’s dream come true or that Yuen Woo-Ping has delivered his best film in
decades - both of which are true - but I think I want to start this off with a
bit more heat.
Thank you, Chinese streaming movies.
Sure, Blades of the Guardians is the big title being
released for Lunar New Year, and it’s probably going to slaughter in the
international box office. It’s the kind of grandiose combination of spectacle,
A-list names, and entertaining action cinema that will appease fans and newbies
alike. And yet, as the film played out, using its dusty setting,
well-choreographed action set pieces, and broad-stroke classic wuxia characters
was not a reaction to the success of low-budget wuxia films on streaming sites
like iQIYI.
While the Chinese box office has been dominated by big
CGI-focused fantasy-driven wuxia films over the last 10 to 20 years (which is
fine for films like Creation of the Gods, but feels unwieldy and bloated
for films like Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants), there was
something of a counter movement in the streaming sector that pulled away from
that. Smaller stories, big characters played by charismatic actors (often names
from action films versus fantasy ones), and a focus on strong intimate action
featuring plenty of stylish wire-work sword play. Films like Eye for an Eye,
Blade of Fury, or Butcher’s Blade have reignited my own love of
the gritty wuxia film.
And, dare I say, Blades of the Guardians has far more
in common with those films than it does with the fantasy-driven wuxia, and it’s
better for it. Yuen Woo-Ping and his team pull away from the bloat that weighed
down some of his previous wuxia efforts (particularly The Thousand Faces of
Dunjia) and instead drive home a film about heroes, villains, justice, and
a whole lot of sword-slashin'. The monsters here are people driven by power
lust, not creatures from folklore, and the plotting has far more in common with
Mad Max: Fury Road than with the Shakespearean politics of a film like Creation
of the Gods. Blades of the Guardians is old-fashioned, brilliant
action, slathered in modern spectacle and driven by heartfelt
characters. And yes, I will argue that it’s one of Yuen Woo-Ping’s
best films. Period.
Anchored by a strong lead performance from Wu Jing as Dao Ma, who combines elements of Clint Eastwood’s Man with No Name with the charismatic heroics of 70s wuxia style Ti Lung (the first two Sentimental Swordsman films come to mind), the world of Blades of the Guardians is littered with some incredible characters. Even some of the smaller roles, notably early ones, come from Max Zhang and Jet Li, who get an incredible opening action set piece that sets the stage for the action this film delivers, sparking many memorable moments. There are still quite a few characters, but the script is smart in giving so many of them broad-stroke gimmicks, and the casting brings their highlights to light so they don’t get lost in the whirlwind of its twisting plot. There’s a light romantic subplot featuring a charming archer, played by Chen Lijun, who goes from romantic love interest for Dao Ma to face of devastation and vengeance by the end of the film, in her performance, and there are plenty of baddies for our heroes to clash with. In particular, Ci Sha as the rising Khan Heyi Xuan, gets to be delightfully evil as the film plays out. It’s smart character building with just enough arc for each character that nothing feels frivolous as it twists around. If anything, I could have used even more Nicholas Tse as the hunter chasing down Dao Ma, but he brings such a stoic badassery that by the time the two clash in the big finale, it was absolutely worth it.
The plotting gets a bit convoluted at times, and it's
obvious from the get-go that Blades of the Guardians is meant to be a
big franchise kick off (especially when it's revealed that the full title is
actually Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert) but even
then Yuen Woo-Ping and his team keep the film moving at such a fun pacing that
it hardly drags or feels like the plot gets in the way of the story. Most of
this is that, outside of its opening, which sets the stage or the big final
battle, Blades of the Guardians is essentially a chase film. Once Dao Ma
picks up his passenger, the masked rebellion leader Zhishilang, the chase is
on. My comparison to Mad Max: Fury Road feels even more apt by the time
that the small caravan of heroes, now joined by the enigmatic but incredibly
fun Jade-Faced Ghost, who adds just enough chaos to the mix, ends up trying to
outrun an army by going into a sandstorm. Sure, it’s a lot of CGI in the mix,
but there’s some incredible action to be had here, and it ends up being a
highlight of the film. Oftentimes, it feels like Yuen Woo-Ping is trying to
tell his audience that “yes, all of the plot pieces will fall into place, so
don’t worry too much about them, the ride is more fun if you just strap in.”
and he’s not wrong. It’s what makes this film so damn entertaining.
Then, of course, as expected, the action is incredible. All of its stars are up for the challenge, but never doubt Yuen Woo-Ping and his team. Despite the fact that the entire film takes place in a very similar-colored desert, it never feels redundant. There’s so much story in each action set piece. Whether it’s the three-way battle of the opening that features Max Zhang and Jet Li, the archery chases, a fiery battle with flaming pools of oil, or the two-man siege of a burning town at the end, Blades of the Guardians never disappoints. Sandstorms, some surprising violence (including one of the most brutal decapitations I’ve seen in a martial arts film) or small skirmishes keep the energy level moving, and the sword play is breathtaking. This is wuxia action done right, grounded in its characters and violence, but just touching on the fantastical to allow its wirework to add dynamics. Action fans are going to feast on this one.
To bring it all back through, what makes Blades of the
Guardians so impressive is that it rarely succumbs to the bloat and
spectacle that have burdened so many theatrically released wuxia films in the
last 10 or 20 years. It still features that bombastic style and moments that
make the most of the big screen, but it owes more to the character-driven focus
of those streaming films than to the over-the-top silliness that made Tsui
Hark’s Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants such a chore to watch.
Incredibly layered performances, fun characters, and dynamic action make Blades
of the Guardians one of the best wuxia films of the last decade. It’s a
modern masterpiece of swords and sand. The blades on this film are sharpened
with precision, and it cuts so beautifully that any fan of the genre, the
stars, the director, or action cinema in general owes it to themselves to see
it. And see it on the biggest screen possible.
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