Jet Li’s New Martial Arts Epic Is Like Mad Max On Horseback, Incredible
by Chris Sawin | Published
Blades of the Guardians a martial arts film based on a 12-volume manhua (Chinese manga), Bio Ren (Guardian), which was adapted into a 15-episode donghua (Chinese anime) in 2023. The film is directed by Yuen Woo-ping, who is one of Hong Kong’s best-known action film directors and producers, and has been an active filmmaker for the past fifty years.
Yuen Woo-ping’s other directing credits include Drunk, Boss, Iron Monkeyagain Tai Chi Master. Some of his action choreography credits include Fist of Legendthe first one The Matrix trilogy, Kill Bill, Released, Grandfatheragain Ip Man 3 & 4.
The film follows a bounty hunter named Dao Ma (Jing Wu, the Wolf Warrior films) with a little boy named Xiao Qi (Charles Ju). At the opening of the film, Dao Ma becomes the second most wanted fugitive in the country. The leader of the flower rebellion, Zhi Shilang (Sun Yizhou), is a most wanted fugitive. Dao Ma is entrusted with the mission of escorting Zhi Shilang to Chang’an. They must cross the desert as all the relatives and the rich hunter are looking for a piece of Zhi Shilang’s sweet money.
As a general rule, you never go into a martial arts epic expecting the story to be well thought out or coherent. Blades of the Guardians it has this Journey to the West meets Max is crazy-on-horseback type of ambiance that often works. At just over two hours, the film gets a little long in places, especially in the second half. It feels like the story is deliberately crammed and repetitive with a few action sequences and leaves room for potential sequels if the film does well enough to become a franchise.
The general idea is that the story is always moving. These characters are always on the go and meet a bunch of other obscure characters along the way. The action is not a diversion where everything stops as it is deliberately related to the story. Action is meant to emphasize a character’s motivation or alliance, as each punch, kick, and weapon swing has meaning.
Always a gun Blades of the Guardians Many thanks to cinematographer Tony Cheung Tung-Leung (14 Leaves, The Drunken King II). The film has a budget of $100 million, and it shows. The visual effects are amazing throughout, but the method Blades of the Guardians it makes the desert landscape look more colorful and amazing. The film was shot in real desert regions in western China, so most of the locations are real and not green screen. What happens in the desert, you can expect Blades of the Guardians so you’re kind of a dull tan all over, but it looks amazingly shiny in almost every color imaginable.
The action is interesting, not only because it looks impressive, but the training and preparation Blades of the Guardians it feels tight and wide. Actors perform their stunts whenever possible and regularly train in horse riding, weapon handling, and hand-to-hand combat. Many of the actors brought their knowledge of martial arts, sports, and even opera, but training continued even after shooting began.
Blades of the Guardians it is considered a film that revives wuxia (a form of Chinese mythology). However, the long action sequence floats and flies through the air, increasing the turn. Wirework should be used to enhance action while remaining as supported as possible. Blades of the Guardians a fine balance, as most of the superhuman moments revolve around the impact of a punch or kick, following behind or to the side of the horse as it gallops, and a dramatic move or two.
Jet Li’s introduction in the film shows him using a sheath to catch a sword thrown at him from across the room, without looking. The action-on-one sequence in which he is a part shows that the 62-year-old actor can still walk, which should be incredibly exciting for anyone who is a fan of Hong Kong cinema.
Yuen Woo-ping’s action sequences are of a different kind compared to American or other Hong Kong films. Every sequence is perfectly framed, not too close and not too far, and everything you need to see with precision. It is surprising that Yuen Woo-ping has come up with new ideas after doing this since the early 1970s. There is one major battle that takes place in the sand, there is a fight in the snow with someone holding a child, and weapons covered in fire are being thrown in a way that you have never seen before.
The film also does not shy away from blood. Limbs and heads are often cut off, as blood is spread everywhere in every battle. Dao Ma is a character who will kill, but chooses not to. He shows mercy more often than the rest of the film. However, there is one sequence where he swings an ax at the side of someone’s neck, and they kneel before the roundhouse can remove their head from their shoulders.
Blades of the Guardians one hell of an action film and easily a contender for one of the best films of the genre in the first half of the year. Yuen Woo-ping continues to showcase his legendary talent as a director as four generations of Hong Kong cinema deliver relentless badassery for two endless hours of pure, unrelenting beauty.
Blades of the Guardians now playing in select theaters.
