Review | Blades of the Guardians movie review: Wu Jing leads star-studded Chinese martial arts epic

Starring Wu Jing, Nicholas Tse and Chen Lijun, the visually stunning Blades of the Guardians is one of the fiercest wuxia films in years

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Wu Jing (left) and Nicholas Tse in a still from Blades of the Guardians (category IIB, Mandarin), directed by Yuen Woo-ping. Chen Lijun co-stars.

Published: 5:01pm, 17 Feb 2026Updated: 5:18pm, 17 Feb 2026

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.

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Starring Wu Jing, Nicholas Tse and Chen Lijun, the visually stunning Blades of the Guardians is one of the fiercest wuxia films in years

Starring Wu Jing, Nicholas Tse and Chen Lijun, the visually stunning Blades of the Guardians is one of the fiercest wuxia films in years