Movie Review: Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert

Recent years have proved that the American monopoly on big-budget cinematic spectacles has been busted, with China in particular putting out movies that rival US blockbusters in every way. In updating the wuxia style for this vfx-heavy era, legendary filmmaker Yuen Woo-Ping blends authentic physicality with digital artistry to create something truly thrilling. Having worked as a stunt choreographer or director on classics such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Matrix, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Drunken Master, Kung Fu Hustle, and countless more, he has a firm understanding of how these movies work and has crafted a uniquely Chinese adventure that will thrill all but the most jaded moviegoers.

Roaming China’s vast Western deserts, bounty hunter Dao Ma (Wu Jing) manages to wind up with a pretty steep reward for his head as well, ultimately becoming the country’s “second most wanted fugitive.” After the encounter that earns him that title, he and his young, orphaned nephew Xiao Qi (Charles Ju) head to the peaceful village of the Mo clan to gather some belongings and prepare to head into hiding. While there, chief Lao (Tony Leung Ka Fai), asks him to take on a job escorting the “most wanted fugitive” Zhi Shi Lang (Sun Yizhou) to the capital city of Chang’an, where he can further help kick off the nascent “flower revolution” he has begun to inspire, freeing the people from years of empirical tyranny. Dao Ma takes some convincing, but it wouldn’t be much of a movie if he says “no,” and so he, his nephew, his “cargo,” Lao Mo’s daughter Ayuya (Chen Lijun), and her lieutenant Ani (Xiong Jinyi) head off into the desert, where a series of encounters with rival clans, competing bounty hunters, and other potential enemies awaits them.

The biggest weakness of the film may very well be the plot, which manages to be both convoluted and simplistic simultaneously. Fortunately, it only really serves to move us from set piece to set piece and doesn’t really get in the way of the action, which is utterly spectacular. Set amidst stunning vistas and beautifully crafted sets, every frame is captured with the utmost attention to detail. The action choreography by Shan Peng Dang is flawless and balletic, full of moments of striking grace and visceral battle.

The cast purportedly underwent months of training in advance of filming, and it shows, with not a single missed beat among them. Jing easily anchors the film with his magnetic presence, complimented nicely by his equally endearing entourage which eventually grows to include competing bounty hunter Shu (Yosh Yu). Cisha as Heyi Xuan also makes for a compelling villain, making the most of a thinly written role thanks to his sneering charisma.

This is a truly thrilling motion picture. The relentless pace and overstuffed story mean the majority of the characters aren’t all that well developed, but also that viewers are never given even a moment to consider being bored. By largely eschewing digital effects in the fighting, instead using them for background enhancement such as during an imaginative battle inside a massive sandstorm, Yuen elevates violence into art in a way that many American filmmakers simply cannot. The final scene strongly implies that there is more of this story to be told, and I hope this team is afforded the chance to do so. Despite its flaws, this is already a front runner to be one of the most memorably entertaining movies of the year, which will thrill martial arts fans and maybe earn the genre a few new ones. ★★★★