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| Is Blades of the Guardians the Wuxia Comeback Film of 2026? Chinese Media Think So. (Photo: Weibo) |
Chinese media outlets are giving Blades of the Guardians (镖人：风起大漠) a largely positive reception following its February 17, 2026 premiere, calling it one of the most visually confident manhua adaptations in recent years. The film quickly climbed to third place at the box office, trailing Pegasus 3 and Scare Out, and has already pulled in 220 million yuan, with industry forecasts projecting a potential 1.5 billion yuan total gross if momentum holds.
Directed by legendary action choreographer and filmmaker Yuen Woo-ping, the film adapts Xu Xianzhe’s acclaimed manhua Biao Ren, known internationally as Blades of the Guardians. The source material earned cult status for its stark black-and-white art, grounded storytelling, and refusal to romanticise the martial arts world.
Instead of elegant heroism, it offered grit, dust, blood, and moral ambiguity.
The big-screen version follows Dao Ma, a bounty hunter who also happens to be the second most wanted fugitive. Commissioned by the Mo clan leader, he must escort a mysterious target across dangerous terrain during the volatile transition between the Sui and Tang dynasties.
Political unrest simmers in the background, and every encounter carries the weight of shifting power structures.
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According to in-depth reviews published by Sohu and other outlets, the film’s strongest achievement lies in its translation from comic panel to cinematic language.
Rather than copying iconic frames directly, the production reimagines them through movement, scale, and choreography.
One widely praised example is Ayuya’s revenge sequence set in the middle of a violent sandstorm. In the manhua, her fury is delivered through an intense close-up.
On screen, the scene expands into sweeping wide shots, turning the storm itself into an emotional amplifier. Her anger is no longer contained in a single frame — it consumes the entire desert.
Several major fight scenes were also created exclusively for the film. The fiery duel between Dao Ma and Shu, the chaotic sandstorm confrontation with Diting, and the explosive opening sequence featuring Jet Li, Zhang Jin, and Wu Jing were all singled out as bold additions that elevate the adaptation beyond simple replication.
That said, praise has not been without criticism.
At 126 minutes, the film reportedly compresses material equivalent to roughly 15 animated episodes. Reviewers noted uneven pacing and underdeveloped characters. Shu, who carries greater weight in the original work, sees much of his narrative depth trimmed.
Pei Xingyan functions largely as a plot mechanism, while the crucial backstory between Dao Ma and Diting is addressed briefly in dialogue rather than fully explored. For long-time readers of the manhua, these omissions feel noticeable.
Some viewers applauded the film as “a rare serious wuxia production with real scale”, praising its choreography, world-building, and commitment to the original tone. Many highlighted Yuen Woo-ping’s action design as a reminder of why classic martial arts cinema once dominated Asian box offices.
Others felt emotionally disconnected, arguing that while the spectacle is impressive, the narrative rush prevents deeper attachment to the characters. A portion of manhua readers commented that the adaptation captures the “look” of Biao Ren but only partially conveys its layered storytelling.
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Despite the structural flaws, media consensus leans toward calling Blades of the Guardians an ambitious attempt to revitalise large-scale wuxia cinema at a time when the genre has struggled commercially. With its substantial investment, star power, and cinematic ambition, the film positions itself as more than nostalgia — it aims to modernise martial arts storytelling for today’s audience.
The real question now is whether strong word of mouth will carry it toward that projected 1.5 billion yuan mark.
Have you watched Blades of the Guardians yet? Did the adaptation do justice to the original manhua, or did the pacing issues hold it back?