LayarHijau – The epic martial arts film Blades of Guardians (镖人：风起大漠 – Biao Ren: Feng Qi Da Mo) has drawn significant attention from Chinese media following its premiere on February 17, 2026. Outlets including Sohu published in-depth reviews of the film, which quickly rose to third place at the box office, behind Pegasus 3 and Scare Out, earning 220 million yuan. Industry forecasts estimate the film could eventually gross up to 1.5 billion yuan.
Blades of Guardians follows Dao Ma, a bounty hunter who is also the second most wanted fugitive. He is tasked by the head of the Mo clan with escorting a mysterious target across perilous territory. Set during the turbulent transition between the Sui and Tang dynasties, the story unfolds against a backdrop of political unrest and shifting power. The film is directed by acclaimed action filmmaker Yuen Woo-ping, widely recognized for his expertise in martial arts choreography.
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The movie is adapted from the popular manhua Biao Ren by Xu Xianzhe, also known internationally as Blades of the Guardians. The original comic is known for its stark black-and-white artwork, gritty tone, and unconventional narrative structure. Rather than following the romanticized style often associated with traditional wuxia stories, it presents a harsher and more grounded vision of the martial arts world.
In its review, Sohu praised the film’s strongest achievement: its effective transition from comic to cinema. While many adaptations fall into the trap of copying panels directly, Blades of Guardians was commended for translating the source material’s powerful visual language into dynamic cinematic storytelling.
One example highlighted was Ayuya’s revenge scene set amid a raging sandstorm. In the manhua, her anger is conveyed through an intense close-up, whereas the film expands the emotional scale through wide shots that use the vast sandstorm itself to externalize her fury. Several action sequences were also noted as original creations for the film, including the fiery duel between Dao Ma and Shu, the sandstorm confrontation between Dao Ma and Diting, and the opening sequence featuring Jet Li, Zhang Jin, and Wu Jing.
However, Sohu also pointed out weaknesses in narrative structure. The 126-minute runtime reportedly condenses material equivalent to 15 animated episodes, resulting in uneven pacing. Several key characters appear without sufficient development. Shu, who plays a more substantial role in the original work, sees many of his scenes reduced, while Pei Xingyan functions primarily as a plot device. Even the fateful conflict between Dao Ma and Diting is addressed only briefly through dialogue rather than explored in depth.
Despite these shortcomings, Sohu concluded that Blades of Guardians represents a bold and ambitious effort to reinvigorate large-scale martial arts cinema at a time when traditional wuxia films have been in decline. With its substantial investment and high production values, the film is regarded as a serious attempt to modernize the genre for contemporary audiences.
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