Blades Of The Guardians (NC16)

127 minutes, now showing in cinemas ★★★★☆

The story: Wandering swordsman Dao Ma (Chinese actor Wu Jing) travels the Western wastelands, pocketing rewards for capturing wanted men. Warlords and rebels seek his services in their fight against cruel Sui dynasty officials, but he refuses, choosing to lie low so he can protect a child under his charge. His friend, tribal leader Lao Mo (Tony Leung Ka Fai), gives him a mission: Escort a mysterious masked scholar – a wanted man – to the city of Changan accompanied by his daughter, the deadly archer Ayuya (Chen Lijun). It is not long before the riders are beset by bandits, bounty hunters and Diting (Nicholas Tse), a swordsman holding a strange grudge against Dao Ma.