Blades of the Guardians

What it’s about

During the final years of the Sui Empire, Dao Ma, a bounty hunter and the second most wanted fugitive, lives in hiding with a child. The chief of the Mo clan, his benefactor, asks him to escort the country's most wanted criminal, a rebel leader, to the capital Chang'an. Joined by a warrior woman and the village chief's daughter, Dao Ma sets out across a land where hired swords pursue them.

What hooks you

Directed by Yuen Woo-Ping, the film stars Wu Jing as Dao Ma, with Chen Lijun as Ayuya and Nicholas Tse Ting-Fung as Di Ting. The screenplay is by Chan Tai-Li and Su Chaobin, and the music is by William Wu and Steffen Thum.

Who it’s for

It is worth a look for anyone who enjoys historical epics with martial arts choreography, or who likes stories of reluctant heroes and dangerous journeys through a richly imagined ancient China.