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Blades of the Guardians is a brilliant wuxia spectacle

Blades of the Guardians, directed by Hong Kong film legend Yuen Woo-ping, is often confusing and suffers from pacing issues. At times, you can tell when a set piece doesn't have enough room to breathe because the fights are noticeably less interesting. It also requires a certain level of familiarity and forgiveness for the tropes that come with this genre, especially as it trips over flashbacks that detract from the forward momentum.

由香港电影传奇人物 袁和平执导的《镖人》常常令人感到困惑，节奏把控也不尽如人意。有时，当某个场景片段没有足够的发挥空间时，观众能明显感觉到打斗场面变得索然无味。此外，该片还需要观众对这一类型影片的套路 有一定的熟悉度 和包容度，尤其是影片中频繁出现的闪回片段，严重削弱了 故事的推进感。

At the same time, it is a breathtaking spectacle and a triumph of wuxia cinema. For all its faults with plotting, Blades of the Guardians is less interested in the text itself and rather the emotion it evokes. The result is a timeless epic that makes the heart soar.

与此同时，这是一部令人叹为观止的奇观，也是武侠电影的一次胜利。尽管 在情节设计上存在诸多不足，《镖人》更关注的是其引发的情感共鸣，而非文本本身。最终呈现的是一部永恒的史诗，令人心潮澎湃。

The setup is simple: Dao Ma (Wu Jin) is a bounty hunter and wandering swordsman with a heart of gold. He travels with his ward from town to town looking for both easy scores and perhaps a bit of trouble. Around them, great machinations turn and turn as the regional powers seek greater control.

故事背景 很简单：刀马（吴京饰）是一位赏金猎人，也是浪迹天涯的 剑客，心地善良。他带着自己的徒弟 从一个城镇辗转到另一个城镇(走街串巷)，既想轻松赚点钱，又想找点乐子。在他们周围，各路势力的阴谋诡计 层出不穷，各方都在谋求更大的控制权。

One day, Dao Ma is tasked with escorting Zhi Shi Lang (Sun Yizhou), an important orator and symbol of the resistance, and Ayuya (Chen Lijun), the last of her clan, across enemy lines to safety. A move that one day could stoke the fires of an uprising and unsettle the power dynamic for good.

有一天，刀马受命 护送重要演说家、反抗运动的象征知世郎（孙艺舟）和她家族 最后的成员阿育娅（陈丽君）穿越敌军防线，前往安全地带。这一行动或许有一天会点燃起义的火焰，彻底打破 现有的权力格局。

On the road, they encounter Di Tin (Nicholas Tse), another swordsman traveling with his bounty, the trickster thief Yan Ziniang (Li Yunxiao). With both Dao Ma's troubled past and a crazed Khan, who believes himself the lawful husband to Ayuya, hot on their trail, the mismatched group agrees to work together, at least for now.

在路上，他们遇到 了谛听（谢霆锋饰），这位剑客带着他的赏金猎人同行——狡猾的 小偷燕子娘（李云霄饰）。由于刀马的过往纠葛以及自认为是阿育娅合法丈夫的疯狂 可汗紧追不舍，这个不搭调的 组合决定暂时 携手合作。

The story takes a bit to get going and a lot of it feels like spinning plates. There are names and titles everywhere, most of which don't matter. At one point, five entire families hunt our heroes culminating in an epic desert showdown where the only recognizable forces are our protagonists.

故事开头进展缓慢，很多情节都像是在忙乱地应付局面。到处都是名字和头衔，但大多数都无关紧要。在某个时刻，五大家族齐齐追捕我们的主人公，最终在沙漠中展开了一场史诗般的对决，而其中唯一能辨认出的势力就是我们的主角们。

But the important parts work, and that's important. When the action properly picks up, we understand the how's and why's of everyone on the road. It's smart and confident filmmaking in the grand tradition of the genre. You don't need much more than one distinct trait to build a memorable character, and everyone here understands that beautifully.

但关键部分都行得通，这很重要。当情节真正紧凑起来 时，我们就能明白路上每个人的行为方式和原因。这是在该类型影片的宏大传统中，聪明且自信的电影制作。塑造一个令人难忘的 角色，往往只需一个鲜明的特点，而这里每个人物都完美地诠释了这一点。

It's also a joy to see a master filmmaker like Yuen Woo-ping control his craft. The action is dazzling in scope and scale, not least because you can tell what's going on at every turn. It is character driven ballet that tells a story with each duel. There's an immense thrill to see legendary actors like Jet Li return to the stage for one last hurrah, especially as their action sequences show no signs of slowing down.

看到像袁和平这样的大师级电影人 掌控其技艺 也是一件乐事。动作场面在规模和气势上都令人目眩神迷，尤其是因为 每时每刻你都能明白发生了什么。这是一部由角色驱动的芭蕾舞剧，每一场决斗 都在讲述一个故事。看到像李连杰这样的传奇演员重返舞台，为观众奉献最后一场精彩表演，实在令人兴奋不已，尤其是他们的动作戏丝毫没有减缓的迹象。

For fans of the genre and its storied history, Blades of the Guardians delivers a grand lineup of stars who pop up in cameos both big and small. Tony Leung Ka Fai lends his gravitas to a dramatic part that could have easily ended up as set dressing. The ageless Kara Wai brightens the screen in a small but pivotal role. Even Yu Rongguang shows up to the party in a delightful cameo.

对于该类型影片及其传奇历史的粉丝来说，《镖人》汇聚了一众明星，他们以或大或小的客串* 角色亮相。梁家辉为一个本可能沦为背景板的角色赋予了沉稳的气质。不老 女神张曼玉在片中虽戏份不多，但角色却至关重要，为影片增色不少。就连于荣光也惊喜客串，令人眼前一亮。

Yet this isn't an exercise in nostalgia or vanity. Director Woo-ping understands the importance of passing on the torch, and it gives Blades of the Guardians a melancholy air that makes the visits from Hong Kong film royalty even more worthwhile. Everyone knows they can't hold on to their positions forever. Instead, Blades paves the way for the next generation of stars, each of whom rises up to the challenge.

然而，这并非怀旧 或自恋 之举。导演袁和平明白传承 的重要性，这使得《镖人》带有一丝忧郁的气息，也让香港电影界前辈们的客串更显珍贵。大家都知道，自己不可能永远占据高位。相反，《镖人》为下一代明星铺平了道路，他们每个人都勇敢地迎接 了挑战。

Then there are horse stunts, the incredible archery sequences, and a spectacular sword fight in a sandstorm. Everything from hammers and axes to knives and pots turn into weapons. There's a constant sense of escalation that makes every scene another shot at greatness. Halfway through the film, I made a note: "How are they going to top that?!"

接下来还有马术特技、令人惊叹的射箭 场景，以及一场在沙尘暴中进行的精彩 剑斗。从锤子、斧头到刀具、锅具，一切都能变成武器。影片始终有一种不断升级 的感觉，让每个场景都成为追求卓越的又一次尝试。影片过半时，我做了个笔记：“他们接下来要怎么超越 这个？”

At a little over two hours in length, Blades of the Guardians is both a bit too long and also frustratingly short. It's based on a manhua Biao Ren, written by Xu Xianzhe, and it feels like we've only seen a part of the story. Some characters feel superfluous and you can point out which fights didn't have enough time to capture the intensity they're going for.

《镖人》时长略超两小时，既显得冗长又让人觉得意犹未尽。该片改编自许先哲创作的漫画《镖人》，感觉我们只看到了故事的一部分。有些角色显得多余，而且有些打斗场面没有足够的时间来展现其应有的激烈程度。

But these are minor complaints of what is otherwise a spectacular picture. It is the work of an industry titan coming back to remind everyone how these things are done. A memory of a bygone world of cinema that others said didn't exist anymore. Yet here it is, as vibrant and brilliant as ever.

但这些只是对这部精彩影片的小瑕疵抱怨。这是电影界巨头 的回归之作，旨在提醒所有人这些事情该怎么做。它让人回忆起一个曾被认为不复存在的电影世界。然而，它就在这里，***一如既往地 ***充满活力和光彩。

You owe it to yourself to see it on the biggest screen possible.

你绝对值得在最大的银幕上见证这场传奇。

vocabulary 词汇​

guardians 监护人；守卫者，保护者；​

blades 刀锋；剑刃​

film legend 电影传奇人物​

noticeably less interesting 明显索然无味​

familiarity 熟悉度​

forgiveness 包容度​

tropes 套路；重要（或频频出现）的主题，一再重复的主题​

come with 附带，伴随​

trips over flashbacks 闪回场景打断了故事的推进​

"trips over flashbacks" 用"闪回打断叙事节奏" "trips over" 比喻“陷入或受挫于”；"flashbacks" 指“闪回情节”；

detract from 削弱，降低（价值或注意力）​

forward momentum 情节推进​

spectacle 奇观​

triumph 胜利​

for all 尽管​

For all its faults with plotting：介词短语作让步状语，表示尽管在情节设计上有缺陷，强调后文的转折。

for all its faults 尽管有种种缺点​

For all its flaws, the novel remains a classic.尽管有诸多瑕疵，这部小说仍是经典之作。

近义表达：despite its shortcomings（尽管有不足）｜in spite of its imperfections（尽管有缺陷）

反义表达：because of its strengths（因为其优点） ｜without any flaws（毫无缺点）

evoke 引起，激发​

timeless epic 永恒的史诗​

makes the heart soar 令人心潮澎湃​

setup 故事背景，设定​

bounty hunter 赏金猎人​

wandering 浪迹天涯的​

ward 徒弟​

machinations 阴谋; 诡计​

turn and turn 层出不穷; 轮番上演​

be tasked with 被赋予任务​

escort 护送​

orator 演说家​

resistance 反抗运动​

clan 家族​

stoke the fires of an uprising 点燃起义的火焰​

unsettle 打破，动摇​

power dynamic 权力格局​

encounter 遇到​

trickster 狡猾的​

troubled past 过往纠葛; 麻烦的过去；不堪回首的往事​

crazed 疯狂的​

hot on someone's trail 紧追不舍; 紧追某人；对某人穷追不舍​

mismatched 不搭调的​

at least for now 暂时​

take a bit to get going 开头进展缓慢​

直译为“需要时间启动”，这里意译为节奏缓慢，符合叙事类文本的常见表达。 “to get going”是不定式短语作目的状语，解释“需要”的目的，意为“开始/展开”。

take a bit to do something 需要一点时间来做某事​

The computer takes a bit to start up in the morning. 这台电脑早上启动需要一点时间。

get going 开始；启动；开展起来。​

We need to get going on the project before the deadline. 我们需要在截止日期前启动这个项目。

  • 近义表达：get started (开始)
  • 反义表达：come to a halt (停止)

spinning plates 忙乱地应付局面​

原指杂技中同时转多个盘子的表演，此处比喻情节分散或需兼顾多条线索，形象传达出故事结构的特点。

culminate in 以……告终；最终导致……​

showdown 对决​

  1. 决战
  • 近义词：confrontation，clash，battle，combat
  • 反义词：surrender，concede
  • The two boxers will have a showdown in the ring next week. (两位拳击手将于下周在擂台上决战。)
  • The final match of the tournament will be a tense showdown between the two top teams. (赛事的决赛将是两支顶尖队伍之间的激烈决战。)
  1. 展示
  • 近义词：display，exhibit，demshowdownonstration，presentation
  • 反义词：hide，conceal
  • The fashion designer held a runway show to showcase her latest collection. (时装设计师举办了一场时装秀，展示了她最新的系列。)
  • The technology company used their product launch as a big showdown to demonstrate their innovative features. (科技公司将他们的产品发布会作为一个大型展示来展示他们的创新特性。)

protagonists 主角们​

/prəˈtæɡənɪst/

  1. 主角、主人公
  • 近义词： lead, hero, central character
  • 反义词： antagonist
  • The protagonist of the movie is a young woman who struggles to find her place in the world. 这部电影的主角是一位年轻女性，她努力寻找自己的位置。
  • In the novel, the protagonist is a detective who sets out to solve a murder case. 在这本小说中，主人公是一位侦探，他着手解决一宗凶杀案。
  1. 拥护者、提倡者
  • 近义词： supporter, advocate, champion
  • 反义词： opponent
  • The politician's strong stance on environmental issues has earned her many loyal protagonists. 这位政治家对环境问题的强硬立场赢得了她许多忠实的拥护者。
  • The company's CEO is a protagonist of workplace diversity and inclusion. 这家公司的CEO是职场多元化和包容性的积极倡导者。

how's and why's 方式和原因; 来龙去脉​

是名词化的疑问词，指“方式和原因”。

The report explains the hows and whys of the new tax policy. 这份报告解释了新税收政策的来龙去脉。

filmmaking 电影制作​

memorable 令人难忘的​

master filmmaker 大师级电影人​

not least because 尤其因为 （体现递进关系）​

duel 决斗​

show no sign of 没有显示出…的迹象​

storied 传奇的​

lineup 人员名单​

pop up 出现​

cameo 客串​

gravitas 严肃性​

ageless 永恒的​

nostalgia 怀旧情绪​

vanity 虚荣心​

passing on the torch 传承​

melancholy air adj. （令人）悲哀的，（令人）沮丧的 /'mɛlənkɑli/​

royalty 权威​

pave the way for 为...铺平道路​

rise up to 奋起应对​

stunt 特技表演​

archery 射箭​

spectacular 壮观的​

escalation 升级，激化​

top 最高的​

frustatingly short 令人沮丧的短暂​

superfluous 多余的​

industry titan 行业巨头​

bygone 过去的​

vibrant 充满活力的​

as ever 和以前一样​

owe it to oneself to do something 认为自己有责任或有必要做某事（常含为自身利益着想之意）​

After years of hard work, she owed it to herself to take a long vacation. 多年辛勤工作后，她觉得有必要给自己放个长假。

  • 近义表达：deserve to do something（值得做某事）
  • 反义表达：neglect one's own needs（忽视自身需求）