If you're not a martial arts movie fan, you probably have one reason for that -- everything always looks the same. Same plot lines, same action moves and said canned, cheesy lines. However, that's part of the charm and magic of kung fu movies. There's just something about eating take out and watching kung fu movies that has a certain place in the world -- not that we're all that certain what that place is -- but there IS a place for good kung fu movies.

So, whether you're a hardcore fan or just getting started, why not plan out a great movie marathon night centered on kung fu? If you're not sure where to begin, check out these 8 kung fu movies that are actually really fun to watch.

1. Drunken Master



We have to start out with the all time classic "Drunken Master". We have to. It's a law, right up there with mentioning Rocky when you're talking about sports movies and Casablanca when you're talking about romance movies. It's just one of those movies that represent an entire genre without really even trying. This is actually the film that really put Jackie Chan on the map. And by the way, in case you're wondering -- yes, there really is a "drunken" style of kung fu. We promise.

2. Hero



If you're a Jet Li fan, this is one movie that blends high drama with excellent martial arts skills. You'll definitely feel for the story, as it's told in backwards mode -- about a time where China wasn't even China, but a loose band of groups that suddenly became one nation. Whether or not the story is actually accurate isn’t the point -- leave your history book at home and just enjoy the film for what it is.

3. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin



If you really want to see a lot of martial arts packed into one movie, this is definitely the movie that you need to see. It's all about the journey of a student into a real master -- a journey that so many have taken but few have actually succeeded. Still, the journey is worth watching, and there are a few twists and turns that really make the movie worth seeing at least two times.

4. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon



Look, before you go off in the comments about how cheesy this movie was, hear us out. CT, HD was all about the story -- and that's something that's pretty rare for a martial arts movie. The action scenes were fierce, but the story is what holds a special place on this list more than anything else. If you want the perfect blend of story and action, this is definitely the movie that you want to see. OK, now you can sound off in the comments :)

5. Unleashed



We had to include another Jet Li movie here, merely because it's over the top in terms of action. If you like a lot of action -- and we do mean lots of action -- you have to pick up unleashed. You just have to. There's no way that you skip over something as awesome as Jet Li taking out scores of people simply because they removed a training collar from his neck. The way he plays the uncaged, crazy killer is absolutely spectacular.

6. Brotherhood of the Wolf



This one is a bit newer, but it's still been quite a few years since this movie came out. It features Mark Dacascos, who you might remember from the American version of Iron Chef. However, Dacascos really sparkles in this film, with enough horror and action to keep you interested no matter what you're looking for. Of course, if horror isn’t your thing, you might want to give one a pass until you've gotten your composure back.

7. Equilibrium



Hey, when you create an entire new form of martial arts for a movie, you know that you're going to be in for a good time -- and do we ever mean it! You have Christian Bale in the lead role, doing interesting and incredible martial arts that even include gunplay. If you like a mixture of martial arts styles as well as some heavy machinery in the gun department, this is definitely a movie that you should be able to get behind with no problems.

8. Ong Bak



This is a movie that's a lot different from other martial arts films. First and foremost, it's a Thai film, where most people are only familiar with Chinese martial arts films. But it includes Tony Jaa, a master of the martial arts. Muay Thai films got their 15 minutes in the spotlight and then some thanks to Tony Jaa's amazing feats and hard hitting performance.

Okay, okay -- we could have come up with more than eight films. Naturally, you'll probably have a few disagreements with the movies on our list. It's pretty hard to come up with a list of great martial arts movies, especially when you stop to think about how large the overall database really is. Even if we expanded the list to 100, or even 200, we would still be leaving off a lot of great movies. Thankfully, we have a powerful ally in this fight for good movies -- you! Tell us what movies you would have to name as the best kung fu movies around -- we're listening!

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