Every day I feel like I’m turning more and more into my dad. I sneeze obnoxiously loud like him. I’m starting to get some gray hairs. I even sit at the dinner table the same way he does after eating — with my arms crossed over my chest and a sleepy look on my face. I imagine one day I’ll just wake up and find I’m a mini version of him (I’m technically taller than him so maybe a slightly bigger version? I don’t know but you get what I mean!)

One of the more recent dad-isms I’ve developed has involved watching one of his favorite kinds of movies: martial arts films. While I haven’t quite gotten into mobster movies yet like him — a story for another time when I inevitably do — I have been really enjoying films that include martial arts. Mainly the more comedic ones, but some serious ones here and there. Here’s a small helping of some of my favorites so far.

Shaolin Soccer (2004)

To kick things off, I’m starting with Shaolin Soccer for one simple reason: it combines my dad’s love for martial arts movies with his lifelong passion for soccer, a sport he played seriously for many years growing up.

In this movie, Shaolin kung fu master Sing — played by director Stephen Chow — teams up with former soccer star “Golden Leg” Fung to challenge Team Evil to a game of soccer, using the power of martial arts to pull off some over-the-top stunts, score some goals, and share the powers of Shaolin kung fu with the world.

With some funny dialogue, a goofy plot, and over-the-top special effects, this engaging movie provides quite a few laughs from start to finish. I can see why this was one of my dad’s favorites now.

Kung Fu Hustle (2005)

Somehow even more ridiculous than Shaolin Soccer, director Stephen Chow hits it out of the park again with another humorous martial arts movie.

The story follows Sing — played by director Stephen Chow again — who wants to become a member of the Axe Gang, an infamous group terrorizing many. There’s one problem though — he’s not very intimidating or good at fighting. Through Sing’s journey to try and overcome these issues, he comes to realize he may just be one of the most impressive kung fu masters around, here to use his powers to protect people rather than wreak havoc.

While the plot is not as engaging as Shaolin Soccer, it makes up for it with even more ridiculous stunts that keep you in awe. There are hops, leaps, and other astounding feats of imaginative stunt choreography that keep you watching, waiting for the next thing to happen.

Kung Pow: Enter the Fist (2002)

One of my sisters was responsible for showing me this movie at a young age and, funnily enough, I ended up watching the movie again while I was at her house cat-sitting. I saw a copy of the movie on her shelf — probably the same one I watched all those years ago — and had just as great of a time as I did the first time.

The movie takes footage from Tiger & Crane Fists, an old martial arts film from Hong Kong, and adds new footage to create a plot different from the original. In this newly created plot, a man known only as The Chosen One is on a journey to face Master Pain, fueled by his desire to get revenge on him for killing his parents. He fights many enemies on his path, including a cow trained in the martial arts.

Getting a 13% on rotten tomatoes from critics, this is one of those kinds of movies that’s so bad it’s good. So, while you might not expect the most compelling plot, I think you’ll end up getting some laughs out of it.

Enter the Dragon (1973)

A list of Kung Fu movies would not be complete without a film featuring Bruce Lee. Enter The Dragon, widely regarded by many as one of the greatest martial arts films of all time, was Bruce Lee’s final film completed before his unexpected early death. The movie was released in the U.S. in August of 1973, just one month after his passing.

In the film, Lee, a martial arts instructor at the Shaolin Temple, is sent by a British intelligence agent to find Han, a former Shaolin monk turned crime lord. Going in disguise as a participant in a martial arts tournament held on Han’s private island, Lee’s quest turns into one of revenge when he learns Han is responsible for ordering the death of his sister by one of his bodyguards. With the help of other operatives on the same mission, Lee learns more about Han’s dubious acts.

Aside from Bruce Lee, the cast includes other greats like John Saxon and Jim Kelly — for which this film was his breakthrough role. And, despite being from the 70s, the movie still feels surprisingly fresh, a feat even more impressive considering they had to film it on a very tight budget. Enter the Dragon has some great fight scenes, including a thrilling final fight that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

If you’re into superhero movies, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a great way to get your dose of superhero flicks with some martial arts along the way.

The story follows Shang-Chi as he and his sister Xialing search for a mythical village. All the while, he faces his past and fights against the Ten Rings organization, a mysterious group founded by his father who acquired an ancient artifact many centuries ago.

Being a Marvel movie, there’s some beautiful scenery and great CGI graphics to enjoy. On top of that, there are some beautifully choreographed fight scenes made even more thrilling with some great camera work. There’s also a bit of humor mixed into the film, providing some comic relief when things get tense.

So, there you have it, viewer; a couple of my recent favorite martial arts films. I hope you enjoyed it and that we meet again. I’m sure I’ll be more like my dad than I can even imagine by then.