As everyone knows, February is International Kung Fu Month, so in the spirit of this complete fabrication of a remembrance, here are my favorite all-time Kung Fu movies. I’m something of an expert on the subject.

#5 – Enter the Dragon (1973)/Return of the Dragon (1972) – Neither of these movies are exceptional except insomuch as Bruce Lee is the reason we all know what Kung Fu is. And honestly, one has a handless guy who straps a knife-claw to his nub, and the other one has Chuck Norris. Score!

#4 – A Touch of Zen (1969) – This movie was Crouching Tiger long before there was a Crouching Tiger. Every element in every subsequent Kung Fu art movie owes to the cinematography here.

#3 – Hero (2002) – The plot is convoluted, but that’s incidental to things looking pretty and people wielding swords. The first fight, between the Jet Li and Donnie Yen, is one of the finest ever.

#2 – The Five Deadly Venoms (1978) – This is the quintessential Shaw Brothers movie. Shaw Brothers movies are at once terrible and spectacular, but the charisma of the actors who play the venoms (and who would reunite in countless films), and their martial arts prowess make this the one to watch.

#1 – Mystery of Chess Boxing (1979) – This film is sometimes titled as Ninja Checkmate for American audiences, despite the distinct lack of ninjas. Stupid Americans. Normal Kung Fu plot. Normal training to defeat the super Kung Fu villain. Oh, but what a villain. Ghost Faced Killer (yes, this is where the rapper got his name) is the best villain in the long, celebrated history of villainy.

For those of you wishing to increase your Kung Fu I.Q., here are a few honorable mentions: The 36 Chambers of Shao Lin (1978), Dragon Inn (1992), Iron Monkey (1993), Once Upon a Time in China I & II (1991 & 1992), Drunken Master II (1993), Fearless (2006), Master of the Flying Guillotine (1978). That should get you started.