Why the hate for this one?
I was a kid when watching all the HP movies for the first time, but I always remembered part 4 (book and movie) was the best.
Everybody is talking so great about part 3, but to me it's such a lame movie and book. I didn't like it as a kid, just because it had no Voldemort. This made part 4 an instant hit for me, since he was present again and in a very big and more evil way too.
Cuaron has a great style and did a good job on Azkaban, but I don't really think it's a suited style for Harry Potter in general.
Favorites (best to worst):
Halfblood Prince (Visually great, big pay-off, very dark, great built-up to the finale)
Goblet of Fire (very dark and big scenes for Voldemort)
Hallows P.1 (I just love the style and the change in the franchise)
Order of the Phoenix (Visually great, entertaining movie)
Hallows P.2 (the battle is so "small", it does have a good pay-off, but it's lacking in so many parts, especially for a book that was split into two movies. They should have killed some Dobby screen time and add extra's to the battle. I felt like they good have made it so much bigger.)
Azkaban (no big pay-off, don't care/not well explained Patronus, terrible CGI werewolf)
Chamber of Secrets (kiddy)
Sorcerer's stone (kiddy)
Part 1 & 2 were great, but they are just a little kiddy. I don't really want to include them. It's a shame to put them last. They are great, but just different from the rest of the series.
1+1 = you really had to check?