In honor of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" opening last week, let's talk Potter. I wanted to write something on The Boy Who Lived, and after a recent viewing of all the films, I've found myself ranking them subconsciously when I think about them. Disclaimer: I have tons of problems with some of these movies, but in the end, we were lucky to get movies at all, so this won't be the "Everything Wrong with the Harry Potter Movies" article. That will come later. I am by far a much larger book fan than a movie fan when it comes to Potter, but for the remainder of this article, let's just sit back and have a conversation about what made some of these movies great, and what made some of them as unforgivable as the Cruciatus Curse. Starting from worst to best, here is my ranking:

8. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"

I think most people have Goblet relatively low on their lists. What turned out to be one of the most exciting and lengthy books in the series was turned into a strange mess of long hair, lost plot points, and yet, great casting by director Mike Newell. To this movie's advantage, we were given some great new characters in the "Goblet of Fire" book. Brendan Gleeson brings Mad-Eye Moody straight from page to screen with a tough and grizzled persona, while Ralph Fiennes portrays a chilling and soft spoken Lord Voldemort, whose graveyard scene is one of the best in the movie. I've always thought that Daniel Radcliffe's acting in this movie is superb. When they arrive back at Hogwarts after Cedric is killed, Daniel is clutching his body with the fierce intensity and blinding confusion that Harry is supposed to have. The special effects in this movie continue to blow me away, particularly the dragon, who's skeletal back shows the intense attention to detail that went into creating him. Maybe it's turning Durmstrang into an all boys school and turning Beubaxtons into an all girls school(WHY?) or perhaps the strange tonal shifts that are often signified by a gong (a little on the nose) or Michael Gambon's "HARRY DID YEH PUT YER NAME IN THE GOBLET OF FIYAHH??" but this movie doesn't work for me. Stay down here at the bottom Goblet, we're gonna move on. And it's not me, it's you.

7. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

"Wahh? Pat! They're just kids, you can't have it this low!" Sorry, but "Chamber" is probably my least favorite book too. Again, let's talk about what works first. Kenneth Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart is some of the best casting in the entire series. He's charmingly stupid and plays narcissism better than anyone. Though Lockhart was one of few new characters in this film we found ourselves face to face with a few new creatures, and director Chris Columbus shows us the power of practical effects. The basilisk and its towering form still leave me in awe, and Columbus is clearly proud of the creature they've built, as he gives plenty of fully body shots in the battle. The audience has been waiting two hours to see a giant snake, so let's show it to them! Not to be outdone, Aragog's hulking form of a giant spider is sure to bring arachnophobes to tears as the giant set piece clicks and hisses at Ron and Harry. But I just don't care about this story. Sure, we get to see a horcrux before we know it's a horcrux, but the whole thing still feels like the origin story we got with "Sorcerer's Stone". "Chamber" gives us a nice sense of nostalgia, but I think it's safe to leave it this low.

6. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2"

I feel like I'm gonna get grief for this one. Look, it was a great premier. Sure, I cried 18 times during the movie (real statistic) but there's a lot of cringe-worthy stuff that this movie missed. Can we start with confetti Voldy? It's so important that Voldemort dies like a normal person in the books. It points to the fact that he was human in the end. He was never going to be this immortal being, and all the murder he committed was in vain. He was mortal. He was always Tom Riddle. One of my biggest problems with this movie is a scene that a lot of people gloss over. During the Gringotts breakout, Harry and the rest of his crew watch as a goblin is burnt to a crisp by a dragon. It's meant to be a slapstick gag, but it angers me every time. Harry would NEVER let this happen. Remember his "saving people thing" that Hermione talks about in book five? Remember the idea of love, and how in the end that's what he has over Voldemort? His love and need to protect people, even Draco Malfoy? That scene alone was enough to turn me off of this movie, it showed me that the makers of the film hardly understood Harry. Without going into too much detail about the awful CGI that they used to age the trio, I'll just say: no 30-year-old looks as old as they made them look. To this movie's advantage, Alexandre Desplat provided an incredible score that is extremely moving and fitting to signal the end of a saga. Though I'm not a Snape lover, Alan Rickman's performance during the flashbacks are superb. His acting pulled more emotion for me towards Snape than the books did. That's saying something. Not a bad end to the series, but I think "Deathly Hallows Part 2" belongs on the bottom half. Onto the next one.

5. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"

The one that started it all. Just because this movie is still on the bottom half of the list, it doesn't mean I hate it. Chris Columbus captured the tone of the Wizarding World perfectly with colorful costumes and sets, and an adventurous score by John Williams sings the tune of the adventure viewers are about to embark on. Richard Harris emits wisdom and power as Dumbledore, and we found out in this movie that Maggie Smith truly was professor McGonagall. Sure, some of the effects in this movie truly show their age when you go back and revisit this film, but the sheer wonder and awe that this movie conveys is second to none. I'll never forget seeing the shot of Hogwarts as the first years ride the boats to the castle in theaters all those years ago. From book to screen, this movie does accuracy pretty well, though a few things are changed. It's a fantastic beginning to the series.

4. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1"

Boy is this movie good. The movie that began the end, "Deathly Hallows Part 1" shows how far the series has come as a whole. With nice quiet scenes of dialogue and long shots of the trio traveling in the great wide world, we truly get the feeling that this isn't your average Potter film. We're definitely not in Kansas anymore. Er...Hogwarts...you know what I mean. "DH Part 1" is, in my opinion, the best-adapted movie in the entire series. They hit everything spot on, and do it with such nice reserve, that this at sometimes feels like an indie British film. It would be folly if I didn't mention "The Tale of the Three Brothers." The shadow puppet illustrations that bring the story to life are truly haunting, and each movement blends swiftly into the next scene. It's a scene unlike any other in the Potter series, but works perfectly for the moment. "DH Part 1" also has one of the few added scenes that I adore (we'll get to the other one later). After Ron has left, Harry and Hermione dance. It's not romantic, and it's not supposed to suggest anything, it just shows that after seven years of friendship and near death experiences, Harry understands Hermione, and knows how to cheer her up. It's a scene that adds nothing to the plot, but is extremely near and dear to my heart. God bless director David Yates and is Harry/Hermione shipping. But before there was Yates, there was Alfonso Cuarón.

3. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"

The third installment of the series, directed stunningly by Alfonso Cuarón, ALMOST snagged the number two spot. With some of the most beautiful camera work in the saga, "Prisoner" stands out amongst the other films. John Williams created his most unique score yet, using a harpsichord to convey the more sinister moments, and utilizing the idea that Hogwarts may have a choir to write some original vocal parts. David Thewlis joins the cast as Remus Lupin (MY FAVORITE CHARACTER) and plays him as a warm and caring father figure for Harry. Gary Oldman plays a convincing madman, and quickly switches to a likable rogue once we learn the truth about Sirius Black. And finally, Timothy Spall nails the role of Peter Pettigrew, with some of the best makeup in the series. An animatronic Buckbeak steals the show as a proud hippogriff, and the effects on Lupin's transformation are unlike any other in cinematic history. Instead of a gruesome monster, Lupin transforms into a pitiful werewolf, who is almost gollum-like in his appearance. However, the fact that this movie completely neglects the Marauders subplot deters it from clenching a higher position. Sorry Alfonso, it's back to David Yates.

2. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"

David Yates makes his debut as director in the Potter franchise with this film. This movie has its problems. There are a few plot holes (which do not exist in the book) and they left Grawp, of all things into the movie. Grawp adds nothing to the book and even less to the movie. I would have much rather they had shown Cho and Harry's first date than show Grawp, but I digress. "Order" is my favorite in the book series and the movie nails exactly what I love. The rebellion. Just like the tagline says, the students of Hogwarts rebel against the ministry and Professor Umbridge, who is played flawlessly by Imelda Staunton. The film smartly uses newspapers to do scene transitions, and at the same time show the propaganda and smearing that the ministry is putting out for the public. Evanna Lynch plays a perfect Luna, and creates a version that is, dare I say, almost better than the book version. And then there's the death scene. Upon Sirius' death, the film cuts out the sound and just shows Harry screaming. His eyes are tightly shut and the veins in his neck are bulging as he struggles against Lupin, trying to get to the last family he has left. The lore is that the scream Daniel Radcliffe let out was too intense, so they cut the sound. I don't know whether or not that's true, but it adds to the fierce emotion in that scene. And now, for the one we've all been waiting for!

1. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"

Taking the number one spot is "Half-Blood"! Sure, there's the added scene where the Burrow is...yah know...destroyed, but that is the kind of add-in that works. It's not going to kill off any characters, it just heightens the danger surrounding the wizarding world, and reminds that audience that we are at war in this movie. Michael Gambon is surprisingly bearable as Dumbledore in this movie, and takes a slightly more loony approach to the old headmaster. Jim Broadbent, one of my favorite actors, brings Horace Slughorn to life in a performance that is nothing short of perfect. Now let's get to the best add-in scene in the series. In a monologue, Slughorn tells Harry the story of a fish that his mother gave to him, and the magic the fish had. It's a short and simple scene, but is absolutely beautiful. Broadbent brings a sympathetic view to Slughorn that I never felt in the books. Daniel Radcliffe gives a career best performance as Harry when he is walking around excitedly after drinking some "Liquid Luck" and Rupert Grint plays Ron in his most hilarious state after consuming a love potion. The quidditch scenes in this movie are fresh with wild camera work, and they take an entirely new approach to the sport. And with what is possibly the greatest score in the franchise, Nicholas Hooper sets the tone of each scene with a practiced elegance. Seriously, go listen to "Farewell Aragog" and try not to cry.

These movies changed directors and styles throughout the years, but I think that is a part of what makes this franchise so unique. The movies have their own distinct beauty, although I prefer the books any day. Still, as JK Rowling said, "Whether it is by page or the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home." *sobs* That's all for me now! What's your favorite Potter film? Agree with my list? Hate my list? Team Harris or Team Gambon? Do you ship Harry and Hermione like Yates does? Let me hear your thoughts!