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By The Inlander & r & & r & THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM


The second sequel in the Bourne series takes everything up a couple of notches, while revisiting the same territory that made the first two films so good. Matt Damon returns as the amnesia-suffering former CIA agent, regularly chased and shot at by his own people, for reasons that are eventually revealed. But there's also trouble between members of the CIA camp (David Strathairn, Joan Allen) who dislike each other. This is an excellent addition to the Bourne film catalogue. (ES) Rated PG-13





DADDY DAY CAMP


First there was Daddy Day Care, in which Eddie Murphy and Jeff Garlin started a daycare center. The film made so much money, another was ordered. Garlin was thrilled; Murphy was not and he dropped out. Now we've got Cuba Gooding Jr. in the Murphy part, and Paul Rae (who?) in the Garlin part. The title says it all, except for this: This marks the feature directorial debut of Fred Savage (The Wonder Years; he's 30 now). (ES) Rated PG





DOLPHINS


Flipper has never been this big. But then again, he has yet to make his big screen debut at the IMAX. Greg MacGillivray's documentary reads like a children's book then transitions into an insightful look into the everyday lives of the loveable sea mammals. The movie tags along with a group of researchers exploring the minds and patterns of more than 40 different varieties of dolphin. (KM) Not Rated





HAIRSPRAY


There have been plenty of big, splashy musicals in recent years, but why are they always so grim? This one, about teens in Baltimore in the early '60s, is incredibly happy, and heck, John Travolta plays a 350-pound woman! It's about mother-daughter relationships, husband-wife relationships, times of racial change, all celebrated in catchy song and dance. Yes, there is such thing as a feel-good movie. (ES) Rated PG





HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX


The best Potter to date makes the previous, comparatively bloated entry almost forgettable. This streamlined version of the immense fifth book picks up with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) threatened with expulsion from Hogwarts for using his magic in public. The ever-sprawling story relies less on the friendships among him, Hermione (Emma Watson), and Ron (Rupert Gint), and more on a transformation from fantasy to horror, with politics thrown in. (ES) Rated PG-13





HURRICANE ON THE BAYOU


Katrina can be discussed in human, social and political terms in forums ranging from political roundtables to Spike Lee films. But Hurricane on the Bayou examines the hurricane as an ecological issue. Beginning as a documentary about the Mississippi Delta, the filmmakers end up turning their IMAX cameras on Katrina as an example of a worst-case scenario. (MD) Not Rated; no deaths are depicted





I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY


Two FDNY firefighters must pretend they're gay to keep their benefits. The reason that firefighters Chuck (Adam Sandler) and Larry (Kevin James) are pretending to be gay doesn't make much sense, but why should it? It's merely the entire plot. But the most important lesson of all is that Sandler and James are not themselves homosexuals. (BK) Rated PG-13





KNOCKED UP


A story of a slacker who gets an ambitious entertainment reporter preggers, Knocked Up is a nice commentary on the current state of the family. Writer/director Judd Apatow's male characters are enthralling, especially Pete (Paul Rudd). His women lack dimension but the casting choices (Katherine Heigl and Leslie Mann specifically) add depth and warmth. (LB) Rated PG





NO RESERVATIONS


The workaholic, humorless chef (Catherine Zeta-Jones) takes time off to become the guardian of her recently orphaned niece (Abigail Breslin). While she's out, the restaurant hires a happy, freewheeling chef (Aaron Eckhart) to cover for her. When she returns, he stays, and the story turns into a sort of emotional food fight, with him worshipping her, and her despising him. Too many story changes, without any explanations, spoil the broth. And everything comes out just as you think it will. (ES) Rated PG





RATATOUILLE


Brad Bird, the genius behind the animated films The Iron Giant and The Incredibles, returns with a Pixar film about a food-loving rat in Paris who turns out to be a great chef, and becomes the brains behind the new concoctions at a restaurant that's popular, but has seen better days. It has exquisite visuals, superb voice acting, and a lovely story about the importance of friendship and family. It's also a riot. (ES) Rated G





RUSH HOUR 3


Another sequel. Too bad there was nothing very funny amid the action of the first two to merit this one Jackie Chan's Inspector Lee is having a bad time of protecting a Chinese ambassador when recently demoted detective Chris Tucker tries to get back with his partner to help. He gets in the way. With cameos by Max von Sydow and Roman Polanski, slumming. (ES) Rated PG-13





SICKO


The best thing about this Michael Moore documentary is that there's less Michael Moore. He takes a back seat and lets a comparison of our f-ed up health system to others around the world take center stage. Many of the Moore-ian pratfalls still exist, though. Rather than presenting and disputing counter arguments, homeboy just ignores them. That won't win him converts, but he's always preferred preaching to the choir. It's probably too much to ask that he lose his ego and gain real rhetorical chops in one film. (LB) Playing the Panida Theater in Sandpoint Aug 16, 17 & amp; 18. Rated PG-13





SKINWALKERS


Skinwalkers wins the contest for creepiest horror title of the summer, though it's not immediately obvious that this is a werewolf film. The skinwalkers (taking their name from Navajo demons) of the title are shape-shifters who eat human flesh, lending a suitably gruesome supporting cast to a film in which two warring groups fight over a prophetic 13-year-old boy. (MD) Rated R





THE SIMPSONS MOVIE


The Simpsons Movie is just about as funny as four of the television episodes. So what's the point? Nostalgia basically, but with a bigger budget, higher stakes, larger scale, in-jokes galore... and, strangely, an actual plot. If nothing else, 18 years have taught Matt Groening and his team of 10 other writers the cynicism that builds when a beloved show runs a decade too long. It's exactly what we should have expected. That means, I guess it's all we could have honestly hoped. (LB) Rated PG-13





STARDUST


A magical, comedy-laced fantasy about some people in long-ago England searching for a star that has fallen to Earth and taken human form (Claire Danes). If one of the rotten sons of a dying king finds it, he'll be the heir. If an evil old witch (Michelle Pfeiffer) gets it, she'll stay young and make life miserable for all. If a wide-eyed and innocent lad (Charlie Cox) retrieves it, he'll win the hand of the woman he thinks is his true love. Fabulous special effects, a terrific story and some scenery chewing by Robert De Niro. (ES) Rated PG-13





SUNSHINE


The sun ain't working, and it's up to a team of scientists in a ridiculous-looking ship to restart it with a massive bomb. Although following the same rough plotline (though a different celestial body) as a certain bloated Hollywood blockbuster, Sunshine seems more philosophical and terrifying than action-packed. More Solaris and Event Horizon than The Core. (LB) Rated R





TRANSFORMERS


Autobots and Decepticons descend to Planet Earth to continue their longtime battle and search for a missing source of power. It's one of those good-versus-evil things. But Earth's occupants don't have much to do but get out of the way of these huge machines that can convert into cars, trucks and planes. Directed by Michael Bay. Much eye-popping devastation and unexpected humor. (ES) Rated PG-13