NEW MOVIES

Space Chimps [Ages 5-10]
Opens July 18; rated G
spacechimpspower.com
NASA goes bananas when three chimps sent into space to explore a black hole change course to save the inhabitants of an uncharted planet from a tyrannical leader. Voices in the animated feature belong to Andy Samberg, Jeff Daniels, Stanley Tucci and Cheryl Hines, among others.

Journey to the Center of the Earth
[Ages 6-14]
Opens July 11; rated PG
journey3dmovie.com
When a group of kids finds Jules Verne’s original manuscript for his book “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” they discover he actually took the trip himself. Using the manuscript as a map, they follow his course into the Earth’s core. Only Brendan Fraser and his co-stars aren’t computer-generated in this 3-D action-adventure.

The Dark Knight [Ages 12-17]
Opens July 18; PG-13
thedarkknight.com
Heath Ledger’s final completed work as The Joker could earn him a posthumous Oscar, but more importantly for Batman fans, he plays the main nemesis that drives the Dark Knight (returning Christian Bale) to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations plaguing Gotham City.


DVD RELEASES

Fireman Sam: To the Rescue
(Available July 1, not rated; ages
2-5): The favorite firefighter of small fry makes his U.S. DVD debut with this title, which contains five episodes from the courage-themed animated series originating in the UK.
Grade: B+

Nim’s Island
(July 29, rated PG; ages 8-13):
This is a clunky, overwrought movie that’s three stories in one and two too many. A young girl (Abigail Breslin) inhabits an isolated island with her scientist father and communicates with the reclusive author of the novel she’s reading. Grade: C+

Penelope
(July 15, PG; ages 7-14): Christina Ricci plays a girl cursed at birth with a pig snout. Will she find true love to break the curse? The box office dud of February sat on the shelf for two years. May the studio head who took it off the shelf be cursed with a pig snout, too. Grade: D

Picture This
(July 22, not rated, ages 7-14): Ashley Tisdale, the “High School Musical” co-star, grabs the spotlight  in this boring coming-of-age story about an unpopular senior who is asked out by the BMOC. Her overprotective dad tries to end the date before it begins. Money-saving tip: It airs for free on ABC Family; set your DVR for 8 p.m. July 13. Grade: C-

David Dickstein is a contributing writer.