This week's new movie releases - Feb. 13, 2009

We're only looking at three wide releases this week: "Confessions of a Shopaholic" with Isla Fisher, Marcus Nispel's horror remake "Friday the 13th" and Tom Tykwer's thriller "The International" with Clive Owen and Naomi Watts. Let's take a closer look:

CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC

Synopsis: Rebecca Bloomwood is a sweet and charming New York City girl who has a tiny, little problem that is rapidly turning into a big problem: she's hopelessly addicted to shopping and drowning in a sea of debt. While Rebecca has dreams of working for a top fashion magazine, she can't quite get her foot in the door -- that is, until she snags a job as an advice columnist for a new financial magazine published by the same company.

First thoughts: I didn't read the books and probably never will, but I heard the stories of Rebecca Bloomwood are funny and charming. The trailer, at least, looks entertaining, and Isla Fisher seems like the perfect actress to play an eccentric shopaholic trying to turn her life around.

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FRIDAY THE 13TH

Synopsis: Searching for his missing sister, Clay Miller heads up to the eerie woods of legendary Crystal Lake, where he stumbles on the creaky remains of rotting old cabins behind moss-covered trees. And that's not the only thing lying in wait under the brush. Against the advice of police and cautions from the locals, Clay pursues what few leads he has in the search for his missing sister, Whitney, with the help of Jenna, a young woman he meets among a group of college kids up for an all-thrills weekend. But they are all about to find much more than they bargained for.

First thoughts: Michael Bay-produced horror flicks usually stink, and I admit I am not particularly looking forward to the new "Friday the 13th." I'm sure the film will boast a nice look and all, but will it be scary and surprising? I doubt it.

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THE INTERNATIONAL

Synopsis: Interpol Agent Louis Salinger and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman are determined to bring to justice one of the world's most powerful banks. Uncovering myriad and reprehensible illegal activities, Salinger and Whitman follow the money from Berlin to Milan to New York to Istanbul. Finding themselves in a high-stakes chase across the globe, their relentless tenacity puts their own lives at risk as their targets will stop at nothing -- even murder -- to continue financing terror and war.

First thoughts: One of my buddies saw this flick in Berlin and enjoyed it, and I usually share his enthusiasm when it comes to new releases. Tykwer certainly has the ability to pull off a fast-paced thriller, and with Owen and Watts on board in the leads, things look pretty good at this stage.