Friday is approaching fast, and in anticipation of this weekend's new movie releases, here are some of my final thoughts and feelings about the new flicks before they hit theaters. On the menu this week: "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," "Julie & Julia" and "A Perfect Getaway."

Let me start with "G.I. Joe," which will certainly storm the box office and win the race without a problem. The action flick directed by Stephen Sommers opens at a solid 4,007 locations Friday, making it quite easy for the Paramount release to take the crown.

Although I used to not be excited about "Joe," the recent positive buzz surrounding the film kind of got me interested to find out what this one is all about. Earlier this week, Paramount announced critics would not get to see the flick, a move that usually involves films that suck.

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This week, we're looking at three wide releases: Stephen Sommers' "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" with Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum and Sienna Miller; Nora Ephron's "Julie & Julia" with Amy Adams and Meryl Streep; and David Twohy's thriller "A Perfect Getaway" with Timothy Olyphant and Milla Jovovich:

G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA

Synopsis: From the Egyptian desert to deep below the polar ice caps, the elite G.I. JOE team uses the latest in next-generation spy and military equipment to fight the corrupt arms dealer Destro and the growing threat of the mysterious Cobra organization to prevent them from plunging the world into chaos.

First thoughts: To tell you the truth, at first I wasn't too excited about this one, but now that I've seen some cool spots and I've heard some very positive feedback from folks who've seen it already, I admit I'll walk into the film expecting a bunch of entertaining action.

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Shawn Levy returns with "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian," which follows Ben Stiller as he embarks on a new mission at the Smithsonian. The cast also includes Owen Wilson, Amy Adams, Robin Williams, Bill Hader, and Ricky Gervais, and here is what the Web's critics have to say about the film:

• Ron Henriques at LatinoReview: "This sequel doesn't really feel like it has any real story, just a lame excuse to put Stiller back in the same situation again and having him run around a national institution like it was a toy store."

• CinemaBlend's Katey Rich: "So take your kids, enjoy the zooming action and the slightly nerdy reverence for the past, and try not to think about what this delightful concept might have been in the hands of a tighter, more aware director."

• Cinematical's Eric D. Snider: "You know how it goes: the plot is inane, but a lot of the dialogue makes you laugh."

• RopeOfSilicon's Brad Brevet: "The film has pretty colors, loud noises and a little monkey. I mean, what more could a kid want from a film?"

• Brian Orndorf at BrianOrndorf.com: "While only showing minimal overall improvement over the preceding museum adventure, 'Battle of the Smithsonian' at least finds a suitable resuscitation of the core concept.

This week, we're looking at three wide releases: McG's "Terminator Salvation" with Christian Bale; Shawn Levy's sequel "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" with Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson and Robin Williams; and Damien Wayans' comedy "Dance Flick" with Damon Wayans Jr. and Shoshana Bush:

TERMINATOR SALVATION

Synopsis: In 2018, after the world has been all but destroyed by a nuclear holocaust, the human resistance faces off against Skynet, a networked artificial intelligence bent on destroying what remains of humanity. Predestined resistance leader John Connor is having a hard time rising through the ranks, as his deep knowledge of Skynet makes other resistance members suspicious.

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