Screening Room Movies at Home: “Insidious Chapter 2,” “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters,” “One Direction: This is Us”

1) Insidious: Chapter 2 (PG-13)
FilmDistrict

RUSS
“Insidious: Chapter 2” is the sequel to filmmaker James Wan’s successful 2011 horror flick about ghosts and astral projection. Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne return as a young couple that attempts to protect their children from specters who have invaded the realm of the living.

SHAWN
Jame’s Wan is flat out a horror master and has produced a worthy sequel that’s the most horrifying movie of the year.

RUSS
Director Wan throws every classic horror cliché at us, but he knows how to build tension and, for the most part, the formula works.

SHAWN
The extras are clever and super interactive and include an on set Q and A, 3-Part Webisode and a behind the scenes tour.

RUSS: 3 Popcorn Bags
SHAWN: 3 Popcorn Bags

2) Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (PG)
20th Century Fox

RUSS
Demigod Percy Jackson is no Harry Potter, no matter how hard he tries. “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters” is a modestly diverting fantasy sequel. There’s a lot of impressive eye candy in service of a middling story.

SHAWN
There is nothing spectacular or unbearable with this sequel. The visual effects out weigh the story. Half decent extras that feature a Back to Camp Half Blood featurette but no deleted scenes or director commentary.

RUSS: 2 Popcorn Bags
SHAWN: 3 Popcorn Bags

3) One Direction: This Is Us (PG)
Sony Pictures

RUSS
If you’ve never heard of One Direction, you obviously aren’t a preteen girl.

SHAWN
The key word is fun. The key phrase is respect the demo. And the target audience will enjoy this lighthearted, energetic and music intense look at the hottest boy band on the planet.

RUSS
“One Direction: This is Us is less a 3-D concert film than it is a feature length commercial for Simon Cowell’s product. But, it’s a modestly entertaining commercial. The five lads are likable enough and their catchy pop anthems are relatively painless for non-fans.

SHAWN
They follow the formula. Like every pop classic there are rules and this doc directed by Morgan Spurlock of all people follows all of them. Cha-ching. The bonus material is a true bonus. 20 minutes of new footage, 4 new songs, a ton of featurettes and many extended scenes. Just what every true fan wants — more, more, more!

RUSS: 3 Popcorn Bags
SHAWN: 3 Popcorn Bags