MPR Movie Maven and Cube Critic Stephanie Curtis talks to Steve Seel and Jill Riley about the next installment in The Hobbit trilogy, the films being based on the book by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Directed by Peter Jackson, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan) and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) on an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.

Stephanie, Steve and Jill talk about this latest release and about trilogies in general. They also compare notes on seeing this film at the standard frame rate versus the high frame rate.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is rated PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images. The film is screening in many places throughout the region.

MPR's Movie Maven, Stephanie Curtis, joins The Current's Morning Show to talk about films every Friday at 8:30 a.m.