MPR News Arts Reporter and Cube Critic Euan Kerr joins Steve Seel and Jill Riley to talk about Mockingjay - Part 1, the next in the series of films inspired by the popular books. "This is the third in the trilogy of four movies," Euan quips.

The Hunger Games is set in a future dystopian society where young people are conscripted to fight to the death for the honor of their districts. "The dirty secret," Euan explains, "is this is all set up by President Snow, who is oppressing everybody."

The third film finds the nation of PanAm descending into a state of civil war. "I really liked this movie," Euan says. "This I think was actually the best one so far. Frankly, there aren't' really any hunger games in it. Now because we are in this civil war situation … [the actors] capture the agony and horror of this civil war."

Directed by Francis Lawrence, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 is rated PG-13. "I actually heard people weeping in the screening," Euan advises. The film is showing just about everywhere.

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

Related

• More girls target archery, inspired by 'The Hunger Games'
• Movie Maven: 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire'; 'The Broken Circle Breakdown'
• The Hunger Games - official site