Notions On "The Dark Knight Rises"

It's pretty obvious. Christopher Nolan's upcoming film, The Dark Knight Rises, the last entry in his monumental Batman trilogy, is without a doubt the most anticipated film of the year. The only films I can think of that come close in terms of excitement and fanbase might be the upcoming The Avengers and The Hunger Games, and maybe The Hobbit. And why shouldn't we be this hopeful? I remember going to watch The Dark Knight on a gigantic IMAX screen the day it came out, and two years later, Inception on IMAX the day it came out. Christopher Nolan has given me, as well as millions of others, some of the most intense theatre-going experiences ever. You could call him a more accessible Kubrick. He makes films that question why art and entertainment cannot be one and the same.

And with a seven-minute prologue released before the screening of Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, Nolan and company have given fans something to talk about and obsess over until the July 20th release date. Immediately after the prologue was leaked to the Internet (and quickly taken down), bloggers and columnists went online to complain about Bane's voice, or the lack thereof. Why? It sounds perfectly fine to me, a sort of hybrid between Michael Caine and a psychopathic robot (which is as menacing as you can imagine). Then the complaints came pouring in on the sound of Bane's voice. Again, why? It isn't the final cut, obviously, there are still finishing touches to be added. No worries.

To appease the bulk of moviegoers who weren't fortunate enough to have seen the prologue in theatres, a second, full-length trailer was released. Significant parts of the film are shown - the fact that the third installment takes place eight years later, Bruce Wayne and Alfred are much older and weathered, Bane's leadership of an uprising against Gotham, Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle, a bombing at a football game and a flying craft! Since this is Christopher Nolan, who hasn't made a film less than a masterpiece, there really is nothing to worry about. All I'm fully certain of is that I'll probably watch this movie multiple times during the summer.