by Aaron Einhorn
We’ve had months and months of teasing for Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises. The end of Nolan’s Batman trilogy has crept up on many of us, being overshadowed by several biggier, showier superhero movies coming out of Marvel’s camp.
Honestly? I’ve stopped being excited for the film. It’s an unpopular opinion, but the “reality” that Nolan has established has alienated me as a comic book fan, even as it has drawn in new fans for Batman. And I suppose that’s a trade that Warner Brothers and Christopher Nolan are willing to make – it’s certainly worked at the Box Office. But I don’t think I would have really enjoyed the last film if it hadn’t been for Heath Ledger – and I don’t know that either Tom Hardy’s Bane or Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman will rise to that level.
In any case, as I wrote above, the summer hype machine has been largely occupied by other superheroic films – and with The Dark Knight Rises coming out the week after San Diego Comic Con, now is the time for audiences to be given a taste of what to come. So, Warner Brothers has released a 13-minute featurette for the film.
Be warned: This is not for fans who want to go into the theatre in two weeks and be surprised. This is the kind of feature you’d expect to see as a DVD/Blu-Ray extra. But all that said? It actually kind of works for me. I was seriously underwhelmed looking forward to the film. This featurette has given me at least a flicker more interest. If you’re already sold about going to see The Dark Knight Rises, I’d skip the featurette. It’ll still be on the internet on July 21st, and will probably appear on the home video release. But for those of you on the fence (like I was), it might give you more reason to watch the movie. So, enjoy!
The Dark Knight Rises is directed by Christopher Nolan and concludes his Batman trilogy of films. Christian Bale stars as Batman/Bruce Wayne, Tom Hardy is Bane, Anne Hathaway plays Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Marion Cotillard is Miranda Tate (and possibly Talia al-Ghul, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is John Blake, Michael Caine returns as Alfred, Gary Oldman reprises the role of Commissioner Jim Gordon, and Morgan Freeman is back as Lucius Fox. The Dark Knight Rises arrives in theatres July 20, 2012.
