"Batman Begins" set a new standard for how a superhero could be made. It didn't only just revamp the Batman franchise, it revamped the entire superhero genre. In 2008 with the release of "The Dark Knight" Christopher Nolan, and team not only pushed that standard to a all time high, but gave one of the greatest performances in recent memory with Heath Ledger as The Joker, and now has been the film that every other superhero or comic book film is compared too. Now the time has come, for the end of the legend it's time for "The Dark Knight Rises". Apple has released the official second trailer for the film. With that said let's soar deep into the new trailer, and take a closer look at why "The Dark Knight Rises"may just make you shit your pants.....again!

First Watch The Trailer 

First off we see a young boy singing "The National Anthem", which seems a bit of a different take than what we're used to with Nolan. It's very subtle,and the rest of the singing plays throughout the first moments of the trailer very whimsical, and in a way haunting, and its a good way to start of what has ended up to be a pretty epic trailer. Then we get our first glimpse of Bane played by Tom Hardy. From what it appears it seems as if he's climbing up something,and lands on his feet. With what you see very shortly after that shows that Bane is actually at the football stadium. I can only assume Bane has sneaked his way inside through a different direction maybe in the inner core of the stadium,which would fit his character,because Bane is known to be a survivor, and with many talents.

We then hear the first lines of dialouge from Alfred played by Michael Cane he says..

"You are as precious to me as you were to your mother, and father. I swore to them that I would protect you...and I haven't!"

 

Alfred seems a bit worn out, and he's taking the blame for whats happened to Bruce all the years of wear, and tear, and brutality and risks on Bruce's life he believes is his fault. Now whether or not this will be a conflict in the film is up for question however the fact that Alfred has a bit of guilt,and hard emotion is a good sign, because to be honest although he's a great character in "The Dark Knight"he was there simply to spout of analogies,and stories that fit in with the plot,here it seems a bit different. The shot while Alfred is speaking shows a plate of food,and what appears to be Bruce Wayne walking with a cane! The first shot of Bruce played by Christian Bale is also shown. He always seem to have his mouth hanging open though. Then a skyline view of the city shows us how Gotham has been since we've last seen it. It looks better than ever before.

Then the title frame, which states

"From Christopher Nolan"

No longer are they using "From The Director of The Dark Knight". No, they're his his name. Which a good sign for any director, when it's not only the movies they'vemade before that get people in the seats,it's the director as well. 

This next portion is a major part of the story, and gives you an idea for what the film will be focusing on. We're shown I guess you can say a "tribute" to Harvey Dent, since his photo appears in the background twice, and also a character (I don't know who is) saying "The Mayor's gonna dump him in the Spring"and of course he's referring to Commissioner Gordon played by, Gary Oldman. Gordon seems like he's getting ready to make a speech, and the next lines are crucial. Nixon played by, Matthew Modine says 

Nixon:But he's a hero.

Man in suit: A warhero, this is peace time...

That's very crucial,because it tells us that Gotham has been clean,crime isn't as bad as it used to be, The Joker is locked away, Scarecrow is locked away, and the Mob problem has been resolved. Gotham has been heading towards the right direction...until now. 

Bruce walks into a sort of masquerade party,but I could be wrong, but regardless this is where they introduce Selina Kyle played by, Anne Hathaway. She's dancing with Bruce,and says "There's a storm coming Mr. Wayne". This is incredibly amusing to see Hathaway do the sexy cat voice. She's also wearing a mask (No! not the Catwoman mask) and she speaks to Bruce a little bit more, this shows her character as a sleezy,smart, and elegant figure with a dark side. Then there's a few quick shots of Gotham City authority in the heat of action, and Bane walking with his henchmen. I would like to point something out though. Selina Kyle is shown putting on a necklace,but noticed that the necklace is the same one that Martha Wanye wore in "Batman Begins". So, what does this tell us? It leads us to two possible conclusions. Either it's given to her as a gift by Bruce or her whole reason for being at the party is to steal it, which would fit the character well. As before we see some quick shots of Gordon trying to keep safe from an explosion. Bags dropping from staircases,and what can possibly be Bane's henchmen trashing a room,and pulling a character out from under a cabinet (though I don't know who it is).

From this point on is where things become intense. A fantastic creative decision done by the editor or Hans Zimmer is to have the one note theme for The Joker from the "Why So Serious" track from "The Dark Knight"and overlap it with the new Bane chant. It makes for a very creepy, and artistic score that works perfectly,and at the same time they're opposites. The Joker stood for chaos, and anarchy which is why the one note sounded so distorted, and the Bane chant is very organized, and straight forward. Two opposing ways of working that make for a perfect combination that fits well for the film.

Bane's henchmen are then followed by convicts, and criminals that have been broken out of Arkham, and other prisons. The next sequence the jaw dropping moment that every trailer from Nolan has...and it's the destruction of a football stadium. Bane slowly walks towards the field. We get a quick shot of Bruce looking very old,and scruffy in rags coming out of what looks to be a cell in a prison. Bruce asks "what does it mean?" (it works well for the trailer because of the chan) and a older man, who I believe to be Alfred says "Rise". Bane then has his Joker moment he presses the button to his doomsday device, then a football player runs, and runs with the ball while others are sucked in with the field as the field crushes itself into a giant crater. This moment is jaw dropping, but my only problem is wouldn't the player hear or realize the destruction behind him, or is he running for dear life. It looked to me he was having a "Look at me mom, I'm gonna make a touchdo...oh shit!?"moment. 

Then we are showed a beaten looking Bruce Wayne (without the Batman cowl) looking tired,and helpless. Then the best line in the trailer from Bane

"When Gotham is in ashes. Then you have my permission to die"

I have no doubt that Bane knows who Batman really is at this point. After this we get many very quick shots of Miranda Tate (or as speculated Taliah Al Ghul) played by, Marion Cotillard. What seems to be Bruce jumping from a building. Selina Kyle looking very suspicious walking in a hallway. Then the giant bold letters

The Epic Conclusion

Batman seems to have a new gadget. Tumblers,and vehicles are exploding,people are being lowered down into a well (possibly the one from "Batman Begins"). Bane is showed again looking very casual. We also get a first glimpse of John Blake played by, Joseph Gordon Levitt frantically running through doors. Again...we are told how epic this movie will be...

To The Dark Knight Legend

Batman,and Bane are shown about to get into a battle,in the middle of the day?....huh. Nolan has a plan for that. Then shots of customized Tumblers shooting at the building where everyone is fighting. More quick action shots. Then 

A pan out shot of the Batwing, Batman's new vehicle. I have to say from what I saw from the set photos,this looks way better. Then again set photos and a finished product are two radically different things. I'm sure it'll be great looking during action scenes. They reuse the same CG animation from the first trailer of the bat-symbol crumbling. Then the final title frame with the epic Zimmer score. 

Overall this is exactly what a trailer should be. It doesn't give anything drastic away. It shows just enough to leave you asking questions, and most importantly it looks great. Dare I say this it looks better than "The Dark Knight" trailer. This had more of an epic feel, and even with the exclusion of The Joker, and Harvey Dent it still feels like it picks up right where "Dark Knight" left off. When the set footage, and photos were leaked online people were slamming the film which I was taken back on. People judged this whole film,on the costumes, the voices,and "leaked"information not knowing what Nolan was going to do. I hope this trailer kicked those people in the ass...hard!

Nolan stated that he wouldn't be returning for a third one unless it was "as good,or better than Dark Knight". Obviously he returned, and that alone gives me high hopes. When it all comes down to which will be better in the long run, it's still early to tell, but this trailer,and what has been coming out of the film so far has shown that great care,and passion has gone into the end of one of the greatest trilogies of the past decade. 

"The Dark Knight Rises" stars Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Gary Oldman, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Marion Cotillard,  Michael Cane, and Morgan Freeman, and is also directed by Christopher Nolan. 

"The Dark Knight Rises" soars into theaters July 20th, 2012