Here's an example of one of Nolan's most frequently used techniques that appears time and time again in his Bat-universe: mirroring.
In Batman Begins Alfred stood on a staircase and told a young Bruce Wayne, "I give a damn, sir, because a good man once made me responsible for what was most precious to him in the whole world."
Here that scene is echoed; on another staircase, but instead of a fresh-face young Bruce, it's a broken Wayne - his skin looks pale, his hair lank.
And in the place of the confident Alfred, full of a determined love for his young charge, here, Alfred sounds broken - especially when his voice cracks (classic Michael Caine brilliance there) - and full of regret.
It seems like Bruce will have to rise from some fairly pitch-black depths if Alfred's tone is to be trusted.
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Comments
TheTuckster
Dec 20th 2011, 17:50
The guy with the cane is definitely Bruce. You can see he's got it when he's talking to Marion Cotillard.
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DanRose
Dec 20th 2011, 18:55
Is Selina wearing Bruce's mothers pearls from The Dark Knight? Too much of a coincidence? Damn you Nolan! I can't wait...
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bachchan
Dec 20th 2011, 19:13
Promises so much, lets just hope for the sake of humanity, this movie delivers. I am serious, The UK may see rioting again next summer if there are not more IMAX compatible cinemas across the country. Cameron you have been warned...
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Pjohansson
Dec 20th 2011, 19:39
There's another possible explanation for the Ward football player. Pittsburgh was the stand-in for Gotham City during filming, and #86 for the Pittsburgh Steelers is Heinz Ward (you'll notice the Gotham footballers also wear the same color scheme as the Steelers). It's possible that Nolan meant this more as a tribute to his host city.
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marc96
Dec 20th 2011, 20:08
if bruce is in the batwing then whos driving the batmobile in front of it? would love it if joseph g-levitt has a big role in this but isnt he a bit small? surely people would notice the size difference, love reading all the debates for this movie and cant wait to find out which of it is right :-)
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marc96
Dec 20th 2011, 20:09
i meant joseph g-levitt being bit small to replace bruce wayne as batman
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AshleyFTW
Dec 20th 2011, 20:48
The Robin R in the rogues sign was actually made by a fan and brought along as him and his friends were going to be extras.
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Barresi
Dec 20th 2011, 21:26
The Robin "R" at the football game isn't placed there by Nolan, it was an extra's idea. http://forums.superherohype.com/showthread.php?p=22137145#post22137145
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starscream9289
Dec 20th 2011, 21:42
The guy in the balcony during Dent's memorial is also Bruce. Again, with a cane.
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sashurst
Dec 20th 2011, 21:42
@Barresi: Yes, but Nolan wouldn't have left it in the film - even giving the nod for it to be included in the trailer - if he didn't like the idea :) Good info though, thanks!
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DanRose
Dec 20th 2011, 21:56
@marc96.... there is no Batmobile being in front of the Batwing in the trailer? It's another of those prototype military vehicles called "the Tumbler" that was designed by Lucius Fox... Neither are black like the Batmobile... Are they friend or foe?? Who knows!
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DanRose
Dec 20th 2011, 22:00
In fact they are definitely foe as from what I gather Bane is shown with three tumbler variants being removed from a cargo plane in the 7 minute prologue. Each of these vehicles had the original color of the Tumbler and are reported to be used by Bane and his gang!
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Murphy0806
Dec 20th 2011, 23:30
If we do see Batman's back broken I wonder if we'll see a Dr Thomas Elliot at some point? Would be another nice nod to the comics.
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writerdave87
Dec 20th 2011, 23:33
Ward is the actual Pittsburgh player Ward, it's not a nod to anyone else unfortunately. Nice idea though. I think we're going to see his back broken, definitely.
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Hadouken76
Dec 20th 2011, 23:38
Yeah Murphy0806 or Floyd Lawton as a manically depressed sniper.
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Murphy0806
Dec 20th 2011, 23:51
Could even try and take over as Bats during his absence as he did start as somewhat of a good guy. Rather unlikely that one although it would be a nice idea.
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willow138
Dec 21st 2011, 3:03
@bachchan friggin LOL Also sorry TF but i really think that poster is rain not snow
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eightcell
Dec 21st 2011, 3:07
If you go frame by frame the man on the roof at the Harvey memorial in front of Wayne Manor during the trailer is holding a cane, so it is likely Bruce watching the proceedings. If you remember Batman also has a limp at the end of Dark Knight after the fight with Harvey.
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Murphy0806
Dec 21st 2011, 4:49
There's been a lot of talk about the back breaking, if it will happen or not. Maybe the line "When Gotham is ashes, you have my permission to die" is the moment he leaves Bruce Wayne crippled and that will be the 8 year gap?
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Shawki
Dec 21st 2011, 4:52
#6. Mongolia is not a flashback. You can tell because Bruce has grey hair.
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Chufferstud
Dec 21st 2011, 12:14
Don't be fooled by the grey hair bit, Bruce Wayne the playboy would dye his hair. This Bruce doesn't look to be in a place he can purchase Just For Men. I think he will get his back broken early on and then it will go "8 years later". It may be just me, but Christian and Joseph have similar noses and mouth, so I think in the first teaser trailer when we see Bane walk up to Batman, I think that is JGL! It's obvious Warner Bros want a slice of The Avengers pie and we can see The Justice League coming soon, so maybe JGL takes on the mantle of Batman to tie in with Nolan's universe and a more superhuman one that will be needed.
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SiMan
Dec 21st 2011, 14:38
I think a few people have mentioned it already, but it looks to me like it is Bruce on that balcony overlooking the Dent memorial. Is it just me as well, or is that Wayne manor in the background? - Also, with regards to the cane, @eightcell, i think you're right - at the end of TDK, Batman was recovering from that fall with Dent. Could the film start directly after TDK? Also, another idea for the 8 year gap - isn't Talia Al Ghul in this one...in the comics, her and batman get jiggy and she gets knocked up. Could she turn up with a little bat-sprog?
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marc96
Dec 21st 2011, 15:38
@DanRose ah, thats my bad lol, i assumed only bruce wayne had the vehicle, thanks for clearing that up for me :-) i really cant wait to see this prologue
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timisstupid
Dec 21st 2011, 22:28
You also forgot to mention that Anne Hathaway is wearing a pearl necklace. A pearl necklace that looks identical to the the one Thomas Wayne gave to his wife in Batman Begins. The same pearl necklace that was stolen as they were killed..... Also, if Nolan taught us anything in The Prestige, the three steps to performing an illusion: The Pledge, The Turn and The Prestige. The Pledge is the setup. It presents to you something ordinary that is most likely not ordinary at all (BATMAN BEGINS). The Turn takes that ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Something unexpected (THE DARK KNIGHT). And then there's The Prestige. It takes the unexpected something from The Turn and turns it on its head, making you believe in magic (THE DARK KNIGHT RISES). So.... I can't wait.
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douchebag1
Dec 22nd 2011, 6:16
Well, one, on a fundamentals of storytelling level, Batman will not have his back broken on the steps of the courthouse in broad daylight. How do they get him out of there? Just from a Knightfall perspective where Alfred and Dick Grayson come in to pick him up...Batman retains his secrecy. It's not going to happen there, with no Greyson. If Bane hurts him, it will be out of sight, somewhere Batman can keep his identity safe. Second, the tumblers are stolen. They're Bane's vehicles when there in the tan camo, just from the pics with him on top of them showing Harvey Dent's photo. Is anyone paying attention to the promos/scene grabs leaked? Here's the deal as far as I know: period of peace = batman has gone away, the city is cleaned up. No back breaking right after Dark Knight ends. And from Selina Kyles words, I get the feeling Bruce has been acting the playboy. Batman is gone, he doesn't know what to do with himself. He has become Bruce Wayne and is floundering. Hates that he's not needed anymore. The Robin thing is bull. Nolan said "no robin" and he hasn't ever lied. There will be no Robin. The one thing I wonder from the trailer and the prologue: who is in that bag that the blood is being transferred to? Bane seems an awesome villain, but what does "The Fire Rises" mean? I'm curious. We don't see magic in this Bat-verse, but could they have an explanation for bringing Ras back? Is he in the bag? His corpse? And if not him, then who? There are so many questions about what they're doing with this movie. Nolan has said, we're opening with a great action sequence because we're introducing a lot of characters and an action sequence gives us grace to do that. We don't see Lucius. We don't see Catwoman. This isn't a trailer so much as a teaser. It's exciting, but oh so many questions are still unanswered.
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douchebag1
Dec 22nd 2011, 6:24
*Amending my post: my apologies comic book geeks: it's Tim Drake and Alfred who pick Batman up after Bane breaks his back and throws him on the street, not Alfred and Greyson.
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