Last night over in LA, Christopher Nolan gave a select group of US journalists a look at the seven minute prologue for Dark Knight Rises. Unsurprisingly, they were not disappointed. The only problem that kept cropping up in the various reviews was that of Bane's voice, which many said they couldn't hear properly due to Hardy's English accent and a mask muffling whatever cockerney consonants did make it out. Sounds like a completely legitimate reason.

Anyway, Superhero Hype gave the best description of the preview…

Even though the opening shot takes place immediately after The Dark Knight and features Commissioner Gordon speaking at Harvey Dent’s funeral (and is shot in 35mm), the footage moves immediately to IMAX and the events that transpire during the hostage situation discussed in the viral documents. There, we’re treated to a hostage transfer and the reveal of Bane aboard a private plane and an ensuing fight that takes every advantage of the IMAX frame. Think less The Dark Knight and more Inception or, even closer, an IMAX version of a James Bond film.

Though the response from the crowd was overwhelmingly positive, there was much discussion about Bane’s voice. Muffled by his mask and featuring a British accent, it’s difficult to fully understand exactly what he is saying (but likely intentionally).

At the conclusion of the footage, there’s a rapid montage of shots, all in IMAX, that feature a lot to excite fans, the most intriguing of which is Bane carrying a shattered half of Batman’s mask.

This goes along nicely with the reported plotline leaked by a source to Metro earlier on this month…

"Bane and his mercenaries hijack a military plane transporting a dictator of a country which is in unrest (think Saddam Hussein type figure). 

'He successfully kills the leader, but makes some mistakes along the way and is unable to safely land the plane. 

'Because of the resulting injuries from the accident, he has to undergo complicated surgeries and that is how he winds up with that scar down his neck and the need for the mask to numb the pain.' 

The source goes on to describe Bane's origin story as reimagined by Nolan. 

"'He is raised by Ra’s al Ghul [Bruce Wayne's old mentor] and his up bringing mirrors that of Bruce Wayne.

'It’s a mirror of Bruce, except it’s darker and twisted. Bane is trained to be an assassin for the League of Shadows. 

'He kills political figures that are deemed unfit by the LOS. So he is a bit of a Che Guevara/ Jason Bourne type character.'