The trailer for the final Batman-movie directed by Christopher Nolan thundered onto select scenes a few days ago, much to the delight of both fans and those casually familiar with Bob Kane’s legendary comic book hero. Fans of the Batman comic lore know Bane as the one man (mostly) who really beat Batman; using his enhanced strength to break the caped crusader’s back; an injury from which Batman almost didn’t recover.

The scene starts with an almost ethereal rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner being sung at what appears to be Heinz field in Pittsburgh, with the uber-villain Bane purposefully making his way up a shaft. Bane is played by actor Thomas Hardy, who acknowledged that he packed on 30-40 lbs. of muscle to play the part; however, at just 200 lbs; he still seems a tad small to play the part of the giant that broke the Bat. Everything else, however, looks good; Bane’s pain-negating mask makes him look unmistakably formidable.

It’s good to see that much of the old crew from Batman Begins is back; Michael Caine reprises his role as Alfred the loyal butler; Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon; and, although we do not see him in the trailer, Morgan Freeman as Lucious Fox. Obviously, Christian Bale returns as Batman.

The Dark Knight Rises trailer strongly suggests civil unrest – a class struggle waged between the rich and the poor. New actress Anne Hathaway plays the sometimes-villain Selina Kyle (Catwoman), and is seen dancing and whispering what appears to be sweet nothings to Bruce Wayne…until you get closer and hear her blithe and foreboding admonition. On cue, an inmate break-out leads into the most telling sequence of Bane’s resolve in the trailer – the detonation of a football field. With the players on it.

This impressive CGI-concocted devastation is still reverberating, and you haven’t had time to process it yet as the concluding scenes roll by; of a broken Batman, scores of SWAT fighting Bane’s legions, and a smattering of breathtakingly-cool new vehicles – including a missile-laden hovercraft. It looks like Batman had to commission his own small army to deal with Bane’s minions! Sigh…it’s going to be a long seven months until the July 2012 release.