The Fire Rises

Almost exactly four years ago, I remember specifically being blown away by Heath Ledger's voice as the Joker in the theatrical trailer for "The Dark Knight." I even wrote about it here. I had been worried about his voice, ever since it had been ever-so-briefly teased the summer before. But after that trailer, I knew his voice would be the one I heard in my head when reading the comics. And six months later, I was not certainly disappointed by what I would come to see as the definitive interpretation of the Clown Prince.

What's funny is that now, having seen the prologue for "The Dark Knight Rises" in an early screening, I find myself once again most struck by the voice of the featured villain - in this case, Bane.

Like before, I had been worried about how Tom Hardy would sound as Bane. Early spy footage leaked from the set in Pittsburgh featured a few lines from Bane, giving the impression of a weak, old, British man. It was a caricature and a joke, and I feared the worst.

But in the film itself, Bane sounds entirely different. Bane as a character is intense, and his voice matches. It's eery and cold. Distorted and warped. Muffled, yet clearly hiding a man who strives to be articulate and calculating. Confident and sure. Mechanical

Comparisons have been made to Darth Vader, but I think it would be far more accurate to compare it to a mechanized Jeremy Irons from "Die Hard 3."

Will "The Dark Knight Rises" be as good as "The Dark Knight?"

I don't know.

But I do know that one of my biggest fears has been put to rest.

I won't be laughing when I see Bane breaking the Bat, six months from now.