Few films have undergone as much pre-release hype as the epic conclusion to Christopher Nolan's re-envisioning of the Batman franchise, The Dark Knight Rises. Hotly anticipated for years, it was guaranteed to be a raging success the moment it was announced. Of course, with such a huge amount of hype, audience expectations were sky high, and the producers only heightened these expectations when they released the opening sequence as a teaser before the film's launch. And who wasn't bowled over by it when they finally got to see it for the first time on an enormous IMAX screen? As an introduction to the villain on a par with the Joker's reveal in The Dark Knight, the sequence was a textbook example of how to utilize IMAX technology to maximum effect, in the process capturing some of the most incredible stunts ever filmed on a vast canvas high in the sky. The image of Bane hanging between the seats as his cohorts descend onto the CIA plane is a truly iconic shot, imprinted not just in the minds of hardcore Batman fans but all movie lovers around the world. As much as some of us might not like to admit it, The Dark Knight Rises peaked too soon with this scene. It's not that it becomes a bad film, but nor does it again deliver action and spectacle quite as impressive. Batman's first fight with Bane isn't quite the epic confrontation it could have been, while the final act suffers from a somewhat disjointed feeling, no doubt as a consequence of cutting between various characters which inevitably reduces tension. Do you agree or disagree with the choices on this list? Which other great movies do you think went downhill after a promising opening scene? Why not let us know in the comments below?
