20 Things You Didn't Know About The Dark Knight Rises
8. It's Heavily Inspired By Charles Dickens' A Tale Of Two Cities
Though it might be obvious to literary-minded viewers, others may not be aware that the film's story and themes are heavily inspired by Charles Dickens' classic novel A Tale of Two Cities.
Much like the book, Nolan's movie is centered on notions of class conflict, uprising, and heroic sacrifice, while two of the film's characters - Phillip Stryver (Burn Gorman) and Barsad (Josh Stewart) - are also named after the novel's own.
Sealing the deal is the film's epilogue, where Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) gives a eulogy for a presumed-dead Bruce (Christian Bale), reading the famous soliloquy from A Tale of Two Cities.
Better still, keen-eyed audience members can even see Gordon holding a copy of the book when paying his respects at Bruce's grave.