As Bane, actor Tom Hardy brings convincing menace to The Dark Knight Rises, at least in the prologue.
Image courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures

HOLLYWOOD — Heath Ledger’s Joker blasted through the opening heist sequence of The Dark Knight with chilling conviction three years ago. Smart, scary and utterly riveting, Ledger set the tone for the rest of the picture by blending ice-cold humor with utterly remorseless criminal smarts.

Director Christopher Nolan repeats that winning strategy in The Dark Knight Rises, as revealed in Thursday night’s press screening of the first six minutes of the highly a...