A six minute prologue was shown as a preview of the latest instalment in Christopher Nolan‘s series of Batman films before IMAX screenings of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. Whilst audiences appear to have been generally impressed by the sneak peak, there’s no ignoring the fact that many of them are also citing the dialogue from Bane, played by Tom Hardy, as being ‘incomprehensible’.

The source of the problem seems to lie in the fact that Hardy’s face is covered by a mask – through which he receives a super-strength serum, much as you might expect. However, it seems that aside from providing Bane with the means to be a credibly menacing bad guy, it has also muffled his voice to the degree that audiences are struggling to understand anything the character says. Coupled with Hardy‘s British accent, American viewers are thought to be finding Bane’s dialogue particularly tricky to understand.

The reaction to the clip has been so overwhelmingly focused on Bane’s dialogue issues that Warner Bros is reported to be putting pressure Nolan to make changes to the film’s audio, before it is released in cinemas. However, Nolan’s not known dumbing down to aid audience understanding (see Inception), and there’s no confirmation that the sound will be re-dubbed.

Batman fans may find it easier to fathom the dialogue of the rest of The Dark Knight Rises‘ star-studded cast, which sees Christian Bale return as Batman himself, as well as Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman. They’ll be joined by Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Marion Cotillard and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, a bunch of crystal clear enunciators if ever there was one.

The Dark Knight Rises is set to hit UK cinemas on 20th July 2012.

It has also been announced that a prologue for The Dark Knight Rises will be shown before Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol in IMAX. Christopher Nolan has confirmed that this will basically show the first six or seven minutes of the film, including an introduction to the villain, Bane. Also, a full-length trailer will be shown before the new Sherlock Holmes film, Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows.

When the final film in the trilogy comes out on July 20th 2012, we will rejoin an older Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), who is no longer at the top of his game. It is likely that this will leave numerous questions for viewers, such as what has Bruce Wayne been doing since we last saw him? What state will Gotham City be in and who will be the new villains that Batman will have to face?

Well, at least we can answer the latter of these questions as Tom Hardy will play Bane, who you may recognise as the huge, muscly brute that we saw in the 1997 film Batman and Robin. Hardy has said that Bane will test Batman’s physical as well as mental strength and that this will be a new kind of challenge for him.

The Dark Knight Rises will see Michael Caine return as Alfred, Liam Neeson as Ra’s Al Ghul and Cillian Murphy as the creepy scarecrow man, Dr Jonathan Crane. Gary Oldman also keeps his old character of Jim Gordon and Morgan Freeman is Lucius Fox again. New additions to the cast include Anne Hathaway who will be slipping into the skin-tight costume of Catwoman and will no-doubt do something bad-ass,  Joseph Gordon-Levitt will play Gotham cop, John Blake and Marion Cotillard will play Wayne Enterprises board member Miranda Tate.

This film is supposed to be the closing of the Batman story and with it being set eight years on, this may well work. It will be interesting to see how it all ends, as the writers are keeping the details close to their chests. Will Batman be able to defeat the villains once again? Will he even be able to fight well after eight years? And how will the new characters of Catwoman and Bane fare? We will have to wait until next year to find out the answers to some of these questions, but we will keep you posted if we hear anything. Until then, take a look at the teaser trailer to whet your appetite:

Bryan Cranston might be best known for his portrayal of the dad in the Fox comedy, Malcolm in the Middle, and his role in Breaking Bad, for which he has won three consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, but he has also been in demand within the film world of late.

Yesterday it was announced that Cranston was in negotiations to play a CIA agent in the Ben Affleck directed political movie, Argo. The film tells the (true) story of how CIA agents who posed as a film crew in Tehran, in order to secretly smuggle US diplomats out of the country. It is based an article titled How the CIA used a fake science fiction film to sneak six Americans out of revolutionary Iran, by Joshuah Bearman, which has been turned into a screenplay by Chris Terrio.

Affleck has already confirmed that he will appear in, as well as direct, the film, and that both John Goodman and Alan Arkin will also star. It will be the third feature length film which Affleck has directed, following 2007′s Gone Baby Gone, and last year’s crime drama, The Town. Now he is reportedly keen to cast Cranston in the role of Jack O’Donnell, a former bodyguard to President Eisenhower.

However, he’s not the only one who seems keen to have Cranston on board. The actor is reported to be currently in negotiations to join the cast of The Gangster Squad – the story of the LAPD’s struggle to keep Mafia crime out of LA during the 1940-50s. The film is being directed by the man behind the 2009 comedy, Zombieland, and already has the likes of Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin and Sean Penn confirmed to star.

Both Argo and The Gangster Squad are currently scheduled for a 2013 release. However, you can also catch Cranston in Tom Hanks’ recently released comedy, Larry Crowne, and he’s soon to appear in the 2012 remake of Total Recall, as well as musical film, Rock of Ages. In addition to this, he’ll also be starring alongside Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan in the soon-to-be-released film, Drive, as well as joining Kate Winslet, Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Marion Cotillard in upcoming thriller, Contagion.

That’s certainly quite an impressive schedule – we’ll keep you posted!

The image shows the Twilight star with co-star Sarah Gadon in what appears to be the back of a taxi. Pattinson is looking extremely dapper in a suit, with his unruly mane slicked back for a change, channelling the Don Draper look. We like.

Directed by the legendary David Cronenberg, Cosmopolis is an adaptation of the Don DeLillo novel which tells the story of a young multi-billionaire (Pattinson) who makes an odyssey across mid-town Manhattan to get a hair cut. The novel has a number of comparisons to James Joyce’s classic Ulysses, with which it shares being set over one day, as well as featuring the theme of father-son separation and a number of highly sexed women. Over the course of the day he manages to lose to his wealth, although we won’t tell you how as that will just spoil it.

Initially it was suggested that Colin Farrell and Marion Cotillard would star in the film, but Farrell had to step down in order to star in the remake of Total Recall. It has worked out well though, because super heartthrob R-Patz has taken the role and as you can see he’s living up to his good looks. Oh, and we’re sure he’ll be great acting in it as well. His co-star Gadon is pretty unknown but she sure is pretty don’t you think? It’s rumoured that R-patz and K-stew are on the rocks, so we’ll say watch this space for a future romance or at least rumours of a romance.

And I’m sure you’re all thinking why has an image been released so quickly, yes? Well the director’s daughter, Caitlin Cronenberg, is a photographer and took it upon herself to share the picture with us. Good work Caitlin, keep them coming!

Although very little has been revealed about Allen‘s next directorial venture – apart from the fact that it is set in Rome – several big names are now attached to the film.

First to be enlisted was Penelope Cruz, who previously worked with Allen back in 2008 with Vicky Cristina Barcelona. A few days ago it was announced that another former collaborator was to join the cast list, in the form of Alec Baldwin, who starred in Allen’s 1990 film, Alice.

Now, however, it seems a couple of Allen first-timers have been added to the bill. Jesse Eisenberg, who recently received much critical acclaim for his performance in The Social Network, has been confirmed to star, as has actress Ellen Page, who made her name in the 2007 comedy-drama, Juno.

Meanwhile, Allen has another film soon to be released – Midnight in Paris. This upcoming romantic comedy is scheduled to première at the at the 64th Cannes Film Festival in May (which we’ve already reported on here), and stars Owen Wilson, Marion Cotillard, Rachel McAdams and Carla Bruni, amongst others.

We’ll keep you posted!

The Danish Girl is based on a novel of the same name by David Ebershoff, which was published back in 2000. Set in 1920s Copenhagen, it tells the story of Lili Elbe – the first person to undergo sex reassignment surgery. Artist Gerda Wegener asks her husband Einar Wegener to stand in for a female model, and when the paintings prove popular, she continues to use him as something of a muse. However, their marriage becomes strained when her husband begins to lament his life as a man, opting to become a woman – Lili Elbe – permanently. She thus becomes the first person to go under the knife in order to cross the gender divide.

Back in 2009, Let The Right One In director, Tomas Alfredson, was on board to make the film, which looked set to star Charlize Theron and Nicole Kidman as Wegener and Elbe respectively. However, he was forced to drop out in order to direct Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, starring Colin Firth and Tom Hardy.

Theron also then announced her departure from the project, and was replaced by Gwyneth Paltrow. However, Paltrow was reported to have dropped the film after changes were made to filming locations.

Other actresses who have since been rumoured to be playing the part of Wegener include Uma Thurman and Marion Cotillard. Now, however, it seems that Weisz is attached to the role – whilst the transgendered lead will still be played by Kidman.

A new director has also been found in the form of Lasse Hallström – the man behind films such as Chocolat, Casanova and Dear John. The Swedish filmmaker is also currently finishing up on Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, starring Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor and Kristin Scott Thomas.

The Danish Girl is due to begin filming this summer – let’s hope this project doesn’t suffer any further hold-ups!

La Delicatesse tells the story of a young office employee who is still mourning the death of her husband when she catches the eye of a Swedish co-worker. The film is reported to follow the story of how she is ‘delicately courted’, and eventually begins to enjoy life, and love, again. Ahhhh.

Tautou gained international recognition back in 2001 with her outstanding performance in the quirky French flick, Amélie, before more recently gracing our screens in the heavily nominated Coco Before Chanel. Whilst La Delicatesse doesn’t look like much of a change of scene for the charming French actress, Tautou is sure to provide a delightful performance as the leading lady in what is largely being described as a “romantic melodrama”.

Tautou will be joined by Belgian actor Francois Damiens, who will be playing the role of the romantic Swede. Damiens was awarded the Cesar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role following his performance in the 2010 French rom-com The Heartbreaker, in which he starred alongside Romain Duris and Vanessa Paradis.

La Delicatesse is an adaptation of the eighth novel by David Foenkinos, who will co-direct the film along with Stephane Foenkinos, who has penned the screenplay.

Shooting is due to begin in and around Paris this March, with the film scheduled for released during early 2012. We’ll keep you posted!

Back in May last year it was announced that Colin Farrell would star alongside La Vie en Rose actress, Marion Cotillard, as well as Cinderella Man‘s Paul Giamatti in the upcoming film from Canadian director, David Cronenberg.

Cronenberg has written the screenplay for the film, which is based on a novel of the same name by Don DeLillo, who is also thought to be involved with the production. Cosmopolis tells the story of a fast-living billionaire, who manages to lose his fortune on international money markets, cheat on his wife and find himself the target of a couple of stalkers – all within the space of 24 hours.

However, it has now been announced that Farrell has dropped out of the project – possibly due to conflicting schedule commitments with the Total Recall reboot. Not to worry though – Pattinson is clearly as keen as ever to further himself from that troublesome Twilight stigma, and has happily stepped in to replace the Irishman in the film’s lead role.

R-Patz has also made a respectable dash for freedom in his upcoming film, Water for Elephants, which we can expect to see in cinemas in April…before he’s back to playing the nation’s favourite vampire in Breaking Dawn – Part 1 & 2.

It is yet to be confirmed whether the other previously named cast members will stay on for filming, but Cronenberg is certainly used to working with such big Hollywood names. Specialising in what is (apparently) known as ‘body horror’, he previously worked with Jude Law in his 1999 film eXistenZ, whilst Viggo Mortensen and Keira Knightley both star in his upcoming historical biopic, A Dangerous Method, which is due for release later this year.

Could Cosmopolis complete Pattinson’s transformation from quirky heart-throb to properly credible actor?! We can’t wait to find out!

With this in mind, we thought we’d take a look back at some classic ‘young love’ films. From the sickly sweet to the heart-wrenchingly sad, here are our top ten favourites:

1. Flipped

Based on the novel of the same name by Wendelin Van Draanen,
Flipped, stars The Spy Next Door‘s Madeline Carroll as Juli, who quickly falls in love with the boy next door, Bryce, played by Callan McAuliffe. It isn’t until eighth grade that Bryce finally realises he feels the same, but it’s safe to say that – as with most things at that age – it won’t all be plain sailing for the adolescent pair.

2. Little Manhattan

Little Manhattan is the story of eleven-year-old Gabe (Journey to the Center of the Earth‘s Josh Hutcherson) who meets Rosemary Telesco (Charlie Ray), a girl he’s known since kindergarten, when he joins a karate class. He not only falls in love with her, but also her privileged lifestyle, which is very different from his own. However, heartbreak sets in when realises that their love might not last as long as he had hoped.

3. A Little Romance

Third on our list is an oldie, but a goodie. Diane Lane made her big-screen début in this film, starring as a thirteen-year-old American girl living in Paris, who falls in love with a French boy of the same age. When her mother tries to end the romance, they run away together to Venice, in order to “kiss under the Bridge of Sighs at sunset while the bells toll”, which they have been told will mean that they will be in love forever. Oh and a kind, elderly gentleman played by none other than Laurence Olivier helps them on their way.

4. Slumdog Millionaire

A tale of young love lost and then found again, this 2008 film from Danny Boyle might have been told from the perspective of eighteen-year-old Jamal Malik, played by Dev Patel, but it is his encounter with the the beautiful Latika (Freida Pinto) aged just five which drives the plot. This epic love story tells how, for this pair, being together was their destiny. Awww.

5. My Girl

Tissues at the ready – fifth on our list is the classic coming-of-age comedy-drama, My Girl. In her feature film début, Anna Chlumsky plays hypochondriac tomboy Vada, who is teased for her blossoming romance with the unpopular Thomas J. Sennett, played by Macaulay Culkin. They become best friends, blood brothers and share their first kiss, before Thomas dies from an allergic reaction to a bee sting and her world begins to fall apart. Sniff.

6. Endless Love

Brooke Shields and Martin Hewitt star in this emotionally intense portrayal of young love, with a screenplay adapted from the novel by Scott Spencer. A tale of passion, obsession, and dangerous attraction. Keep your eyes peeled for Tom Cruise’s first feature film appearance, as well as a pre-Beverly Hills 90210, Ian Ziering.

7. Let Me In

We’ve already told you about how this movie is a remake of the Swedish film, Let the Right One In, and how it stars upcoming child actress Chloe Moretz, but did you know it’s also a recent example of young love on the big screen? Moretz stars opposite Kodi Smit-McPhee, who takes on the role of a 12-year-old boy that falls for a vampire girl. Let Me In is based on the novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, who described the film as “a dark and violent love story”.

8. Love Me If You Dare

This French film, released in 2003, tells the story of a friendship between the son of a wealthy Belgian couple and the daughter of poor Polish immigrants. As adults they are played by Guillaume Canet and Marion Cotillard, but it is as 8-year-olds that they begin the dangerous and outrageous games that mask their true feelings for one another.

9. Juno

Another recent release, Juno, tells the unconventional story of the young love which develops after Juno, played by Ellen Page, discovers she is pregnant with best friend Paulie Bleeker’s baby. Bleeker is played by Michael Cera, who also stars in teen-love flick, Youth in Revolt. The difficult decisions faced by the pair bring them closer together to create one of the quirkiest first-love films around

10. The Blue Lagoon
Perhaps one of the most iconic and unusual tales of young love can be found in the 1980 film, The Blue Lagoon. It’s stars the lovely Brooke Shields again, but this time opposite Christopher Atkins, playing a young couple who are marooned on a desert island when they are children. Without the influences of society, the pair suffer much confusion about their growing physical attraction, and develop a somewhat naive relationship based on natural instinct as they mature.

Flipped is released in UK cinemas on 12th November 2010.