Plot SPOILERS!

[Gotham Knight]

The Empire article has leaked early today. 
http://www.batman-online.com/?news&id=95
http://collider.com/dark-knight-rises-movie-images-bane-details/127657/

There's not a ton revealed, other than official pictures and the following:
1) The prologue will introduce Bane
2) Info on Bane's mask
3) The biggest is that Nolan states that The Dark Knight Rises takes place eight years after The Dark Knight.   

8 years?  Are we seriously skipping/fastforwarding through 8 years of the Batman's career after the cliffhanger-type ending of The Dark Knight?  Have the police failed to catch him all this time?  And is part of that gap due to Bane possibly injuring him, like in Knightfall?  I'm curious about the reasoning behind this.

The 8 year gap is for fan boy's to pretend that characters they might have actually wanted to see might have made appearances.

[Silver Nemesis]

Sounds like a variation on The Dark Knight Returns. That story begins on the 10th anniversary of the last Batman sighting. Nolan's going for 8 years instead of 10, but it's the same basic concept of Batman returning after a prolonged absence. I expect Bane will be the equivalent of the Mutant Gang Leader – the symbol of disorder that Batman has to defeat in order to regain the fear and respect he once commanded.

[Paul (ral)]

Yeah, in the trailer Gordon does say something along the lines of Batman disappearing and then the evil taking over.

[The Dark Knight]

8 years?  Are we seriously skipping/fastforwarding through 8 years of the Batman's career after the cliffhanger-type ending of The Dark Knight?  Have the police failed to catch him all this time?  And is part of that gap due to Bane possibly injuring him, like in Knightfall?  I'm curious about the reasoning behind this.

I think Nolan will play with time here. Flashbacks, etc.

Maybe Bruce is on the run from police as a murderer for, let's say 3 to 4 years after TDK.

He's burnt out and losing the faith.

Then Bane shows up, gives him a hiding and takes him out of the game.

Bane takes control of Gotham City, and reveals Dent's crimes.

The remainder of the years could be Bane ruling Gotham, Bruce recovering and retraining to defeat Bane.

[gotham22]

8 years?

Makes you wonder what villians have risen and if Joker had escape a few times.

[BatmAngelus]

The following report from L.A. Times describes a scene.  Read on if you don't mind knowing what it is...
http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2011/12/29/dark-knight-rises-star-anne-hathaway-gotham-city-is-full-of-grace/

Gotham City is a war zone. A ruthless madman named Bane has ripped away any sense of security and the citizens, haggard and clutching suitcases with refugee anxiety, sit behind barbed wire waiting to see what will blow up next. A hooded prisoner is dragged in – it's Bruce Wayne, one of Gotham's most famous faces – but the eyes of the crowd go instead to the woman in black standing at the top of the staircase.

"Sorry to spoil things, boys, but Bane needs these guys himself," says sultry Selina Kyle, played here by actress Anne Hathaway, navigating the steps with stiletto heels that, on closer inspection, turn out to have serrated edges capable of leaving nasty claw marks in a fight. She also wears high-tech goggles that, when not in use, flip up and resemble feline ears.

- Judging by that quote, is Catwoman/Selina working with Bane?  Or am I misinterpreting that line?  It's hard to tell who the "boys" and who the "guys" are, from that little context.
- Did I read correctly that her stiletto heels are the ones that'll leave "nasty claw marks" rather than any claws on her glove?
- This is confirmation that the cat ears for Catwoman are actually her goggles from the first Selina pic, brought up to the top of her head.

[The Dark Knight]

On your first point, I think that's where Selina's grey area aspect will come from. She might have identified with Bane's beliefs earlier in the film (taunting Wayne at the masked ball) but later in this "Bane needs these guys himself" scene she could merely be pretending to still be on board with it, to help Wayne out in some secret way. On the second point, yes that is how I read it as well.

[riddler]

The following report from L.A. Times describes a scene.  Read on if you don't mind knowing what it is...
http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2011/12/29/dark-knight-rises-star-anne-hathaway-gotham-city-is-full-of-grace/

Gotham City is a war zone. A ruthless madman named Bane has ripped away any sense of security and the citizens, haggard and clutching suitcases with refugee anxiety, sit behind barbed wire waiting to see what will blow up next. A hooded prisoner is dragged in – it's Bruce Wayne, one of Gotham's most famous faces – but the eyes of the crowd go instead to the woman in black standing at the top of the staircase.

"Sorry to spoil things, boys, but Bane needs these guys himself," says sultry Selina Kyle, played here by actress Anne Hathaway, navigating the steps with stiletto heels that, on closer inspection, turn out to have serrated edges capable of leaving nasty claw marks in a fight. She also wears high-tech goggles that, when not in use, flip up and resemble feline ears.

- Judging by that quote, is Catwoman/Selina working with Bane?  Or am I misinterpreting that line?  It's hard to tell who the "boys" and who the "guys" are, from that little context.
- Did I read correctly that her stiletto heels are the ones that'll leave "nasty claw marks" rather than any claws on her glove?
- This is confirmation that the cat ears for Catwoman are actually her goggles from the first Selina pic, brought up to the top of her head.

I think hathaway let it slip that she will don the full costume later in the film. It might be like Batman from Batman Begins where we see it evolve.
I guess she is working with Bane, she does tell Bruce there's a war coming from the trailer.

I think she takes a similar path as Eric Roberts character Maroni from the dark knight; starts out evil but eventually realizes that it's too much and switches sides. Like how Maroni realized how dangerous the joker is, selina likely does the same with Bane.

[GBglide]

Hey Paul! I have an avatar for riddler, instead of that red X.   

[Paul (ral)]

Brilliant!

riddler I hope you don't mind that I changed your avatar - it was too funny to pass up!