Why does none of the

Rating: 6/10 (30 July 2012)

*SPOILERS AHEAD*
First of all, I should point out that I did not see the first two installments in the trilogy. However, I did not often get the feeling that got in the way of understanding the plot, certainly not any more after ten minutes or so.
Leaving the theater, I had the impression that I'd seen a remake of The World Is Not Enough, with Batman replacing James Bond. Think about the plot similarities: psychotic baddie in love with evil Frenchwoman (Marceau/Cotillard) who started out as one of the heroes and shagged the main protagonist; the good guy finds unlikely (in more senses than one) female ally; looming threat consists of nuke in major city (Istanbul/New Yor... er, Gotham). They even both have an old guy handing out the gadgets!
Now, TWINE was hardly the best James Bond film - not even Brosnan's best, to be honest (and that's saying something). And this one also falls flat on a number of counts. That is not to say that it is a bad film - however, it's hardly worth 9 out of 10 on IMDb. I had a decent enough time, but never did I get the sense that I'd be watching the next Citizen Kane.
To begin with, the film takes itself VERY seriously. That can lead to some unintentionally funny moments. One such moment is when Commissioner Gordon finally finds out Batman's identity - when it seems that just about the rest of the world knows about it already. The problem here is that the whole preservation of Batman's secret identity is never treated as anything important, so you don't get the feeling that it matters.
There are some plot holes, particularly Batman's miraculous recovery after having been stabbed repeatedly in the side by Miranda. And what about the rope that Bruce Wayne tossed down into the pit after reaching the surface - and which Miranda apparently never thought of.
But the biggest problem is its lack of conviction. Bane is evil to the point of banality - until he starts weeping in front of Miranda. Are we supposed to suddenly feel sympathy for this character, after the whole film had attempted set up his one-dimensionality? Is that really how policemen behave and look after they've been underground for more than two months? Bruce Wayne getting back on form in the pit had all the hallmarks of a plot necessity and might have been more enjoyable had 'Eye of the Tiger' been playing in the background. The 'conversion' of Miranda is painfully obvious from the moment she convinces Fox to give the bomb to Bane, and we all know the bit with Alfred reminiscing about the square in Florence was only inserted so that we might see that moment realized at the end.
Why was Michael Caine in this film, anyway? Many of the cast didn't seem that convinced as well. Bale and Oldman were professional, but hardly inspired. Anne Hathaway played here role with gusto, but to me the positive surprise was Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
There are no twists, no surprises. Yes, I enjoyed myself for two hours and forty-five minutes - but overall this turned out to be an eminently forgettable piece of cinema.