"which could also function if you take away all those costumes and masks and gadgets" - errrrm how exactly when the crux points of the film are all about batman being blackmailed to reveal his true identity, something he wouldn't have to do if he wasn't a costumed superhero, cops don't generally have to reveal their identity, not run around in a mask.

Also what would be the climax? Harvey dent turned into a psycopathic coin flipping mutant with two faces, like that happens all the time in realistic gritty cop dramas right?