Christopher Nolan
The Dark Knight

The differences  with “Batman Begins” are basically two: 1. This film is too pessimistic, while the previous one was filled with agonizing hope; 2. "Batman Begins" takes place over a very long period of time, namely 7 years, from when Bruce, after the clash with Falcone, leaves Gotham to become a man. “The Dark Knight” takes place in just a few days in which Joker wreaks havoc on the city. Perhaps a bit too fast.

Joker is not a mere criminal whose goal is to make money: he is the devil incarnate. His purpose is to bring out the worst in each of us.  The psychology here is dark. The essence of the film is that there is a dark side in all of us, even in the most good-hearted, which is Dent, who falls: "Because you were the best of us, and Joker wanted to bring down such an upright man.”

In the table scene,  the joker reveals the sad truth to Batman, which he wants to ignore: the police use you because you are useful, but they consider you almost like me. And Batman gets furious and stomps him, because this truth is too hard to accept.

Then the final scene, a psychological masterpiece. Batman could let Joker fall, but he saves him for two reasons: 1. To feel superior: "You and your fake sense of superiority.” 2. Because somehow he is attracted to him: Batman has found in Joker a rival at his level, and if he dies, the life  of the bat would become once again  a boring hunt for stupid and greedy criminals:  “You can’t get rid of me. You’re really funny and that’s why I won’t kill you". When Batman seems to have won, Joker reveals another sad truth to him, along with the sad fall of Dent, Joker’s absolute victory. Even the Saint Francis of Gotham has fallen. We’re almost at despair. Batman managed to resist only because he already knew his dark side and knew how to keep it at bay. Dent believed he was perfect and this arrogance betrayed him and was the cause of his downfall.

MAMMA MIA, to what depths Nolan has taken us.

The heroes of the film are the people of Gotham. On the boat, they decide not to blow up the criminals on the other boat. But the criminals are also heroes for throwing away the detonator.  So even in criminals there is a good side, while the heroes (Batman and Dent) have played the figure of Saint Peter.  

Another good one is Mr. Fox. The scene where Batman entrusts him with the gigantic sonar is superb. "It’s too much power for one person." "That’s why I gave it to you." "I will help you this once, but if this machine stays at Wayne Ent., I will resign." That giant sonar is the emblem of the dark knight: his purpose is good (to find Joker), but he does it with a terrible means, sign of a frighteningly Machiavellian soul: the end justifies the means.  "I must find that man, Lucius."  Batman is not bad thus; but he is not good either.

If there was another Hitler, would we accept being defended by a man like Batman? Let me know.