Using the Riddler was a brilliant idea. He starts out sympathetic, and like a more violent version of Batman that brutally murders corruption. There's a deleted scene with the Joker that implies Bruce has a hard time totally disagreeing with Riddler.

That changes over the movie as he's confronted with what vengeance looks like. As much as he shouts about it in Arkham, him and Riddler are pretty much the same. That's what makes the Riddler's final scheme so pivotal I think. It explicitly becomes about vengeance -- convince disaffected extremists to gun down everyone in the high ground, where the newly elected mayor is having an election party, while flooding the rest of the city. It's explicitly revenge and vengeance, and pointedly, the new mayor is shown as trying to be a good guy and not like the corrupt fucks.

The whole movie is a huge lesson to Bruce that vengeance won't do anything and that he hasn't done anything to actually help the city. To help, he has to let the past go, and try to be a positive influence.

The movie was really realistic and down to earth, like you said, and I like it's messaging a lot. I'm hoping sequels keep that setting while Bruce starts to do more with his wealth to actually help, like the new mayor was urging him to do.

Totally agree though, the movie depicts what a real life Batman would look like -- driven by hate and anger and fury. Not a symbol or force for good. Not yet, anyway.