Batman Begins Scarecrow Question?

[AlterEgo]

I know I'm going to see dumb for asking this but could someone clear this up for me, please. In the movie, Batman sprays Scarecrow with his own gas and thus Scarecrow's worst fears are revealed. What is the fear? Batman turns into this weird green-ish person. Can anyone explain?

 

[The Joker]

That's a good question actually. I remember when Scarecrow got sprayed with fear gas in the Batman Animated Series by Batman, he was scared of big freaky bats, which is what he imagined Batman to be.

 

[El Payaso]

Fear gas' hallucinations were for me one big weak point in the movie. SOmetyimes they're like a weak dose of lsd, sometimes they're different.

In Rachel's case, she's supposed to get a high dose ("human mind can only take so much" or so Crane said) and she barely saw some glittering trees (!!!???!!!).

Now, for me the question is, if Scarecrow got the same dose of the same concentrated gas as Rachel did, why didn't he die or lose his mind completely as Rachel was supposed to?

 

[Brother Jack]

I don't think it was ever explicitly stated that the gas in the film showed the victim's worst fears, just fears that they had. Crane was afraid of Batman so the toxin made him appear as a monster.

 

[Ipodman]

I always assumed it was the Joker lol

 

[IndyJokerJones]

When Crane became a Yellow Lantern the exchange basically went like:
"But first you must confront your greatest fear..."
"Batman"
"What?"
"It's Batman"
"Okay, here's your ring."

So yeah, Crane getting dosed with his own fear toxin (which I'm sure he's pretty accustomed to which is why he didn't get it as bad as Rachel and recovered pretty quickly) made Batman into the personified monster he wants criminals to see him as.

 

[LightningFlash]

In Rachel's case, she's supposed to get a high dose ("human mind can only take so much" or so Crane said) and she barely saw some glittering trees (!!!???!!!).

Could Rachel's biggest fear be of the day Bruce fell down the well? There were a lot of greenery in that area; maybe her fear was re-playing that moment in her life all over again.

When Crane became a Yellow Lantern the exchange basically went like:
"But first you must confront your greatest fear..."
"Batman"
"What?"
"It's Batman"
"Okay, here's your ring."

So yeah, Crane getting dosed with his own fear toxin (which I'm sure he's pretty accustomed to which is why he didn't get it as bad as Rachel and recovered pretty quickly) made Batman into the personified monster he wants criminals to see him as.

The gas obviously didn't kill Crane, but it made him go crazier than ever. He got his mask back, stole a horse and rode around the Narrows. During The Dark Knight, he seemed to have calmed down, but perhaps the gas just made him go a little bit too insane instead of just killing him.

 

[The Englishman]

Could Rachel's biggest fear be of the day Bruce fell down the well? There were a lot of greenery in that area; maybe her fear was re-playing that moment in her life all over again.



The gas obviously didn't kill Crane, but it made him go crazier than ever. He got his mask back, stole a horse and rode around the Narrows. During The Dark Knight, he seemed to have calmed down, but perhaps the gas just made him go a little bit too insane instead of just killing him.

Thats what i always thought too...

 

[El Payaso]

Could Rachel's biggest fear be of the day Bruce fell down the well? There were a lot of greenery in that area; maybe her fear was re-playing that moment in her life all over again.

That makes me think that the fear gas could have been brilliantly used to explore the characters' main frears. Instead, we had some slight lsd-like effects that were inconsistent all the time (Crane saw a concrete bat-demon, the rest of people in the last act barely saw some skulls over other people's faces and Rachel barely saw some sparkling trees).

But that wasn't the popint. Thing is that if that gas' concentration was so dangerous, why didn't Crane had some significative effects? Hell, he looked less affected and less scared than Falcone.

The gas obviously didn't kill Crane, but it made him go crazier than ever. He got his mask back, stole a horse and rode around the Narrows. During The Dark Knight, he seemed to have calmed down, but perhaps the gas just made him go a little bit too insane instead of just killing him.

So... that's it? He put his mask and stole a horse? That's the oh-so-terrible effect of the fear gas, which was so dangerous for Rachel? And then - as you say - the effects died down after a while, so where was the big danger? It seems to me that the human mind could take those effects. Sure, it's no pic-nic but not a vital danger.

 

[LightningFlash]

That makes me think that the fear gas could have been brilliantly used to explore the characters' main frears. Instead, we had some slight lsd-like effects that were inconsistent all the time (Crane saw a concrete bat-demon, the rest of people in the last act barely saw some skulls over other people's faces and Rachel barely saw some sparkling trees).

But that wasn't the popint. Thing is that if that gas' concentration was so dangerous, why didn't Crane had some significative effects? Hell, he looked less affected and less scared than Falcone.

Well it would make some sense that Crane's newest fear was Batman, and as for the people running through the Narrows after the Arkham breakout, they also saw a giant bat flying through the sky. I mean, the city has a new hero in the form of a bat, that would scare a lot of people during that time and people would start to fear the bat itself, especially Arkham's inmates.

That's what I had thought of though; it may still make Scarecrow's fear gas look weak, but that's what I thought of. Perhaps Crane gives little credit to the mind, not realizing that his gas doesn't destroy the mind, it just makes it go crazy.

So... that's it? He put his mask and stole a horse? That's the oh-so-terrible effect of the fear gas, which was so dangerous for Rachel? And then - as you say - the effects died down after a while, so where was the big danger? It seems to me that the human mind could take those effects. Sure, it's no pic-nic but not a vital danger.

Again, maybe Crane gave the mind little credit. But for Rachel, her true love was really Bruce, so maybe seeing trees and what not, maybe it was her re-playing the time Bruce fell down that well. To some, it's a giant bat, to Crane, it was a stone-Batman that kept oozing black tar out of its mouth, and to Bruce, it was bats itself; but to Rachel, it could've been losing the one she cares most about.

And, you may not call it vital danger, but loosing your mind is pretty dangerous, imo.

 

[ALP]

Yeah Crane did not seem to have a big problem to the fear gas like everyone else did. They were all panicking while Crane was exposed to the gas, saw the demon-bat, and acted like he was high.

I don't think people saw their worst fears, there is little to support that. They just saw whatever was in front of them magnified by fear. Crane ONLY saw the demon-bat because Batman was in front of him. If Batman were not hovering over him or anywhere in sight, I highly doubt he would have still seen the giant bat. Same for the people running through the narrows. They only saw a giant demon bat with red eyes because Batman was gliding over them. Also goes for Rachel- she saw maggot's on Scarecrow's face not because maggots are her worst fears(LOL) but because Scarecrow was right in front of her.

 

[LightningFlash]

But there's the confusion though as Batman saw bats crawl out of Scarecrow's mask and that is Bruce's worst fear.

 

[Mister H.]

Well, I think some of you guys are overcomplicating this. It was a panic inducing hallucinogen, so whatever the situation a person might be when gassed would influence the bad "trip" they were having. Just like when you have a bad trip on acid. This whole idea that everything we see in the hallucinations are the projection of some psychic rift or hidden fear of the user/victim is way off. The entire world becomes frightening, and the things in closest proximity that are interacting with you (especially the hostile ones) become terrifying tormenters.

Falcone was in a cell with Scarecrow. The gas induced a state of morbid panic, and the Scarecrow became the object of those fears. Just like when Rachel was in an elevator, alone, with Scarecrow. He became the object of her fear.

When Scarecrow is gassed by Batman he naturally sees the still mysterious monster that the Dark Knight has become in the minds of criminals early in his career.

The folks in the Narrows see a giant bat shped object flying overhead and it becomes a horrible wraith. Etc., etc.

I thought it was all pretty clear the first time I saw the film.

 

[Mister H.]

Yeah Crane did not seem to have a big problem to the fear gas like everyone else did. They were all panicking while Crane was exposed to the gas, saw the demon-bat, and acted like he was high.

I don't think people saw their worst fears, there is little to support that. They just saw whatever was in front of them magnified by fear. Crane ONLY saw the demon-bat because Batman was in front of him. If Batman were not hovering over him or anywhere in sight, I highly doubt he would have still seen the giant bat. Same for the people running through the narrows. They only saw a giant demon bat with red eyes because Batman was gliding over them. Also goes for Rachel- she saw maggot's on Scarecrow's face not because maggots are her worst fears(LOL) but because Scarecrow was right in front of her.

I guess I just repeated you above, as my haste to reply caused me to jump the gun and not read all the posts. Didn't mean to be your echo!

 

[RustyCage]

ALP and Mister H. pretty much nailed it.

I also don't see why it's so surprising that someone like Crane is 'less effected' by fear. He's the goddamn Scarecrow!

 

[ALP]

But there's the confusion though as Batman saw bats crawl out of Scarecrow's mask and that is Bruce's worst fear.

I really don't think that bats are his single greatest fear but he just saw them as the first panic inducing image to enter his mind. For Batman he saw Bats coming out of Scarecrow's mask, for Rachel she saw maggots coming out of the mask, and Falcone just saw the Scarecrow face swooping at him in horror.

I guess I just repeated you above, as my haste to reply caused me to jump the gun and not read all the posts. Didn't mean to be your echo!

Oh no problem, I prefer the way you worded itt:

 

[LightningFlash]

I really don't think that bats are his single greatest fear but he just saw them as the first panic inducing image to enter his mind. For Batman he saw Bats coming out of Scarecrow's mask, for Rachel she saw maggots coming out of the mask, and Falcone just saw the Scarecrow face swooping at him in horror.

Bruce stated that he wanted the criminals to share in his fear while making the batarangs. I would think bats was his greatest fear as there would be no other reason for him to make that statement.

 

[ALP]

Bruce stated that he wanted the criminals to share in his fear while making the batarangs. I would think bats was his greatest fear as there would be no other reason for him to make that statement.

I understand...but I always took that as a thematic thing.

Bats truly being his deepest, darkest, greatest fear is a tad silly

I just imagine that his greatest fear would be something with far more deeper value than the superficiality of a bat. If a giant bat killed his parents it would make more sense lol. Instead they're just his fear because they're fuzzy, ugly, and black? I simply imagine his greatest fear is deeper- more like being unable to win his one man war on crime. Or thinking that he disappointed his parents, etc. Understand what I mean?

 

[Mister H.]

Bruce stated that he wanted the criminals to share in his fear while making the batarangs. I would think bats was his greatest fear as there would be no other reason for him to make that statement.

I think the fear of bats and their materialization in his hallucination has more to do with a fear of himself, a fear of what he may be and a fear of what he may become.

 

[LightningFlash]

I understand...but I always took that as a thematic thing.

Bats truly being his deepest, darkest, greatest fear is a tad silly

I just imagine that his greatest fear would be something with far more deeper value than the superficiality of a bat. If a giant bat killed his parents it would make more sense lol. Instead they're just his fear because they're fuzzy, ugly, and black? I simply imagine his greatest fear is deeper- more like being unable to win his one man war on crime. Or thinking that he disappointed his parents, etc. Understand what I mean?

It's not that silly...my deepest, darkest, greatest fear is clowns.

And not Christopher Nolan type of clowns.

Doink the Clown type of clowns.

 

[2Serious]

It´s actually funny but Scarecrow is in the beginning mostly scared of birds. Thus coming in contact with his own gas, its picking birds that he fears.

I the later episodes he is mostly not afraid of anything, as it explains: because coming in contact with the fear-gas one or two times too much. It is stated though, that Scarecrows only fear is our Dark Knight himself.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

Maybe its the face of his mother. Because the Scarecrow strangled his mother on Mother's day. Jeph Loeb drilled that fact in my head.