Curt Connors, and Peter's major.

[chris moore]

In the comics, Curt Connors is a herpetologist, or to not pigeon hole the guy, a molecular biologist will do. Also in the comics, the closest specialty we can guess for Peter is a chemist, possibly a biochemist (but he does tend to lean more toward full on chemistry rather than biological molecules).

So why oh why would they make Peter's major in the movie, Physics? And why make Connors a Physics Professor? It tied into the second movie to force a meeting with Octavius, who has always been a physicist. But if they ever wanted to use the Lizard in a movie (which Producer Grant Curtis would like), how would they say Connors became the lizard? Certainly wouldnt have been experimenting with reptilian DNA to replace his lost arm now would it? Although if you had a physics Professor messing with reptilian DNA when he doesnt know what the hell he's doing you'd probably expect some massive cock up now would you.

Further, Connors even stated in the third movie that he was no biologist when Peter brought him the symbiote sample (why would you take a symbiote sample to your physics Professor Peter - its not the only class you're taking)

 

[Spidey]

The less continuity carried over from the third film, the better.

 

[Theven]

While it would make more sense, and it would be more true to the comics, to have Connors be a biologist, I don't find it entirely impossible to explain your questions. These answers may be a stretch, but if they wanted to keep with movie continuity, these would be my best explanations:

Certainly wouldnt have been experimenting with reptilian DNA to replace his lost arm now would it?

Even though he's a physics professor, he is a professor working at (presumably) a research institution with a lot of resources and quality peers. Say that he lost his arm after he became a professor, who's to say that he didn't spend all his time using the resources available to him at the university to research DNA, specifically reptile DNA, to regrow his arm. I mean, in addition to books, laboratory equipment and space, he has faculty members who could help him out.

Further, Connors even stated in the third movie that he was no biologist when Peter brought him the symbiote sample (why would you take a symbiote sample to your physics Professor Peter - its not the only class you're taking)

I didn't find the fact that Peter took the symbiote to Connors (rather than a biologist) too unbelievable. I mean, he trusts Connors, and knows him relatively well. It looked like they were looking at the sample late at night, and I doubt that he would have asked a professor he knew less well to do him a favor at 3AM. Plus, worst case, if Connors didn't know it, he could have asked someone else to check it out.

 

[MrSinisterX3]

Good points, another screw up. Hopefully they can explain this in a believable way in spidey 4.

 

[Gigo]

Good points, another screw up. Hopefully they can explain this in a believable way in spidey 4.

Sure they will, green goo from space will fall on Doc Conners turning him into the lizard. Or he'll be bitten by a radioactive iguana.

Here we go, Conners will ( using his knowledge of physics) invent a ray capable of reversing time and entropy, he'll attempt to use the ray to regrow his arm and wind up regressing himself to a proto-human state, a biological throwback.

Sam hasn't exactly been fiercely loyal to the comics, it wouldn't surprise me to find out he's gone and tinkered with the lizard's backstory.

 

[drmick]

The films seem to be treating everybody at university as a science student or scientist.

(Co-incidentally I don't think the comics have ever tied Peter down to a particular subject, I do remember him saying something once like "Biology has never been my forte, MJ" or something, when discussing losing his powers in the early 90s).

Connors was a physicist in Spidey 2 as well, but not many picked up on it.

Doc Ock, a physicist, also side-tracked into computer programming and artificial intelligence, not exactly a close cousin of physics.

The ironic thing being that Ivan Raimi (who plotted 2 and 3) is an ER doctor, and thus would know the diffeence between the different science subjects.

 

[Visionary]

No one gives a sh:t about this stuff, except for nerds who have comics in their closet, where the porn should be. 800M worldwide in less than 4 weeks says you MoFos are going to show up, even if Curt Connors is a f---ing tap dancer.

 

[Mara Jane]

I'm not sure Pete's major was specifically stated in the comics; my impression was that his degree (possibly the grad degree he never finished) was in biophysics.

 

[FlawlessVictory]

Raimi still needs to figure out that there are no bullies in college.

 

[pjspider1C]

^ Not bullies - just dumbasses.

You've got to give Dr. Connors credit though. For someone who's not a biologist, he did do a pretty good job analyzing the symbiote and discovering it's characteristics. So, obviously the guy has some biological know-how...

 

[Mara Jane]

Raimi still needs to figure out that there are no bullies in college.

Haha! I thought the same thing. That was a small class Pete was in, which means it was probably high level, too.

 

[Mr Jide]

I'm not sure Pete's major was specifically stated in the comics; my impression was that his degree (possibly the grad degree he never finished) was in biophysics.

Yeah it was either that or biochemistry but it was definately 1 of the 2.

 

[The Lizard]

even if Curt Connors is a f---ing tap dancer.

 

[Abaddon]

Connor's will use the sample he kept of the symbiote

 

[chris moore]

Well, Visionary brought some intelligence to the table now didnt he...

The discussion here is the exact same kinda thing a non-reader would talk about with his mates when leaving the cinema - anyone'd go "so why did he take the thing to his physics professor?"

The point about Connors, and the major is only because Raimi is said to be incredibly passionate about the character and his history and keeping it true to the comics - but clearly there are some aspects of the history that he's willing to change not for improving the character (such as organic webbing, whic Stan Lee was right cinematically and compared to the 60's IS far better), but purely to move the story from one place to another, such as making Connors a physicist and Peter a physics major simply to give him a reason to befriend Octavius so he can appeal to his better nature as Peter rather than Spider-Man later on in the film.

It'd be nice for the comics I think, to nail down Peter's expertise and either give him a first degree or state that he quit college before he could complete it - New Avengers had just started to touch on Tony wanting Peter to use his science brain before the civil war. Just when I thought they were going to start showcasing his genius again...

 

[Mr Jide]

Thats one thing that pissed me off about sm2. Peter taking his mask off to reason with Ock. If it was to showcase and appeal via science talk, Peter could have kept his damn mask on and said the things he needed to say. Its something even the 90s animated series got right, Peter showcasing his science-know-how while in costume. I remember, some of the villains such as kingpin were impressed and somewhat shocked that spider-man appeared to be a scientist.

 

[pjspider1C]

Thats one thing that pissed me off about sm2. Peter taking his mask off to reason with Ock. If it was to showcase and appeal via science talk, Peter could have kept his damn mask on and said the things he needed to say. Its something even the 90s animated series got right, Peter showcasing his science-know-how while in costume. I remember, some of the villains such as kingpin were impressed and somewhat shocked that spider-man appeared to be a scientist.

Yes, but Dr. Octopus hated Spider-Man - so why would he listen to him? Otto Octavious needed to be reasoned with by someone he knew and trusted - Peter Parker.

 

[Blader5489]

Thats one thing that pissed me off about sm2. Peter taking his mask off to reason with Ock. If it was to showcase and appeal via science talk, Peter could have kept his damn mask on and said the things he needed to say. Its something even the 90s animated series got right, Peter showcasing his science-know-how while in costume. I remember, some of the villains such as kingpin were impressed and somewhat shocked that spider-man appeared to be a scientist.

Peter was trying to convince Ock to give up his dream and destroy his experiment. The only way to get that through to Ock was for Peter to reveal himself. Ock could only be convinced to stop his project if he were to be reasoned with from one scientist to another.

 

[Visionary]

Haha...now that's comedy! t:

 

[El Payaso]

No fingergunning?

 

[Mr Jide]

...and thats exactly what I'm saying. Spider-man is a scientist. Pete could have kept the mask on and conversed scientifically with Ock. As a scientist, Ock would have appreciated and respected that in spider-man. Pete taking off the mask was just bad writing that was probably used to make Peter revealing his ID to MJ a whole lot easier, which in itself was just shoddy writing.

 

[chris moore]

Which is what happens with every villain in every movie. I know the experssions of Tobey are important, and the mask hinders that side of acting. But having his damn mask rip revealing three quarters of his face, or come off completely every time he's in a big battle really annoys me.

 

[Leenie]

They made Curt Conners a physicist because of Spider-Man 2. Peter had to write a paper on fusion, which resulted in him meeting Otto Octavius.

But, if we can draw something from Spider-Man 3, Conners found some interest in studying the symbiote. Perhaps that will make him interested in biology? If so, it's a good opening for Conners to start working with lizard DNA for his arm ... Yeah ...

Really, all they need to do for Spider-Man 4 is have Conners say something like, "I've been working on biology lately." That's it. No biggie.

 

[chris moore]

Maybe something like noticing how the symbiote can draw additonal mass from somewhere to encompass a greater area, and the nature of venom shooting weblines composed of the symbiote itself leading him to think he can combine its properties with reptilian material to promote rapid regenration of his lost arm - but the combination proves unstable and the symbiote reacts with the reptilian DNA, re-writing his DNA with the reptiles (much the same as the symbiote attempts to eventually replace its host by re-writing the hosts DNA). The feeding off agression property of the symbiote also plays a part, resulting in the hind brain mentality of the lizard subjugating Connors rational mind.

 

[drmick]

No one gives a sh:t about this stuff, except for nerds who have comics in their closet, where the porn should be. 800M worldwide in less than 4 weeks says you MoFos are going to show up, even if Curt Connors is a f---ing tap dancer.

Did your little brother post using your account?