Looking towards the fifteen-year anniversary of Label, Label Features take a look at some of the best (or worst) movie mistakes over the past fifteen years. Which one’s did you spot?
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Remember those German Tanks that set up the climax of the movie? The Tanks used were actually Soviet T-34’s, who were over the other side of Europe at the time.
The Mummy (1999)
The intricate mirror system that lights the tomb during major parts of the film would only actually last about four minutes before everything became darkness and scarabs came for you. This was tested by the Mythbusters!
Gladiator (2000)
When one of the chariots falls in this exciting blockbuster scene, you can see a gas canister in the back. The Romans were advanced for their time, but not quite that advanced.
Pearl Harbour (2001)
Michael Bay ‘s historical rewriting hasn’t done him any favours. Probably the worst mistake of this film was showing Japanese fighters attacking hospitals and non-combatants!
Spiderman (2002)
During the kiss scene the camera changes angle. From one angle it’s raining, another it’s not and at the end pouring as if they’re in a storm
Pirates of the Caribbean – The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
When Jack re-claims the Pearl and says “On deck you Scabrous Dogs” (yes that is a real word), one of the film crew in the background is wearing a cowboy hat, Aviators and staring off into the sea.
The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
The tidal wave that strikes Manhattan is shown coming from the west (New Jersey), as opposed to the east (where the Atlantic Ocean is)!
War of the Worlds (2005)
Dealing with reflective surfaces in movies is difficult. When Ray offers to get the kids some food, you can see crewmembers in the glass window behind Cruise’s character.
Mission Impossible 3 (2006)
The tense scene where Cruise has to wait thirty seconds for the defibrillator to charge to 150 joules… is entirely unrealistic, as defibrillators actually only take ten seconds to get to 360 joules. And secondly, the sexy dress that Maggie Q wears to the Vatican would probably get her arrested sharpish, as shoulders are not allowed to be uncovered on Vatican soil.
300 (2007)
In the scene where Leonidas’ fighting switches from slow to fast motion, when the blood gets near to the ground, it vanishes entirely! CGI – promoting historical inaccuracies and scientific impossibilities throughout time!
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
When Dr Irina Spalko is descending the cliff, you can briefly see the harness cable that is holding her up next to the rope on which she is climbing.
Avatar (2009)
One of the most successful movies of this century? Check. Highly detailed CGI and special effects? Check. Mistakes? Oh heck yes. Which should kill him, and quickly.
Toy Story 3
When Woody is looking at Andy's high school graduation picture in his room, there is a concert ticket in the upper left corner of the screen and another one just below it for a band called ‘Humble Beginnings’ both with a date of Saturday, November 17, 2009. This date actually fell on a Tuesday.
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows – Part Two (2011)
For the attentive Harry Potter fans, a recurring theme of the franchise is that Harry ‘has his Mother’s eyes’. Unfortunately, Daniel Radcliffe’s eyes are pale blue, while the actress who plays Lily’s eyes are brown. Neither of which are the green that the book describes them as. Maybe wizards are colour-blind?
Avengers Assemble (2012)
Tony Stark’s chest ring glows through his shirt during the film, except for two occasions when it’s suddenly off, after Loki escapes from the helicarrier and when they are talking in Stark tower.
A Good Day To Die Hard (2013)
We finish with a mistake from the new movie from the Die Hard series. When the actors are walking into a vault at Chernobyl, a cameraman is reflected in one guy’s gas mask visor.
With more summer blockbusters coming out this year, such as Man of Steel and Iron Man 3, we can presume that there will soon be a new wave of incorrect fact checking, accidental continuity errors and anachronisms that will provide pedants with reams of material to complain about. Or, alternatively, you could always play mistake based drinking games instead!
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