Devoted moviegoers sometimes spot mistakes that detract from the aesthetic and historical value of cinematographic works. Some with keen eyesight can spot mistakes on the background, and these might simply be because of oversight or lack of time.
In historical films, realism and fidelity can take a backseat when it comes to artistic license.
Here are some films that contain technical and continuity mistakes that make us revaluate their aesthetic worth. Some of these films took the liberty to rewrite history for their convenience, an unforgivable act for lovers of history, and even more so for those that uphold the didactic value of cinema. Here goes:
Gladiator, Ridley Scott (2000)
It is not easy filming an epic movie, since there are many technical ambitions to overcome. In the “Battle of Carthage” in the Coliseum, one of the chariots hits a wall and is turned over. Once the dust settles you can clearly see a gas cylinder on its back.
Marie Antoinette, Sofia Coppola (2006)
Adorned with beautiful and scintillating gowns, Marie Antoinette spends her time suffering disappointing encounters with her husband Louis XVI. Some believe he suffered a medical condition known as phimosis and no matter how many artistic licences Coppola took, some situations are impossible to replicate.
Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino (1994)
While acclaimed by critics and winner of the Cannes’ Palm d’Or, this film is not saved from mistakes spotted by a discerning eye. In a scene where Jules and Vincent manage to escape a gunfight, before the first shot is fired we can already see bullet holes riddling the walls. This is a bit anticlimactic considering this is one of the most tense scenes in the whole film. “What happened here was a miracle,” Jules states, and we couldn’t agree more.
Pearl Harbor, Michael Bay (2001)
A date that will live in infamy ―a day on which 2,400 US troops were slaughtered― is turned into an action thriller combined with a love triangle. Pearl Harbor stages the attack that propelled America into the war, as completely unexpected, even showing Admiral Kimmel playing golf as it starts. The reality is that this Japanese surprise attack was entirely expected, following the declassification of a memo after the 70-year anniversary of Pearl Harbor.
Terminator 3, Jonathan Mostow (2003)
This film is plagued with errors. The most obvious one is the plane’s tail number changing when it lifts off and once it is on the air. It is possible this plane is a new Transformer, talk about a film crossover!
Jaws, Steven Spielberg (1975)
Today the shark robots are not believable, and it provokes more laughter than fear. However, it is the performance of Robert Shaw that continues to make this scene one of the most dramatic death sequences in cinematic history. To protect himself against the sharp shark teeth, Shaw is wearing a type of protective rubber, which is impossible not to notice.
The Passion of the Christ Mel Gibson (2004)
Mel Gibson presents a well-intentioned Pontius Pilate desperately trying to appease a bloodthirsty crowd that hollers for the death of Jesus. Historians tell another tale of an unjust and cruel leader who crucified hundreds under his mandate. Why did Mel Gibson decide to victimize Pontius Pilate?
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North by Northwest, Alfred Hitchcock (1959)
Not even the master of suspense is mistake-free. In this sequence, you can see on the background one of the extras covering his ears right before Eve shoots Roger.
Forrest Gump, Robert Zemeckis (1994)
When Forrest goes to Jenny’s house to meet her son, on the background you see an upright flatiron and when the scene changes we see it lying down.
Braveheart, Mel Gibson (1995)
One of the biggest movie errors of all time and one of the hardest to spot. A white van appears in several scenes, most notably in one of the battle sequences of the film. The van obviously detracts from the historic worth of Gibson’s film.
These errors might have been oversights, but today spectators and enthusiasts are more attentive than ever, and they can pick up any technical mistake.
