What Constitutes a Movie Blunder?

Movie mistakes occur more often than people expect.  Most blunders are subtle and can go unnoticed while others are more obvious.  If a person has seen the same movie more than once, he or she may be able to pick up on something that’s not quite right.  What exactly constitutes a movie blunder?

Continuity

Continuity occurs when an actor, prop, makeup or location resembles what was shown in the previous scene.  Did you ever watch a film where the actor or actress had his or her hair one way but it’s completely different the next second?  Did a prop mysteriously move from one corner to the next?  This can be considered an error in continuity.

Historical Inaccuracy

An historical mistake can occur when a prop, costume, character or scene occurs in the movie but, in reality, it is taken out of place and time.  For example, seeing a computer in a movie that takes place in the 1800s or seeing George Washington in modern day New York.

Technical Mistakes

Actors and actresses are surrounded by the film’s crew and equipment when they are on the set.  Although the production company tries to hide them from view, from time to time they can be seen in the film.  This can be in the form of a reflection of a crew person in a glass or a stray wire or microphone being caught in the scene.

Sound

Sound mistakes can occur in a number of ways in a movie.  Some voices can come across as garbled.  However, some of the more infamous sound mistakes occur when the character is talking but his or her lips aren’t movie or are out of sync.  This is usually due to voice over work.

Plot Mistakes

The plot of the movie carries the film from the beginning to the end.  There are two ways a movie can cause a plot mistake.  The movie can reveal too much about what is going to happen towards the end or the complete opposite can happen by not revealing enough.  When this occurs, it usually leaves everyone scratching their heads, wondering what’s going on.

No matter what the mistake is, movies are meant to be enjoyed.  Get that big bucket of buttered popcorn along with that cup of soda with extra ice, kick back and see what the cinema has to offer.  Hurry!  The movie’s about to start!

Check out our Movie Mistakes page!