Factual error: Inside the nebula, the Enterprise rises from below and fires a photon torpedo at the Reliant, striking it directly on the dorsal torpedo pod. Watch as the torpedo hits and the pod explodes. Large pieces of the bulkhead explode outward, then begin to fall downward towards the saucer section before they cut camera angles, despite there being nothing dragging them in that direction. (01:31:25)
Factual error: Many palace scenes in the mini-series are set in the Forbidden City. This is incorrect, as the Forbidden City was built under the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and not completed until about 1420, almost 100 years after Marco Polo's death.
Factual error: Pretty much everything that the ferrets do, Kodo and Podo, ferrets would NEVER do. Ferrets don't sound like that. Ferrets can't jump that high and that far (when the one attacked minister Zed).
Factual error: Unbelievable that for 30 years no one has pointed out that in every shot with the moon, except when the moon is full, the crescent is pointing the wrong direction. In the evening (ordering pizza), in the Northern Hemisphere (California), a crescent moon will always be pointing down to your right (the bright side will be on the lower right). The only time it could point the way it does in these scenes is in the wee hours of the morning, at 4 or 5 a.m. and looking to the East. Spielberg didn't even fix it in the re-release.
Suggested correction: Actually the problem with moon scenes that we see a crescending moonphase (less than a quarter) when Elliott first meet E.T. After that in a couple of days there is a full moon which could be reached in about 16-17 days from that phase which we saw first. It would be also about 11 days if the first shot was mirrored and actually was an increasing moonphase. But the whole story is about 6 days long. So a full moon couldn't be reached from a quarter of moon.
Factual error: When Alan gets the message that his security had been suspended at Encom, the computer gives a Date/Time stamp of Sept 22, 18:32:21 PM (6:32 PM) But at the time, it is shown to be pitch dark outside. Isn't 6:32 PM early to be completely dark outside in mid September (keeping in mind that no matter how far east one is, it can never be full dark outside at that time, at that period of the year). Also, why would the Time stamp have "PM" in it when it is using the 24-hour clock? (00:10:40)
Factual error: When Conan cuts off Thulsa Doom's head, and throws it over the parapet, it hits the stairs below and rolls a little way down. Not only are there absolutely no marks left on the stairs (there should at least be a small amount of blood), it sounds like something plastic is rolling down there.