Best movie factual errors of 2014

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I, Frankenstein picture

Factual error: In the rat revival scene, Dr. Terra Wade, an electrophysiologist, demands that the other scientist, Dr. Bell increase the current, going as high as 200 joules. However, current is measured in amperes (amps), joules is a unit of energy.

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The Theory of Everything picture

Factual error: The view from the aircraft Jane is flown home from France in shows the modified double engine pod of the 747 famously at Dunsfold Airfield, Surrey. Also a late livery grey RAF VC-10 parked in the distance. Also the engines of the plane she is in are upgrades and not right for the year it is supposed to be happening. (01:23:20)

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Jersey Boys picture

Factual error: "Can't take my eyes off you" was released in May 1967. The recording scene of this song shows an Ampeg SVT amplifier in the background. Ampeg SVT was not available before 1969 and the specific model shown on the scene (with white rocker toggle) is a later 1976-1979 model. (01:54:10)

Gil Disatnik

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God's Not Dead picture

Factual error: During his final debate with Professor Radisson, Josh states that science supports the existence of God. There is no scientific evidence to support the existence of any god from any religion. This line is made all the more dubious given that the film earlier made reference to the works and writings of Richard Dawkins and Stephen Hawking - who are two of the most respected scientists on the planet and neither of whom are theists - as counterpoints to his decidedly unscientific claims in earlier debates.

Phaneron

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Draft Day picture

Factual error: Bo Callahan is described by an interviewer as the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner. However, the film portrays the 2014 NFL Draft (albeit a fictional version of it). The Heisman Trophy is awarded in December and the winner is always linked with the year of the season that was just played (excluding bowl games). The NFL Draft takes place in late April or early May. Therefore, the 2014 Heisman Trophy wouldn't be awarded for another 7 months. Callahan would have to have been the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner if he's the most recent recipient prior to the 2014 draft.

Vader47000

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Planes: Fire & Rescue picture

Factual error: The unit on Dusty's torque dial appears as FT/LB (i.e., FT divided by LB) which is incorrect. FT.LB (i.e., FT times LB) is a unit of torque.

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Ouija picture

Factual error: In the first scene of the film the girls are shown in a flashback playing with the Ouija board. When one of them holds the planchette up to the other one, the underside of it has text saying "© 2013" molded into the plastic, even though the scene is based years before that. (00:01:20)

Joshua

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Backcountry picture

Factual error: Writer/director Adam MacDonald boasted that he studied black bear predatory behavior and black bear attacks on humans for years in preparation for making this film, because he wanted to depict a black bear attack in as factual and as authentic a manner as possible. But, at the most crucial point in this film (when the black bear actually does attack Alex and Jenn), factual accuracy goes out the window. As Alex and Jenn cower in terror, the bear lunges into their tent and bites into Alex's leg; whereupon, Jenn fires a can of bear spray (a stifling pepper-based chemical) point-blank into the animal's face. The startled bear retreats for a moment, but then lunges into the tent again, dragging Alex outside and killing him; thereafter, the bear continues pursuing Jenn for the remainder of the film. However, according to years of extensive study by the University of Calgary, no bear has ever attacked a human after the animal was sprayed with bear spray, much less resumed an attack, as depicted in this film. To date, the success rate of defensive bear spray is 100%. So, the factual accuracy of "Backcountry" was abandoned for the sake of cheap thrills.

Charles Austin Miller

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The Interview picture

Factual error: When they are in the tank as the main gun is firing towards the helicopter and Kim, the breach is partially open as it "fires" and showers them with sparks. (01:40:00)

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Veronica Mars picture

Factual error: In the Logan departure scene near the end of the movie, Logan's naval officer uniform is missing his rank shoulder boards.

Mike Nix

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The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story picture

Factual error: In a first season scene that takes place at The Max, Kelly Kapowski is wearing sandals; Kelly never wore sandals on the show until the 3rd season at the beach club.

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Love & Mercy picture

Factual error: Brian Wilson's panic attack on the airplane takes place circa 1964. However, the interior of the plane had distinctive sculpted doors on the overhead bins, a style first introduced in 1983 on the Boeing 757.

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Pride picture

Factual error: About 20 minutes in, the group find a Welsh miners' group in the phone book. The character who is making the call speaks the first two digits of the phone number: "0, 1,..." The movie is set in 1984, when the dialling code for that district was "0639" In that year, "01" was the code for London, not Wales.

woodscooter

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Sharknado 2: The Second One picture

Factual error: When they're all on the 7 it makes an emergency stop at the 96 Street station, but that's impossible since that line only travels cross town along 42 Street, it doesn't go uptown to 96th.

Super Grover

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Foxcatcher picture

Factual error: The helicopter flown is a Bell 407. The movie is set in '88 and the first flight of this type was 1994.

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A Long Way Down picture

Factual error: When Jess meets her father and Martin on the embankment it is twenty to five in the afternoon, however this is between New Years Day and Valentines Day - it would be dark at this time of day in these months.

Liam D

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Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) picture

Factual error: The film makes use of a real Broadway theater, the St. James, which is on West 44th St. When they leave the stage door, the actors are next to the Edison Hotel, which is on 47th St.

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Predestination picture

Factual error: The picture of the bomb switch shows an Arduino Pro Mini. The Arduino Pro Mini was released in 2008, not in 1975. (01:21:20)

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Suggested correction: SPOILERS: The ending of the film reveals that the Fizzle Bomber is an older version of the Agent, who still has a functioning time machine. This simply shows that he is using parts from the future for his bombs.

BaconIsMyBFF

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The Grand Budapest Hotel picture

Factual error: The concierge in 1968 rushes to help a guest who is choking. The scene depicts him performing the Heimlich Maneuver. It was not introduced until the 1980's.

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