Continuity mistake: In one of the major battles, Wallace is charging down a hill with a large sword in his hand. During the charging it changes to being a small pick axe type tool. Then around the middle of the charge there is a quick shot change and almost from the same angle the pick axe has disappeared. It then changes back to a large sword, a quick change back to the pick axe, then back to the large sword. (01:28:20)
Continuity mistake: In the scene where Longshanks returns from France, confronts Prince Edward, and the soldier has left the basket with the head of the Prince of York, Edward reaches to remove the cover with his left hand, his right hand is on his hip. When the angle changes he is lifting the cover off with his right hand and his left is on his hip, when the angle cuts back, his right hand is back on his hip and his left hand is moving away from the basket. (01:41:30)
Continuity mistake: When Wallace first meets Princess Isabelle and is left alone with her in the tent, the wimple she is wearing appears to have a life of its own - first it's on her chin, then over her chin, and then under her chin. (01:47:10)
Continuity mistake: In the scene where William Wallace charges after the king's brigade after the Battle of Falkirk, and Robert the Bruce (disguised) turns and charges at him with a lance, Robert is wearing two distinctly different silver helmets before he hits Wallace and after. These two helmets are seen interchangeably in the preceding scenes also. (02:02:00)
Continuity mistake: In the prison cell scene, after Princess Isabelle enters the cell and the jailor leaves, the jailor leaves the cell door half closed. The camera moves to William again then back to Princess Isabelle and the door is now fully open. (02:28:45)
Continuity mistake: At the end when Wallace is being led to be executed, he is pelted with food. Much of it sticks to his face and hair. A few moments later when they are standing him up he is completely clean. (02:37:50)
Continuity mistake: During the scene in which William Wallace is being executed, the camera pans the crowd and shows the ragged peasants staring in silence. An extra, who is a young woman with light hair and a dirty face and is standing near the front of the shot, stares directly at the camera for a few seconds while all the other extras look in a different direction towards the execution. (02:44:00)
Suggested correction: That is purposely done. It is meant to show her locking eyes with Wallace.
Continuity mistake: In a major fight scene two soldiers on opposite sides are jumping and spinning and tapping each other on the head with their swords.
Continuity mistake: In another major battle scene William Wallace is running into battle with a bloody claymore in his hand. In the next shot of him it is back in its sheath. Then in another scene he has it in his grasp again, but this time it is clean.
Continuity mistake: In the first large battle with England at Falkirk the same scenes are used when the English fire the arrows. The first time the arrows are fired, a blonde young man is hit in the foot, they then moon the English so they fire again and the same man is seen getting hit in the same foot. A man in the same battle is shot in the hip - when he grabs the wound you can see the shape of the cushioned bulb that the arrow is attached to. If you watch during all the battle scenes you can detect men who are supposed to be on opposite sides standing and talking, also you can see the choreographed moves being played out in almost slow motion - their swords aren't even striking.
Continuity mistake: At Stirling an English archer is hit by the nobles on horseback causing his helmet to fall off. He's then hit again and somehow his helmet falls off again. Then when he lands he is still wearing his helmet despite it having fallen off (twice).
Continuity mistake: When Wallace, Hamish and Stephen burn the hut with the English soldiers inside watch for a fourth man who appears for one shot only then disappears. He also has a torch despite Stephen only lighting three.
Continuity mistake: In the scene where the English spy is killed by the crazy Irishmen, the sword handle changes from being horizontal to vertical in consecutive shots.
Continuity mistake: When William comes to take Murron on a horse ride in the rain, he talks to Murron's parents. The camera cuts to Murron a couple of times, ducking under the shelter, and her hair is completely dry. But when she rushes out and jumps onto William's horse, her hair is soaked. Obviously this scene took several takes, and they didn't take the time to dry the actress's hair between each take.
Continuity mistake: When heavy cavalry charge the Scots in the first major battle, the camera cuts to a quick shot of the Scots holding the long spears before Wallace actually gives the signal.
Continuity mistake: At the end, when the main executioner bends down, his cloak shifts and you can see he is wearing brown shoes with red rubber soles. These rubber soled shoes are worn today and had not been invented yet.
Continuity mistake: At the very end of the movie, watch the man standing to the left of the Bruce at Banickburn. In a shot from behind, there is a man with very short and curly hair. In the very next shot, from the front this time, a different man with very long and straight hair is to Robert's left.
Continuity mistake: When William realizes that the Bruce has been bought by the King, he gives up and lies on the ground. Earlier, he had been hit with an arrow and if you look hard you can see the arrow move when he lies down. This shows the arrow to be attached to his clothing and not actually piercing his body.
Continuity mistake: After Murron's funeral, Wallace kneels before her father, who at first makes a fist, then places his hand flat on Wallace's head. His palm is down, fingers outstretched. But when it cuts to the wide shot, he's suddenly gripping Wallace's hair in his fist.
Continuity mistake: In the scene where the English on horseback charge the Scots, look at the lighting on the ground. One moment it appears to be sunny, and the next it is cloudy.
