Continuity mistake: When Commodus enters the chamber where he walks towards his father's statue, he has his hands hanging down. When it cuts his hands are folded. (Extended Version only). (01:38:15)
Continuity mistake: At the beginning of the film, when the Romans are about to fight the Germanians, a shot of some soldiers standing beside a war machine is shown. In the background, you can see that the fires for the archers are already lit. The next shot then show the same fires being lit and you can tell they are in the same place as the ones previously shown.
Deliberate mistake: When the chariot crashes through the gate we see an explosion coming from both sides of the gate. However there is no reasonable explanation why there would be an explosion, so this was probably done to make the scene look more dramatic. (01:22:55)
Revealing mistake: In the "Battle of Cartage" when the first of the chariots is turned over, right after Maximus is saying "Hold, hold...down low, down low," there is a series of shots to the crowd, there is a bearded man celebrating with both arms, and deep to his right (left on the screen) there's another man, wearing some kind of clothes with stripes black and white. Behind him, there is an old man who appears very briefly, and he's wearing glasses. (01:25:50)
Revealing mistake: During the gladiator battle where Maximus is fighting gladiators alone, there is a particular shot with the gladiator he recently sliced up the stomach on. First Maximus hits him in the face, and you can see blood gutter up from the ground instead of from his face. Then when it cuts to Maximus stabbing him, blood gutters from behind Maximus, when in fact the gladiator is standing in front of him. (01:04:20)
Continuity mistake: In the second battle scene where Maximus fights against six gladiators, he stabs one of them in the chest. Blood splatters everywhere and even all over Maximus' right arm. In the very next shot, his arm is miraculously clean. (01:04:20)
Continuity mistake: Before Lucilla gets to Commodus who asks her if she knows if Gracchus has a new lover suspecting her to be his new lover, she walks by two servants. The servant on the left is looking down with his head bowed. When it cuts he is suddenly standing up straight looking after Lucilla as she walks by. (Extended version only). (02:08:35)
Continuity mistake: In the middle, Commodus is sitting in a big chair and talking to Lucilla who is standing up. At the end of this scene, Commodus extends his right arm. In the following shot, the arm is a lot higher than the previous shot. (01:01:25)
Revealing mistake: In the shot after the Germanian leader get stabbed to death there is a Roman soldier and his horse falling to the ground. Look at the soldiers around him. They are moving unnaturally fast, like they are in fast forward. (00:10:35)
Continuity mistake: Just before the battle with against the Germanians begins, while the Germanians are taunting the Romans, there are many arrows in the trees and in the ground. Twice we see this. Problem is that the disciplined Romans had not fired a single arrow at that point and no skirmishers, which could have been authorized to shoot before the order to "loose" can be seen in the open area in front of the defensive position. (00:06:50)
Continuity mistake: After the battle with Tigris of Gaul, Maximus' neck was spread with tiger blood. But when he faced Commodus, no blood on his neck. (01:43:30 - 01:44:30)
Revealing mistake: When the firesquad has executed the two prisoners it cuts to a closeup of Lucilla. Later when it's time for Maximus to fight Commodus the exact closeup shot of Lucilla is being used over again. (Extended version only). (01:47:15 - 02:29:10)
Continuity mistake: When Maximus is finished praying for his son and his wife, he calls for Cicero. We then see Cicero walk in to Maximus from behind while holding a cloth in his right hand. When it cuts he is holding it in his left hand. (00:30:05)
Continuity mistake: When the soldiers take Maximus out into the woods to be executed, when Maximus says to the soldier "a soldiers death ", Maximus can be seen lowering his head, yet in the following shot, he is lowering his head again. (00:38:20)
Continuity mistake: When Aurelius gets on his horse and Maximus is helping him, you can see Aurelius' arms are under his cloak. When it cuts to Aurelius saying "So much for the glory of Rome" you can see his left arm is uncovered. (00:16:30)
Continuity mistake: During the battle of Carthage there is a scene where Juba jumps on to the back of a moving chariot. When it cuts the chariot is suddenly standing still, Juba is standing on the ground while his mates are grabbing the gladiator on the chariot. (01:24:30)
Continuity mistake: At one point during the first Germanian attack you see the Roman soldiers creating a line-up with shields, soon after followed by the Germanians running towards them off-hill (starting their attack). Clearly a few Germanian stopped fighting a little too early and you see them (left-side) turning and looking around. (00:09:15)
Visible crew/equipment: As the firesquad release their arrows at the two prisoners the protective pads under their shirts are quite visible. (Extended version only). (01:47:10)
Revealing mistake: In the Moroccan prison the iron bars are electric arc welded. As a blacksmith, I can easily spot the visual differences between electric arc welding (a modern technique) and pierced bar joinery such as the Romans would have used.
Character mistake: Prior to the opening battle, Quintus says "The danger to the calvary" instead of "cavalry." (00:04:00)
Chosen answer: You're probably closest with the suggestion that they're rather stunned at the sheer speed with which Maximus has carved through the opposition. They'd certainly be used to more of a show, so for Maximus to slay all his challengers in less than a minute would take them aback. If anything, the "Are you not entertained" is closer to the theatrics that they'd really expect to see, which would prompt them into cheering him - up to that point, he's not exactly won their favour, even though he's defeated all comers.
Tailkinker ★