Factual error: As they are walking among some trees in Grenada, during an overhead shot an American robin's warning call is heard. There is no way that bird is on Grenada.
Continuity mistake: When Highway walks into the bar for the first time, his old friend the barmaid pulls him a pint and the beer is level with the glass handle. When he drinks from it the beer is past the top of the handle.
Factual error: During training and the invasion of Grenada scenes they show the Marines wearing PASGT Kevelar helmets. Marines did not wear PASGT helmets until 1984. The invasion of Grenada was in 1983.
Answer: It's because it's a movie. The plot could not ably handle the stories of twenty different characters while maintaining the action's pace and a cohesive story line within a two-hour time frame. It instead focuses on a few key characters.
raywest ★