Factual error: The light and the noise from the explosion are in sync to the observers on earth. However, as anyone who has been to a fireworks display can tell you, sound travels much slower than light. In fact, as far away as the explosion was, it's questionable whether any noticeable sound would reach earth at all. Even if it did, it would be heard long after the light is seen.
Matty Blast
9th Nov 2013
Sliders (1995)
9th Nov 2013
Sliders (1995)
Factual error: When the missile intersects with the asteroid, and nothing happens right away, Arturo mentions to Bennish that light travels at over 186,000 miles per second, implying that the light from the explosion will take a moment to become visible. The problem is that by the time the missile is about to hit the asteroid, the light from the missile itself will have just as much lag time as the asteroid's explosion. The explosion should therefore have appeared immediately upon seeing the missile hit the asteroid.
24th Oct 2005
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Factual error: Neither of the two problems that Will completed on the hallway chalkboard were actually proofs. With a "proof," you start with a specific conclusion and show the work necessary to verify mathematically that the conclusion is correct. With both problems on the hallway chalkboard, however, the objectives were simply to calculate and arrive at the answers without knowing in advance what the answers were.
4th Jul 2005
Miracle (2004)
Factual error: After Baker scores the last-minute tying goal against Sweden, we see the opening of one of the ABC television broadcasts of the Olympics as it appeared in 1980. The specific arrangement of the Olympic Fanfare music we hear, however, did not exist until a few years later. It's an arrangement by John Williams that was made for the 1984 Olympics. The crash cymbals and chimes that accompany the opening tympani notes give it away.
23rd Jun 2005
Miracle (2004)
Factual error: At the start of the 2nd period, Al Michaels announces that the "Cone head" line is on the ice. In the actual game, it was the first line (Johnson/Silk/McClanahan) that started the 2nd period.
1st Apr 2005
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
Factual error: Picard reaches for the bowl of rotten fruit, winces in pain, and suddenly his fingernails have grown about an inch. This was due to the fruit bowl being inside an area where time was moving much faster. The problem is, in order for his fingernails to grow, blood would have to supply the needed nutrients to his fingers at the accelerated rate. Since his heart is in normal time, being away from the bowl of fruit, there is no way his fingernails could have grown like that - his heart is only supplying a normal-time-continuum's worth of blood.
Suggested correction: This entry conflates rapid growth with sped up time.
4th Mar 2005
Miracle (2004)
Factual error: In the movie, after the USSR's first goal, the announcer *correctly* announces that the goal was scored by Krutov, who deflected the puck in. In the actual game, she incorrectly announced that it was the player who made the initial slap-shot. (Later in the game, Al Michaels pointed out the correction while doing the play-by-play.).
1st Feb 2005
Miracle (2004)
Factual error: The arena in the movie is way too small. The Olympic Ice Arena in Lake Placid had a capacity of about ten thousand, with an entire second level. The only "second level" the arena in the movie has is the small balcony at the end of the ice.
18th Jan 2005
Miracle (2004)
Factual error: Al Michaels never referred to the Harrington/Schneider/Pavelich line as the "Conehead" line when announcing the game on ABC.
23rd Dec 2004
Miracle (2004)
Factual error: In the medal ceremony, the teams face one of the ends of the ice, not one of the sides.
7th Dec 2004
Miracle (2004)
Factual error: The exhibition game at Madison Square Garden took place at 2:00pm, not at night as the outside shot of the arena depicts.
23rd Nov 2004
Miracle (2004)
Factual error: The Finland team's uniforms (in the gold medal-winning game vs. the USA) were not gray; they were white with blue trim.
18th Sep 2004
Miracle (2004)
Factual error: In the movie, just before Mike Eruzione scored the game-winning goal, one of his teammates shouted "Rizzo," and passed the puck to him. That was not the case in the actual game. The puck inadvertently bounced over to where he was; no one intentionally passed it to him.
15th Sep 2004
Miracle (2004)
Factual error: The movie makes it clear that Jack O'Callahan's first game since his injury was the game against the Soviet Union. In actuality, he had some playing time in the preliminary game against West Germany.
29th Aug 2004
Miracle (2004)
Factual error: Jack O'Callahan was missing a couple of front teeth during the games. He had no missing teeth in the movie.
8th Aug 2004
Miracle (2004)
Factual error: There indeed was a moment in the game (vs. USSR) where Jim Craig was shaken up, but contrary to what's shown in the movie, the hit did not happen as the Soviets scored a goal. Furthermore, if a goalie is that flagrantly knocked down and out so that a teammate can get a shot off, it should be a two-minute penalty for "goaltender interference" and the goal disallowed.
8th Aug 2004
Miracle (2004)
Factual error: In the movie, Ken Dryden says something like, "In Madison Square Garden this team played very tentative hockey, very much in awe of the Soviet team. Tonight, they're playing like they're not in awe of anybody." He actually said that during team USA's 7-3 rout of Czechoslovakia.
6th Aug 2004
Miracle (2004)
Factual error: In the movie, after Mark Johnson scores the last-second goal in the first period against the Soviet Union, the ref indicates that the goal counts and time has expired. Both teams therefore go back to the dressing rooms. In the actual game, the ref ordered the timekeeper to put one second back on the clock, and called the players (most of whom had already gone back to the dressing rooms) back out to the ice for a face-off, to make the end of the period official.
28th Jul 2004
Miracle (2004)
Factual error: Even though Jack O'Callahan was injured and couldn't play until the medal round, he still suited up for each game and skated during warm-ups. In the movie, he's wearing a suit and tie while on the bench.
28th Jul 2004
Miracle (2004)
Factual error: In the exhibition game against Norway, Jim Craig is shown in goal for the US. It was actually the backup goaltender, Steve Janaszak, who played in that game.
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