The Scorpion King

Factual error: All swords in this movie are made from steel, and in the beginning it's said that the film takes place years before the Pyramids were built (they were built around 3200 BC). Steel wouldn't be around for 2000 more years. (00:03:50 - 00:12:40)

Factual error: When the guards go into the cave to find Mathayus, and after a guard says "stay on the rocks," a shot shows the feet walking along the rocks. One of the guards is clearly wearing white laces in his shoes. The other is wearing leather laces. (00:42:35)

Factual error: During the final fight in the palace, the traitor Takmet wears chainmail, more than 2000 years before it was invented. This movie takes place before the Pyramids were built (ca. 3200 BC), and chainmail was not invented until 1000 BC.

Twotall

Factual error: During Memnon's training session, at least one of his opponents uses a Japanese training sword known as a shinai. You can see this most clearly after the fight, when one of the weapons lying on the ground comes into view. Not only did the Egyptians and Japanese not have any contact with each other at this time, but this particular training weapon had not yet been invented.

Twotall

Factual error: The scientist claims that he is working on a magic powder (gunpowder) that was devised by the Chinese. Firstly, the Egyptians had no knowledge of the Chinese in those times and secondly, the Chinese didn't invent the gunpowder for at least another 4,000 years. (00:27:00)

Factual error: In this movie, camels seem to be a common sight in Egypt. However, these animals did not appear in the Nile valley until ca 8-900 BC - more than 2,000 years after this movie takes place. (00:08:10)

Factual error: In the very beginning of the movie, when Mathayus rescues Jesup, he fires several arrows at Jesup's would-be executioners, and the targets of these arrows fly backward, across the room, and smash out the side of the building. I don't think I need to go into a detailed discussion of physics on this. (00:02:00)

Continuity mistake: When Memnon is talking to the sorceress in his palace, he talks about the dangers of her being outside "his care." Memnon takes some meat and throws it to the tigers. The next shot shows his hand empty, then holding meat again, and then empty again. (00:20:30)

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Question: In Roger Ebert's review, he says "...Mathayus intones, 'As long as one of us still breathes, the sorcerer will die.' See if you can spot the logical loophole." I can't - what's the problem with that line?

Jon Sandys

Chosen answer: By the way Mathayus is saying it, it sounds like he is saying as long as him or the sorcerer still breathes, either he or the sorcerer will die, but he is trying to say as long as one of the Akkadians are breathing, they will not stop trying to kill the sorcerer until he is dead.

T Poston

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