Continuity mistake: Faramir and his men are riding towards the gate of Minas Tirith on their way back to Ithilian. They ride past a crowd of many people. In this first shot, they pass Billy and Katie Jackson (Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson's children in one of their RotK cameos) in the crowd, as the riders head from left to right on the screen. The next two times Billy and Katie Jackson are shown amongst the crowd, the riders are going from right to left on the screen. The children did not cross the path of the riders to stand on the other side, nor is it the camera's angle. (01:06:30)
Continuity mistake: During the scene between Denethor and Pippin in the Main Hall at Minas Tirith, Denethor is eating and has a red mark running down his chin. There is a shot from Pippin's perspective showing the right side of Denethor's chin with the mark. The next shot is from Denethor's left with Pippin in the background, and Denethor turns towards the camera and the mark is gone. The shot is then returned to Pippin's perspective, and the mark has returned for the rest of the scene. (01:08:50)
Continuity mistake: At the Black Gate, as the Mouth of Sauron speaks, in the wide shots Gimli's height is way above Legolas' shoulders and is blocked by the bow and knives. However, in the close-ups he barely reaches Legolas' shoulders and is blocked by neither the bow or knives. Similarly this occurs in many shots throughout. (Extended Edition) (01:09:20)
Continuity mistake: When Aragorn beheads the mouth of Sauron, his left cheek is splashed with a fair amount of black blood which drips downward. In the very next shot of Aragorn's face, the amount of blood has been reduced to a few dried spots. (01:11:45)
Continuity mistake: When Gimli and Legolas are speaking to Eomer at Dunharrow, the height of Gimli's axe changes. When he is silent, the axe only reaches to his stomach, but when Gimli speaks, and the camera moves in, the axe reaches up almost to his shoulders. (01:12:35)
Continuity mistake: As Legolas climbs up, swings from and stands on the Mûmak, the shirt that is worn under his green topcoat is seen at the slits on his sides in most shots. The color of that shirt at the slits varies between the normal silvery color as the rest of his shirt in some shots and an odd brown/green color in other shots. (01:12:40)
Continuity mistake: At Dunharrow, Éowyn talks with Merry, who stands in front of the tent's door flaps. In the interior shots, there are short ties hanging from the grommet holes on both sides of the flaps. Yet in the next exterior shot as Merry heads to the smithy, there are long ties hanging only on one side of the flaps, the other side has empty grommets! (01:13:50)
Continuity mistake: At Dunharrow, after sending Merry off to the smithy, in the wide shot Éowyn speaks with Éomer outside the tent and there is a standing torch behind her. Yet in the next shot Éowyn says, "Why should Merry be left behind, he has as much cause to go to war..." and as Éomer moves his head the visible torch now stands up against the tent pole. In the next close-up another change behind her, to her left. (01:14:20)
Continuity mistake: After Aragorn's dream, the soldier delivers a message from Theoden, while standing at the doorway of Aragorn's tent and there are long ties hanging from the grommets on one side of the flaps. Yet, in the next exterior shots when Aragorn leaves, there are no ties in the grommets. (01:15:30)
Continuity mistake: When Aragorn enters Theoden's tent, there are two tables, one to the left and the other on the right, with a variety of items on them. The objects' positions or existence change throughout this scene. Including the gust of wind wide shot facing Aragorn and the overhead shot of Elrond carrying Andùril. (01:15:50)
Continuity mistake: Aragorn is summoned to Theoden's tent, where he is greeted by Elrond, who removes the hood from his head. Just before Elrond steps towards Aragorn, in the close-ups, the hood at his shoulders changes position within these shots. (01:16:05)
Continuity mistake: As soon as Aragorn walks into Theoden's tent, behind him stands a suit of armour. While speaking with Elrond about the Army of the Dead, there is a sudden gust of wind and the armour falls in the background in this one shot. Throughout the entire scene preceding and following this one shot, this armour is seen upright. (01:17:20)
Continuity mistake: After telling Éowyn, "I cannot give you what you seek," Aragorn leads Brego away for his departure from Dunharrow and the edge of the rolled blanket, secured in the saddle bag on Brego's left, faces Brego. However, when Aragorn approaches Gimli the edge of that blanket, on Brego's left, now faces away from Brego. (01:20:05)
Continuity mistake: Legolas' horse changes several times. Most notably in the sequence in which Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn enter, then follow the Paths of the Dead, the horse changes from dappled grey to pure white with a grey mane and back, between a number of shots. (01:20:30 - 01:24:15)
Continuity mistake: On the Paths of the Dead, while Legolas tells the history of the Dead Men, there is a close-up of Gimli's face, and Legolas' bow and arrows are seen too. In the next shot, the position of his blades on his back differ, as they are now slanted, with the bow and arrows seen between them. (01:23:25)
Continuity mistake: The braids over Legolas' ears on his scalp, change in position, shape, and how it is braided, in consecutive scenes or shots, as well as the amount of his side hair that is swept up into the back braid. Some examples are, as he and Gimli ride Arod on the Paths of the Dead, Legolas says, "...and Isildur cursed them," and then after Aragorn says, "I do not fear death," before he runs into the Dimholt Gate. Also later in two consecutive shots, when Legolas says, "And what about a friend," and then when they battle at the Black Gate. (01:23:45 - 01:24:40)
Continuity mistake: Inside the Haunted Mountain, Legolas and Aragorn turn around to see all the ghosts appear. The shot has been flipped - their Elven brooches and Legolas' quiver are the wrong way round, and Aragorn is holding the torch in his right hand and his sword in his left, whereas in the previous and following shots, the torch is in his left hand and the sword is in his right hand. (01:24:25)
Continuity mistake: When Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli reach the Dimholt Gate, a ghostly gust of wind rushes towards them and scares the horses away. Aragorn lets go twice of Brego's reins in consecutive shots. Also, the shot just before Aragorn shouts, "Brego!" Gimli faces the camera and Aragorn is some distance away from Gimli and Legolas, but in the next shot when Aragorn does shout, their positions have changed quite a bit. (01:24:30)
Continuity mistake: As Faramir and the Gondorian soldiers start to ride down the path in Minas Tirith, there is a close-up of Faramir passing a particular building, and then over a dozen shots later, when Gandalf shouts, "Faramir!" Faramir still rides past the same building. In the next wideshot with Gandalf, they are on a different part of the path, yet in the next close-up Faramir is once again still at the same building as earlier. (01:29:00)
Continuity mistake: When Faramir and his men ride down towards the front gate of Minas Tirith, certain men and women in the crowd actually reappear in different areas along the path. (01:29:00)
Answer: There are only five wizards. Saruman and Gandalf are heavily involved, as we see. Radagast, while not mentioned in the film, has a particular affinity with the birds and animals - it is he who sends the Eagles to the last battle, and to rescue Gandalf from Isengard. The final two, Alatar and Pallando, known as the Blue Wizards, went into the far eastern regions of Middle-Earth and never returned. Tolkien felt that they would ultimately have fallen from grace, much as Saruman did.
Tailkinker ★