Deliberate mistake: When everyone is surfing at night, the sound of the waves in the background is significant, as it should be. However, at one point, when Keanu and Lori are having an intimate conversation on the water, the sound of the waves disappear. The wave sounds resume in the next scene.
Continuity mistake: When Angelo is sitting in his car while Utah is surfing he puts sun glasses on his head so he can look through binoculars. When they pan back to him the sunglasses are gone.
Factual error: When Pappas and Utah are chasing the ex-Presidents in their red Lincoln, Pappas crashes the car into a parking attendant's booth. Pappas tries to restart the car, but the starting sound is of an older Chrysler when Pappas was driving a Chevrolet.
Factual error: In the Swayze's last scene at Bells Beach, Australia, there are huge pine trees in the background: there are no trees like this at Bells Beach.
Revealing mistake: When Utah is fighting Mr. Nixon at the gas station, the two land on some fire and catch fire. The flammable gel on the back of Mr. Nixon's jacket is briefly visible. (01:06:55)
Continuity mistake: After Pappas is shot by Roach he gets a big bloodstain on his back. When he is lying on the floor the stain becomes smaller.
Continuity mistake: While the surfers are making the star in the air, the four guys are holding each other, but in the next shots they are loose.
Revealing mistake: When Angelo is shot in the back at the airport, you can see a pack underneath his shirt when he is rolled over by Utah. (01:39:44)
Continuity mistake: When Grommet dies, at first there's lots of blood on his face, but then there's all of a sudden a lot less.
Continuity mistake: The first time Patrick Swayze is seen surfing, his surfing stance changes between shots from natural to goofy.
Factual error: Australian police are never equipped like they are at the end of this movie. The 1st Police on the scene would be Constables, Senior Constables, Sergeants, & Senior Sergeants, & possibly plain-clothes Detectives from the Victorian Police Force. They'd be wearing their regulation uniform & carrying a regulation revolver & hand cuffs. The AFP *may* be liaising, but they're Detectives, too. No high-power weapons; no helicopters.
Other mistake: Pappas sends Utah for sandwiches during the stakeout ("Utah, get me 2" scene). Utah places the order, and in roughly ten seconds, his sandwiches are made, wrapped, bagged, and ready to go along with two lemonades.
Factual error: In the intro shots to "Bells Beach" Utah is arriving in an ancient Series 1 Land Rover for some reason and all the "Australian" cars in 1992 are now long forgotten 1950's and 1960's cars. Also the term "Drug Store" is on a sign, that a pure Americanism.
Continuity mistake: When Bodhi is talking with Johnny before the last robbery his shirt looks white, but in the bank it's dirty.
Answer: He is listening to music and just getting getting really into it.
Toolio