The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Audio problem: At the battle on the fields of Pelennor, before Legolas leaps onto the Mûmak, as he kills the Orcs audibly he shouts, "Fifteen! Sixteen!"; however, visually his lips do not. (02:12:05)

Super Grover

Audio problem: At the drinking game, after Éomer says, "No pauses," in the next shot facing Legolas, when Éomer continues to say the two words, "No spills," his lips are closed. Even as he turns his head, his hair does not obstruct the view of his closed lips. (Extended Edition) (00:19:15)

Super Grover

Audio problem: When Aragorn is sleeping in his tent, he wakes suddenly, grabbing his blade and sitting up, there is a guard at the tent entrance. He speaks to Aragorn and then bows and steps back out. As he does this, he says something like "Sir, King Theoden awaits you." The problem is, his lips do not move after the words, "Sir" as he backs out his face IS still visible for the words "King Theoden" that are heard. (01:15:30)

Audio problem: As the King of the Dead and his army listen, Aragorn shouts, "You have my word! Fight, and I will release you..." However, in the wide shot as he continues, "...from this living death!" Aragorn's mouth shouts something completely different. (Extended Edition) (01:56:10)

Super Grover

Audio problem: At the Black Gate, Aragorn shouts, "...This day we fight!" and in the wide shot as Aragorn continues, "...that you hold dear on this good earth..." his lips are not in sync with the words. (02:32:05)

Super Grover

Audio problem: When Faramir and his men ride out of Minas Tirith, Gandalf tries to dissuade him from going. Faramir says, "This is the city of the Men of Númenor. I will gladly give my life to defend her beauty, her memory." It then cuts to a tight close-up as he rides past Gandalf when he continues saying, "her wisdom," and his closed lips do not move at all. (Extended Edition.) (01:30:10)

Super Grover

Audio problem: When Arwen returns to Rivendell to question her father, she says "Tell me what you have seen. You have the gift of foresight. What did you see?" The last line of "what did you see?" was obviously dubbed, as her lips look like they're saying "Tell me what have you seen?" again. (00:28:45)

Audio problem: When Aragorn is talking with Elrond in Theoden's tent, a gust of wind, which shakes the tent, knocks over the suit of armor that stands behind Aragorn in this one shot, which makes absolutely no sound when it hits the ground. (As mentioned in another mistake, it is standing in the next shot, that is why there is no audio of it falling in this shot.) (01:17:30)

Audio problem: As Gollum falls backwards toward the lava in Mount Doom, he holds the Ring in front of him and admires it. When he brings the Ring toward his torso, a distinct reverberating 'chinggg' sound is heard, as if it touched another metal. The Ring did not touch anything else, let alone another metal. This is obviously heard for dramatic flair. (02:43:40)

Super Grover

Audio problem: Gandalf's lips don't match his dialogue when he says "Guard of the Citadel, indeed" to Pippin after he saves his life.

Audio problem: After Gollum frames Sam with the lembas, Sam starts to hit Gollum while shouting at him. When Sam yells, "Call me..." his mouth does not move. Then when Frodo pushes Sam away, Sam shouts, "I'll kill him!" but his lips are moving before we even hear those words, it is out of sync. (01:04:15)

Super Grover

Audio problem: As Gandalf and Pippin stand on the balcony at Minas Tirith, Gandalf says, "This will be the end of Gondor..." but as he audibly continues to say, "...as we know it," visually his mouth says something completely different. (Extended Edition) (00:54:15)

Super Grover

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King mistake picture

Continuity mistake: In the second half of the film, Frodo has a scar on his lower right cheek, close to his chin. Many times throughout the rest of the film the scar changes position and size on his right cheek. It also appears on his left cheek in flipped shots (most obviously on the slopes of Mount Doom when Sam is cradling his head). (02:31:05 - 02:34:00)

More mistakes in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Gimli: Certainty of death; small chance of success...what are we waiting for?

More quotes from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King trivia picture

Trivia: When Gandalf is talking about the gathering of the armies of Sauron, the next shot shows the Corsairs on a ship. Walking from right to left is Peter Jackson in a cameo as a Corsair pirate. In the extended version he is pierced in the chest by Legolas' arrow and dramatically dies. (00:38:30)

More trivia for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Answer: Aragorn is 210 years old when he dies. Some of the early texts give his age at death as 190, but Tolkien eventually confirmed that 210 is the correct age.

Tailkinker

More questions & answers from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Join the mailing list

Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.