Continuity mistake: Depending on the version, in the final confrontation between the Emperor and the Harkonnen, and Paul and the Fremen, you can see Thufir Hawat standing in the crowd of the imperial side. After the battle between Paul and Sting he has suddenly disappeared. This is due to there being different, much longer versions of the same film. There is a 120 minute version, 180 and 190 minutes, and apparently in Singapore you can buy a 240 minute version. However, in the long versions the stains on Thufir's lips and Paul's totally blue eyes do not appear in the extra scenes: now you see it, now you don't.
Continuity mistake: The main character Paul is tied up on the floor next to his mother, who is also tied up. Paul tries to use his tied feet to fight, but is easily kicked back down to the floor. Then, very briefly, but , Paul is half unconscious with his arms NOT tied anymore, but next to his head. The next scene has Paul's arms tied up again and his mother says 'cut my son's bonds'. (00:11:25)
Answer: Because it was edited in a way he didn't approve of. The film was actually over 3 hours long, and it was trimmed by about an hour for the cinema version, and then a certain amount of pick and mix went on to come up with the video version.
David Mercier