Early Blu-rays that may have playback issues (Criterion, Well Go USA, etc.)

[Torrente]

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

I am not based in France so my involvement with the problem is obviously much smaller, but I have been frequenting the French forums for years, ever since the QOL issues were first starting to gain concern. I've routinely searched for issues related to two Potemkine releases that have no suitable alternatives (the Rohmer set and Gun Crazy), and the only thing that has ever turned up in my forum searches is one guy complaining that there is a brown color around the center ring (which isn't even necessarily "deterioration" - there's no evidence that that is not a perfectly normal color for that area to be). If you can show me people reporting playback issues on the Rohmer set, I would be very interested (and saddened) to see it.

Well, as I said, it was a matter of time this concerning alteration to the discs would cause trouble with this set... a disc with playback issues from the Rohmer set from Potemkine was officially reported today on french forums:

Green Ray (aka Le Rayon Vert)

Check your discs, guys...

(also, on a side note, Gun Crazy is not from Potemkine but from Wild Side )

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by eddyw78

My Warner BD of Omega Man has just failed to read. I haven't watched this in maybe 7 years. The disc surface looks immaculate though.

I will watch my copy tonight and see if mine has the same problem.

I have had good luck in the past with Warner Brothers replacing defective discs years after I had bought them by simply writing to them and asking. It never hurts to try.

Specifically, I email Sherri Bogard at Sherri.Bogard@warnerbros.com

[Vilya]

I played my copy and it worked fine. I don't remember when I bought it.

[pmil]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I will watch my copy tonight and see if mine has the same problem.

I have had good luck in the past with Warner Brothers replacing defective discs years after I had bought them by simply writing to them and asking. It never hurts to try.

Specifically, I email Sherri Bogard at Sherri.Bogard@warnerbros.com

I tried to have a couple of their HD-DVD titles replaced that wouldn't play from the beginning when new and they wouldn't replace them for me without a receipt. I believe it was her who I spoke to. One was Lethal Weapon. I also have Lethal Weapon 2 on HD-DVD so I simply made an MKV of it before it becomes unreadable. Thanks for nothing Warner Bros.

Now I need to go check my copy of Omega Man.

[pmil]

Originally Posted by eddyw78

My Warner BD of Omega Man has just failed to read. I haven't watched this in maybe 7 years. The disc surface looks immaculate though.

I'm playing mine right now and so far no problem, although I know haven't owned it for "7 years." I'm guessing it is probably 4 years old when I bought it new. I'm wondering if it will last.

[Dex Robinson]

I had a bizarre experience.

I recently found the Lionsgate BD of THE THIRD MAN in a clearance section for the equivalent of $3.80US. OK, it's not Criterion but, for that price I can take a chance.

It's an old BD and I was concerned. I put it in my Panasonic BD player and the thing started groaning and clanking. The disc never loaded.

The player made such awful noises I wanted to make sure it wasn't damaged so I grabbed the nearest tested BD I had (VCI City of the Dead) and put it in the player. It loaded fine. I got it in my mind to try THE THIRD MAN again immediately after removing the other BD. It loaded fine and I started to play it. I didn't have time to watch it so I set it aside for the day. I ejected it and turned off the player.

That night, I put THE THIRD MAN back in the player and it groaned and clanked, made awful noises and wouldn't load. I ejected and loaded CIty of the Dead. Once City of the Dead loaded, I ejected it and put THE THIRD MAN back in the player. It loaded and played fine. I watch the whole thing with no problem.

So now, if I want to watch THE THIRD MAN, I use another BD to get my player up and running first. Weird.

[davidthenikonuser]

Originally Posted by Dex Robinson

I had a bizarre experience.

I recently found the Lionsgate BD of THE THIRD MAN in a clearance section for the equivalent of $3.80US. OK, it's not Criterion but, for that price I can take a chance.

It's an old BD and I was concerned. I put it in my Panasonic BD player and the thing started groaning and clanking. The disc never loaded.

The player made such awful noises I wanted to make sure it wasn't damaged so I grabbed the nearest tested BD I had (VCI City of the Dead) and put it in the player. It loaded fine. I got it in my mind to try THE THIRD MAN again immediately after removing the other BD. It loaded fine and I started to play it. I didn't have time to watch it so I set it aside for the day. I ejected it and turned off the player.

That night, I put THE THIRD MAN back in the player and it groaned and clanked, made awful noises and wouldn't load. I ejected and loaded CIty of the Dead. Once City of the Dead loaded, I ejected it and put THE THIRD MAN back in the player. It loaded and played fine. I watch the whole thing with no problem.

So now, if I want to watch THE THIRD MAN, I use another BD to get my player up and running first. Weird.

Probably the software that was loaded from the VCI blu was still in the memory of the player and thats why the Third Man disc loaded. Lionsgate blu's seem to have problems loading on older players. I have some that make noise like you say and it takes some time for them to load.

[DukeTogo84]

The first page says the Sopranos Season 6 has defects? What does that mean?

Was thinking of getting the entire series on blu-ray and was wondering if the blu-ray of season 6 still has these defects?

[laidbacklarkin]

I had bronzing defects on 5 criterion discs. Sent them out 4/18, received replacement discs 4/28. While the turnaround was quick and appreciated, Criterion incorrectly assigned lower postage value and I was required to pay $1.91 to USPS to get the package released for delivery. Which means it cost me $5 appr to get the replacements. Oh well

[javy]

Originally Posted by laidbacklarkin

I had bronzing defects on 5 criterion discs. Sent them out 4/18, received replacement discs 4/28. While the turnaround was quick and appreciated, Criterion incorrectly assigned lower postage value and I was required to pay $1.91 to USPS to get the package released for delivery. Which means it cost me $5 appr to get the replacements. Oh well

Which 5?

[laidbacklarkin]

Originally Posted by javy

Which 5?

Summer Hours
Walkabout
In the Realm of the Senses
Lady Vanishes (this one had bad sectors and wouldn't load on any player)
Ride with the Devil

[BluProofie]

I really want to get 8 1/2 and Hunger but, I’d rather not go through the replacement process. Maybe I’ll order those from their site during the next flash sale to make sure I get a newer pressing.

[laidbacklarkin]

Originally Posted by BluProofie

I really want to get 8 1/2 and Hunger but, I’d rather not go through the replacement process. Maybe I’ll order those from their site during the next flash sale to make sure I get a newer pressing.

why ? Criterion won't mail the same problematic discs back to you. You can also tell the newer, replacement discs are a tad thinner than the old ones - all the replacement ones I received play back perfectly (for now)

[LokiMok]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

The first page says the Sopranos Season 6 has defects? What does that mean?

Was thinking of getting the entire series on blu-ray and was wondering if the blu-ray of season 6 still has these defects?

There are minor audio issues on a couple of episodes that most people don't notice. HBO US doesn't care, but WB UK will send you corrected replacements even if you're not in the UK. Check the Sopranos Complete Series thread for more details: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...postcount=2041

[neo_reloaded]

Has anyone sent discs to Criterion that weren't actually bronzing yet but had the IFPI/matrix codes that indicate they are part of the bronzing batches?

[BluProofie]

Originally Posted by laidbacklarkin

why ? Criterion won't mail the same problematic discs back to you. You can also tell the newer, replacement discs are a tad thinner than the old ones - all the replacement ones I received play back perfectly (for now)

I’m sure they’re fine, I’ll pick them up eventually.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

Has anyone sent discs to Criterion that weren't actually bronzing yet but had the IFPI/matrix codes that indicate they are part of the bronzing batches?

Yes.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by LokiMok

There are minor audio issues on a couple of episodes that most people don't notice. HBO US doesn't care, but WB UK will send you corrected replacements even if you're not in the UK. Check the Sopranos Complete Series thread for more details: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...postcount=2041

Awesome. Thanks for letting me know.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Awesome. Thanks for letting me know.

To clarify, in my case it was limited to the original list that Criterion had provided of potential problem discs. I think I may have since seen an updated list with a few additional titles...

[GasmaskAvenger]

Man, i'm glad no one has reported any bronzing shenanigans with Le Cercle Rouge.

I got a copy coming my way (thanks to some help from a very friendly fellow forum member) and I was concerned it might be one of the suspects that suffer from the issues reported in this thread.