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

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Originally Posted by HorrorBlu

I noticed the two new Vestron releases from Lionsgate (Little Monsters and Shivers) have the "DISCS MADE IN MEXICO" stamp on the back of the case.

I wonder if LionsGate has finally given up their garbage pressing plant? If so, cause for celebration!

Yeah I've been seeing that for Lionsgate discs for the last few weeks. I wonder if that IFPI 2F29 USA-based plant has finally closed down, or if there was some other reason for Lionsgate to move away from them. I saw someone say that Lionsgate releases come in the same box as Fox releases, and Fox has switched to the Mexico plant since Disney bought them out, so that could be it - but I have no confirmation on that Lionsgate/Fox distribution partnership, I literally just saw one person mention it one time.

While that IFPI 2F29 plant is definitely the worst as far as North American releases go, it's not like they're the only ones who ever released bum discs. IFPI 2U** (Pennsylvania Cinram plant) has had a handful of reports for bronzing Warner Bros discs (all very early though), the Criterion and Well GO USA cases were from two additional plants, Sony-pressed Criterion discs have had a few failures reported (Lady Vanishes, Phantom Carriage, Le Circe Rouge, maybe a few others), etc. So part of me wants to replace any IFPI 2F29 disc, and another part is trying to put it into context and remember that 2F29 is a bit worse than the other plants but still nowhere near epidemic levels considering the millions and millions of discs released and the maybe couple dozen bad discs reported on this site.

[HorrorBlu]

Someone in another thread mentioned Death Bed: The Bed That Eats from Cult Epics has gone bad:

Originally Posted by KFantastico

Has anyone else had their Blu-ray go bad? Mine developed two little bubbles along the edge where the laminate is rising up. Now it won't play.

I received the blu-ray Big Eden from DeepDiscount a couple weeks ago and it had the same issue. You could see the discoloration bubble at the edge of the disc. I sent it back for a refund, otherwise I'd provide the numbers on the ring.

[Doombear]

These started skipping and wouldn’t play in any player, both Universal discs.
I checked for dust and scratches.

An American Werewolf in London: Full Moon Edition
September 2009 Release
"Disc Made in Mexico" on back cover

Mould Code: IFPI KKMJ
IFPI LV78 (395052) 2008476R1 01E 100001
IFPI LV78 (395053) 2008476R1 01E 080001

Dune

April 2010 Release
"Disc Made in Mexico" on back cover
Mould Code: IFPI KKDL
IFPI LV 80 (39308) 20122201R0 09E 050001
IFPI LV 79 (39309) 20122201R0 07E 030001

[thebigcheese3k]

I was just gifted the Seventh Seal, no bronzing but there's a crack on the inner ring. I've never seen this before, wondering if it could damage my player? Something Criterion would send a replacement for? Thanks for any thoughts

[Show spoiler]

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Originally Posted by thebigcheese3k

I was just gifted the Seventh Seal, no bronzing but there's a crack on the inner ring. I've never seen this before, wondering if it could damage my player? Something Criterion would send a replacement for? Thanks for any thoughts

[Show spoiler]

Yeah I'd be wary of a crack like that. Definitely worth sending Criterion an email, they're pretty good about those things. Though anticipate a delay in response, given the pandemic.

[Clown1500]

New bronzing discs in my collection, started skipping and wouldn’t play in any player.

1. 300
Jul 31, 2007 Release


2. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Dec 17, 2013 Release


3. Begin Again
Oct 28, 2014 Release


4. Batman Begins
Jul 08, 2008 Release

[MassiveMovieBuff]

My copy of Let Me In crapped out on me. Had to get a new one. The strange thing is I just watched it a few months ago and it played just fine.

[gpm]

Greets!

I have been collecting BDs for many years now to watch when age finally slows me down enough, so have these and hundreds more still in shrink wrap. Any clue if I've been wasting mega bucks [for me] on what was supposed to be a durable, ~permanent storage system?

TIA,

GM

[jacksonwalker]

I put on the Dirty Harry Blu-ray (from the 2010 Dirty Harry Collection) and it started freezing about 20 minutes into the film. Finally I gave up and moved on after it completely froze.

[surfinhank]

Found another bronzing disc: The Ruins. It's the Dreamworks release from 2008. The outer ring is just starting to bronze, playback is affected around the 1hr 5 min mark. It freezes, but skipping forward a few minutes playback goes back to normal.

[KFantastico]

I purchased Cult Epics' Death Bed Blu-Ray four years ago, played it once, and now, wanting to revisit it, I discovered it won't play thanks to bubbles that have formed on the top layer of the laminate. I've attempted to contact Cult Epics several times — twice in August via email, once in September through their online form for promotional info, and once via Facebook, as suggested by a fellow Blu-ray.com member. I’ve been polite each time, I’ve patiently waited weeks between attempts at contact since I know smaller companies are struggling with pandemic issues and they’re often short-handed and backlogged. But it’s been three months now, and nada.

If you’re someone who doesn’t have tons of extra cash to buy replacement copies, and want to know that the company you purchase your discs from will stand by their product if an admittedly rare manufacturing defect does turn your disk into an expensive coaster, you might want to give your hard-earned cash to a company that cares, not Cult Epics.

[Clown1500]

"A Perfect Getaway" (Blu-ray) from Universal is dead, disc completely bronzed all over the place

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Originally Posted by Clown1500

"A Perfect Getaway" (Blu-ray) from Universal is dead, disc completely bronzed all over the place

If possible, can you post the disc info for that one (mold IFPI number in particular)

[Clown1500]

A Perfect Getaway mold IFPI number KKNA

[50strat54]

This thread is an advertisement for the benefits of digital!

Any classic movie I love I buy on digital when it goes on sale. $5 is my sweet spot and I’ve gotten quite a few at this point. Biggest score is the Martin Lewis catalog.

[WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW]

Originally Posted by 50strat54

This thread is an advertisement for the benefits of digital!

Any classic movie I love I buy on digital when it goes on sale. $5 is my sweet spot and I’ve gotten quite a few at this point. Biggest score is the Martin Lewis catalog.

LOL

digital has poorer audio and video (and you often can't play them back with whatever you want and get even worse audio/video because of that on top) and less extras AND they also swap out versions for new edited or different ones and sometimes remove titles entirely (as for discs going bad, that is why I've started backing everything up to HD, in the rare case something goes bad in the future, I'll have the backup)

[kstebor]

I've just found that my copy of The Phantom Carriage freezes at about 1 hour and 11 minutes. I confirmed it on two different players. The disc shows no noticeable bronzing or any other issues. Code is IFPI L323.

[Killer Meteor]

I recall Phantom Carriage being a known problem disc.

[MuffySimba]

I see there are some other discs I have to check. This sucks.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by kstebor

I've just found that my copy of The Phantom Carriage freezes at about 1 hour and 11 minutes. I confirmed it on two different players. The disc shows no noticeable bronzing or any other issues. Code is IFPI L323.

Regardless of what caused the problem (other than, I suppose, deliberate destructive action on the part of the consumer) if it's unplayable, Criterion will offer a replacement.

Notify Jon Mulvaney at Criterion (mulvaney@criterion.com) to make arrangements for a one. Due to Covid, it might be a while before they send it out, though.