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

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by wormraper

If they weren't pressed in 2010-2011 you should be good

For one more year?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by BagheeraMcGee

I guess I'll pose this as a "What would you do?" scenario. I looked at my "Days Of Heaven" disc (no problems there; I just recently bought that at my local B&N during the last 50% off sale, so I guess it was a later printing), my "Wings Of Desire" disc (no problems there as well; it didn't have one of the codes that have presented problems), but I looked at my copy of "M" and while it had no discoloration to speak of, and it played fine last night when I checked, it has the "LB42" code on it. Does this mean it's inevitably going to discolor and not play right some time down the line?

With the data we have in hand, there's no telling if all of the discs from this particular manufacturer and from this particular time period are bad or are likely to go bad. As I've said before, given what we suspect is the issue, if a copy hasn't gone bad yet, it probably won't in the future (but no guarantees). My copy of M seems to be fine -- I ran a sector scan and file check on it, without any errors, and I've spot checked it in my BDP without encountering any problems.

And, would you send it in just in case even though nothing's wrong with it at this time? I'm leaning towards sending it in, but I would like to know what you all would do in this case.

There's no reason to believe that Criterion will offer replacements for a limited time only, so I'm not planning to send in my not-failing-yet discs to get replacements "just in case". If what I wrote above turns out not to be true, and my copies start to fail in the coming months or years, then I'll send them in.

It's an iffier situation with the two OOP titles (Howards End and Pierrot le fou). If what I suspect is true, what they have on hand may be unsold copies left over from when their licenses expired. If so, then the number of replacements they can send out may be limited.➊ I imagine some people here are going to send in their non-failing copies for replacement to hedge their bets. I posted earlier that I figure that if the number of replacement copies is indeed limited, then people whose copies are failing now should get first crack at them. So I'm taking my chances that my copies of those two won't go bad after it's too late to get replacements.

➊ It occurs to me that if Criterion is once again able to license titles from StudioCanal, then Pierrot le fou may well come back into print, making the replacement issue moot.

(And I just finished watching my Howards End from beginning to end, supplements and all, and there wasn't a blessed thing wrong with it.)

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

For one more year?

They only used that pressing plant for,those years. Then they switched...the ones before and after that plant change don't seem to be affected. Just like the criterion issue


Although, the part that scares me is what other studios this plant worked for , cuz I guarantee they didn't just press a few titles for well go USa and call it quits. They were pressing for other studios too during that time period for discs we haven't found yet. Maybe 100s more

[jscoggins]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

My recommendation would be to place information in the OP on how to identify the two types of SID codes and where to look on the discs. That information seems to be getting lost in the thread as the post count grows.

I already have the Sonopress bronzing codes listed. I can add the codes for A Christmas Tale, though it'd be nice if others spoke up about this issue as well.

Also, there are a lot of people new to the thread who aren't reading the OP.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by jscoggins

Without actual documentation (i.e. an e-mail), they could pretend that they never got the discs -- in which case, you'd be out of luck.

Great point! I hadn't thought of that and you're right. Thanks and also thanks for starting this thread and maintaining it with all the useful information.

[joie]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

But I meant without prior authorization. Or do you think a letter should be sent listing all the titles one intends on sending to them for replacement?

I did email to tell them about the bronzing and playback issues before they asked for the disc.

[javi92]

Originally Posted by jscoggins

I already have the Sonopress bronzing codes listed. I can add the codes for A Christmas Tale, though it'd be nice if others spoke up about this issue as well.

Also, there are a lot of people new to the thread who aren't reading the OP.

I think it would help to have the pic in post 872 in the OP so people know the correct location to look for the code.

[Five Inches]

Well, there is something there I can only see it in some angles, but will have to wait until later, and it's even smaller than the A01.

[PGW]

I just mailed back four of my discs that were on the list ("M," "Pierrot le fou," "Summer Hours" and "Walkabout"). Of them, the last two were clearly bronzing, and I could see the beginnings of it on the other two.

Now, the waiting game begins...

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by jscoggins

I already have the Sonopress bronzing codes listed. I can add the codes for A Christmas Tale, though it'd be nice if others spoke up about this issue as well.

Also, there are a lot of people new to the thread who aren't reading the OP.

I meant where to look on the discs for the codes and what to specifically look for. Based on reading this thread it seems like quite a few people are confused on what to look for or are only looking for only one of the codes (i.e. the Master code). Even then some people aren't sure what to look for as some have mentioned things such as CCxxxxBD, A0x, L01 or L02 (which simply identifies the layers), or Jxxxxxx, etc. The two codes to look for are preceeded by IFPI. If they don't see that then that's not the code they're looking for. The Mould code will obviously tell us more information compared to the Master code. For example, Sonopress or Arvato may have 20 plants but what we'd really want to know is if this issue is limited to one, or more, replication plants.

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by wormraper

They only used that pressing plant for,those years. Then they switched...the ones before and after that plant change don't seem to be affected. Just like the criterion issue


Although, the part that scares me is what other studios this plant worked for , cuz I guarantee they didn't just press a few titles for well go USa and call it quits. They were pressing for other studios too during that time period for discs we haven't found yet. Maybe 100s more

Are there even 100 studios?

Does anyone know if this is the same plant that pressed the questionable Criterion discs?

[jscoggins]

Originally Posted by javi92

I think it would help to have the pic in post 872 in the OP so people know the correct location to look for the code.

Good idea. Just did it.

Originally Posted by rdodolak

I meant where to look on the discs for the codes and what to specifically look for. Based on reading this thread it seems like quite a few people are confused on what to look for or are only looking for only one of the codes (i.e. the Master code). Even then some people aren't sure what to look for as some have mentioned things such as CCxxxxBD, A0x, L01 or L02 (which simply identifies the layers), or Jxxxxxx, etc. The two codes to look for are preceeded by IFPI. If they don't see that then that's not the code they're looking for. The Mould code will obviously tell us more information compared to the Master code. For example, Sonopress or Arvato may have 20 plants but what we'd really want to know is if this issue is limited to one, or more, replication plants.

Gotcha. As noted above, I added information and a pic about IFPI.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

Are there even 100 studios?

Does anyone know if this is the same plant that pressed the questionable Criterion discs?

100's of discs. Not studios. We already got a dozen just from a tiny studio like well go USA for that period

And no. The criterion issue is through sonopress not u-tech

[GxyExpress999]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Of the problematic or possibly problematic titles I have and have checked, I wasn't able to find the Master SID on Wings of Desire for some reason.

I've checked my Wings of Desire and there are no bronzing/playing issues for me.

Master: L021
Mould: 10K6

[timothy ramzyk]

I've noticed that my BD of REPULSION is an LO21, does that now make it suspect. Has anyone had a bad REPULSION?

[steel_breeze]

Does anybody still believe that a chemical interaction with the Criterion booklets had ANYTHING to do with this? In a related question… can I put all my Criterion booklets back now??

[jscoggins]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

Does anybody still believe that a chemical interaction with the Criterion booklets had ANYTHING to do with this? In a related question… can I put all my Criterion booklets back now??

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by timothy ramzyk

I've noticed that my BD of REPULSION is an LO21, does that now make it suspect. Has anyone had a bad REPULSION?

No.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

Does anybody still believe that a chemical interaction with the Criterion booklets had ANYTHING to do with this? In a related question… can I put all my Criterion booklets back now??

I doubt anyone still thinks that. Otherwise, we would be seeing problems with every label, and across a much larger window.

[jscoggins]

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

Does anyone know if this is the same plant that pressed the questionable Criterion discs?

Look at the first couple of posts in the thread.