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

[BagheeraMcGee]

Originally Posted by jayembee

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.



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.)

Your position makes sense. As I wrote earlier, there's no problems with the disc (as of yet), so I'll hold off doing anything. I guess worst case scenario is the replacement period expires, my copy goes bad afterwards, and I have to buy a new one.

Thanks.

[AmishParadise]

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

Wow, what's up with blu rays bronzing all of a sudden? Weren't they supposed to be the tougher format than DVD and were in theory supposed to last hundreds of years? This really sucks.

Really? Now blu-ray's are bronzing all of the sudden. Your statement is a gross overgeneralization and that's putting it kindly. The sky isn't falling. Please. This happens far too often on these forums. It's ridiculous. The discs in question suffer from a manufacturing defect and very specific details have been provided as to where the discs were produced and over what time span. Why would you expect defective discs to last as long as non-defective ones? That being said, I empathize with those of you that own any of these affected discs. I don't own any of them, but I certainly empathize.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by dvdmike

Layers + glue + heat

DVD had Layers+Glue+Heat and there are VERY few instances of bad things happening to them.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jayembee

On the other hand, not once have I managed to spot the Mould SID on the clear plastic ring.

I finally managed it. (He's old, but he can be taught!) Boy, those are some sons-a-bïtches! I had to resort to natural light from the balcony door, rather than incandescent light. Here's what I found with my not-really-a-problem problem discs (including the already posted way back when Master SIDs):

Howards End -- L021 10K6
M -- LB42 10K7
Pierrot le fou -- L021 10K6
The Seventh Seal -- L021 10K6
Stagecoach -- L021 10K6

and from the same time frame:

Wings of Desire -- L021 10K7

Not absolutely sure of the Mould SID for M, but pretty sure. Every time I find it, I seem to lose it almost immediately.

[Nage]

Actually mine has some pretty bad bronzing, I can take pic if you guys want. Just wondering since a lot these had one pressing I should go with HK blus?

[Iron-Fisted Punk]

Huh...I just traded a few of my BDs from this era yesterday: Shaolin, Legend of the Fist, and Little Big Soldier (don't think you listed this one yet, but I'm sure it'll qualify). Hope he doesn't have a problem playing these now!

I still have Ip Man 2, so I guess I'll be dealing with this problem since I bought it on release day.

[Chiefy]

Originally Posted by AmishParadise

Really? Now blu-ray's are bronzing all of the sudden. Your statement is a gross overgeneralization and that's putting it kindly. The sky isn't falling. Please. This happens far too often on these forums. It's ridiculous. The discs in question suffer from a manufacturing defect and very specific details have been provided as to where the discs were produced and over what time span. Why would you expect defective discs to last as long as non-defective ones? That being said, I empathize with those of you that own any of these affected discs. I don't own any of them, but I certainly empathize.

I especially empathize with people who unknowingly paid Amazon prices upwards of $16-$22 for titles that can be had at Fry's on sale for $2.50 - $3.99

[jscoggins]

Some of the early pressings (2006-2009) had high rates of failure. Lionsgate has not offered to replace discs.

Note: Some Lionsgate BDs take a long time to load on older BD players due to their Java software design. You just have to have patience.

--------------------------------------------------

American Pyscho

Basic Instinct

Chaplin

Crank 2

The Descent

The Devil's Rejects

Dredd (most of the bad discs seem to have been supplied to Best Buy)

The Eye

From Paris With Love

House of 1000 Corpses

The Hunger Games Best Buy Cube (2012)
(Lionsgate has replaced this one, though it's unknown if this was a time-limited offer.)

Jacob's Ladder

The Lincoln Lawyer

Lord of War

Mad Men Season 2 Disc 1

Mad Men Season 3 Disc 3

My Bloody Valentine (1981)

My Bloody Valentine (2009) anaglyph 3D

The Ninth Gate

The Punisher

Saw I

Saw II

Saw III

Stir of Echoes

Weeds Season 6 Disc 1

[joie]

Originally Posted by jscoggins

Should I add Vivre Sa Vie? People are reporting bronzing but no playback failures. I wonder, though, if this one's like Stagecoach, where the failure is associated with a Bonus Feature rather than the movie itself?

Bronzing (oxidation) will get worse with time. At some point there will be a playback problem. I think either the disc sandwich has failed (leaks) or they were contaminated during manufacture.

[saitohimura]

Originally Posted by jscoggins

I still see new/sealed copies with the slipcover. They're old.

Yeah. I bought Legend of the Fist and The Man from Nowhere from Fry's last week and they both show signs of bronzing, but both seem to play fine.

[Iron-Fisted Punk]

Originally Posted by Nage

Actually mine has some pretty bad bronzing, I can take pic if you guys want. Just wondering since a lot these had one pressing I should go with HK blus?

HK and UK BDs might be better. Some have better PQ/AQ anyway and more bonus features. I've been thinking about buying the HK Legend of the Fist because of the upgrade in AQ and the awesome-sounding deleted scenes it has.

[Yojimbo68]

I can definitely confirm that Basic Instinct has an issue. I bought the BD back in 2008. It played fine. Went back to the title a few years later and could not get the disc to load. Tried it on three different Blu-Ray players. No dice. I am now the proud owner of a Basic Instinct coaster.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by Iron-Fisted Punk

Huh...I just traded a few of my BDs from this era yesterday: Shaolin, Legend of the Fist, and Little Big Soldier (don't think you listed this one yet, but I'm sure it'll qualify). Hope he doesn't have a problem playing these now!

I still have Ip Man 2, so I guess I'll be dealing with this problem since I bought it on release day.

Little Big soldier actually just falls outside the range, it has a different pressing than the 606 code and looks visibly different from the affected ones

[jscoggins]

Originally Posted by wormraper

DVD had Layers+Glue+Heat and there are VERY few instances of bad things happening to them.

I wonder if the BD data layers being closer to the surface than DVD layers have anything to do with this?

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by jscoggins

I wonder if the BD data layers being closer to the surface than DVD layers have anything to do with this?

dunno

[jscoggins]

Originally Posted by Yojimbo68

I can definitely confirm that Basic Instinct has an issue. I bought the BD back in 2008. It played fine. Went back to the title a few years later and could not get the disc to load. Tried it on three different Blu-Ray players. No dice. I am now the proud owner of a Basic Instinct coaster.

Yeah, that one has been well-documented by BD.com members. I decided to consolidate the information in one thread.

[uther]

Originally Posted by jscoggins

They only have one office, buddy.

They have a different distributor in Canada pal. But yeah, screw the foreigners right?

[Nage]

Originally Posted by wormraper

Little Big soldier actually just falls outside the range, it has a different pressing than the 606 code and looks visibly different from the affected ones

Yeah checked my blu and nothing wrong with it, the only one I'm worried about is shaolin, no visible signs but might re buy it just to be safe

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by Nage

Yeah checked my blu and nothing wrong with it, the only one I'm worried about is shaolin, no visible signs but might re buy it just to be safe

I'd worry about rebuying it till we get verification that they had more than one pressing. you very well may get another one that will fail again. the only way I'm rebuying any of them is from another company (U.K.) or if Well Go USA sends out new printings

[The Debts]

Better check my DREDD disc soon, then.