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

[BTTF_]

Just read the newest 10/3 update. They've acknowledged the bronzing, but have stated "if your disc will not play then send it in." They conclude with a sort of (don't respond to this email) sort of thing.


So my Q is... when we get that email, do we only send in only our malfunctioning discs or do we send in all of the bronzing discs? Since, to my understanding, bronzing will eventually lead to malfunction.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by jscoggins

You know what's funny?

I can't see an IFPI code on Dangerous Liaisons, but I do see this:

F1 BD/SM

ROTFL!! that's awesome

[Yojimbo68]

Originally Posted by UFAlien

My copy of My Bloody Valentine (the 1981 original) bronzed and stopped working. I'd never heard of this at the time - at first I thought I'd spilled coffee on it, but nope, it was disc rot on the data layer. Wouldn't play or detect. Had just watched it about a month earlier.

In an ironic twist, I watched this disc last night! It played fine and I had no issues. But who knows what the future holds.

[jscoggins]

Originally Posted by UFAlien

My copy of My Bloody Valentine (the 1981 original) bronzed and stopped working. I'd never heard of this at the time - at first I thought I'd spilled coffee on it, but nope, it was disc rot on the data layer. Wouldn't play or detect. Had just watched it about a month earlier.

Thanks! Added.

[tenia]

God, what a bunch of replacement discs I'm asking these days...

After this plant-debacle (I feel sorry for Criterion to get the stick due to a "crappy" production plant, though), I just received my Eraserhead copy from B&N (in a slightly creased digipack but I'll cope with it) and thus asked for a replacement.

I then sent a 2nd email to Mulvaney regarding the shipping costs to send unreadable discs from Europe to the US to get replacements. I'll see if I (ever) get an answer for this or will have to pay between 10 and 25€ to send my discs to the US (plus the list still doesn't contain Days of Heaven and A Christmas Tale, and I'm not especially fond of having to send my Pierrot le fou disc).

Finally, I received my French steelbook of Ghostbusters 1 + 2 only to find out that Ghostbusters 1 is the old disc though it is clearly advertised as the new one (new 2014 serigraphy, Mastered in 4K sleeve, 2014 extra features). Since it seems sold out already, I don't know if I should wait a bit to see what happens regarding replacement programs or if I should simply return it to Amazon and get the UK set or whatever.

[Clark Kent]

I don't believe bronzing was the main issue with certain Lionsgate BDs. We've had reports of early Lionsgate BDs failing since 2007. Some movies were affected more than others. These problems seem to have been licked by 2008 or 2009, though obviously some still circulate.

If people aren't aware, Lionsgate has virtually no customer service since their brand is practically worthless compared to studios like Warner Bros. and Disney. There is little chance one could pry replacements out of them unless a class-action lawsuit was initiated against them.

[Chiefy]

Originally Posted by Torrente

Is there maybe a new pressing from another plant for A Man from Nowhere that wouldn't be affected?


My copy doesn't play anymore (although I watched it perfectly 1 yearand a half ago)

Just cracked mine open. It says IFPI IC0Z, and is perfectly silver "for now", I guess.

Originally Posted by jscoggins

You know what's funny?

I can't see an IFPI code on Dangerous Liaisons, but I do see this:

F1 BD/SM

+1

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

No issues with my Mad Men discs, fortunately. I don't have time to watch each episode on those discs, but I slowly fast forwarded through them and there appear to be no issues.

[jscoggins]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

I don't believe bronzing was the main issue with certain Lionsgate BDs. We've had reports of early Lionsgate BDs failing since 2007. Some movies were affected more than others. These problems seem to have been licked by 2008 or 2009, though obviously some still circulate.

If people aren't aware, Lionsgate has virtually no customer service since their brand is practically worthless compared to studios like Warner Bros. and Disney. There is little chance one could pry replacements out of them unless a class-action lawsuit was initiated against them.

I'm surprised that none of the majors has tried to buy them. Twilight is done for the time being, but The Hunger Games and Divergent should be cash cows in the immediate future. All can be remade for a new generation in about 20 years.

[wormraper]

my copy of My bloody Valentine 1981 is fine... but I pulled out my copy of "the Ninth Gate" and noticed a couple of tiny tiny blotches on the outside edge or of one corner of the disc. didn't seem to affect playback as I skimmed through the layer break and it worked fine. but who knows. That one I don't feel so bad about since it was a cheap title that was known as a trouble disc. just saddened that I'm finding so many flawed discs the last few days.

[jscoggins]

There seems to be a baton-passing routine here.

Lionsgate: 2007-2009

Criterion: 2009-2010

Well Go USA: 2010-2011

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by jscoggins

There seems to be a baton-passing routine here.

Lionsgate: 2007-2009

Criterion: 2009-2010

Well Go USA: 2010-2011

lol

[jscoggins]

Guys, the best that I can see on a lot of discs is the IFPI number. I believe you when you're talking about mould numbers, but I'm getting severe eyestrain looking for these things, lol.

[PGW]

Originally Posted by BTTF_

So my Q is... when we get that email, do we only send in only our malfunctioning discs or do we send in all of the bronzing discs? Since, to my understanding, bronzing will eventually lead to malfunction.

I sent in anything that didn't look right. I'm not about to waste an hour testing them, because if they're turning brown they're obviously defective and - even if they play now, they won't at some point in the future.

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by GxyExpress999

[Show spoiler]Bigger Than Life: a slight discoloration but plays fine for now. (The mastering code was found at a different position.)

Originally Posted by jscoggins

Guys, the best that I can see on a lot of discs is the IFPI number. I believe you when you're talking about mould numbers, but I'm getting severe eyestrain looking for these things, lol.

The photo above is a mould number and is also proceeded by IFPI.

The best way to view it is to use natural, but not direct, sunlight while tilting the disc at, maybe, a 45-90 degree angle. Since the number is moulded and is the same transparent material as the disc it can be a bit difficult to see until you figure out the trick to viewing these.

[jscoggins]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

The photo above is a mould number and is also proceeded by IFPI.

The best way to view it is to use natural, but not direct, sunlight while tilting the disc at, maybe, a 45 degree angle. Since the number is moulded and is the same transparent material as the disc it can be a bit difficult to see until you figure out the trick to viewing these.

So you want the number on the innermost ring?

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by jscoggins

So you want the number on the innermost ring?

The mould code is on the clear plastic as seen in the photo in the previous post. Here's an illustration from the IFPI but for Blu-ray the code can be read from the label side rather than the play side.

[jarrod_inf]

My players at home hate my Devils Reject disc. That's the only one I've had problems with.

[wormraper]

I'm just happy I only have 4 of the major ones (I have Kagemusha but that was a much older title that plays just fine for me)

Ride with the Devil
Bigger than life
M
and Stagecoach

I'm sending in all 4 even though Ride with the Devil and M only show MINOR bronzing and stage coach only has the issue with the bucky special feature movie... not taking any chances on it getting worse. I've always been REALLY impressed with Criterion's service to their customers and it has made me a VERY loyal customer

[Clark Kent]

The major studios have contracts in place with multiple replicators at the same time. A lot of these smaller labels go with the cheapest replicator available at that particular moment.

If I had to guess any label's BDs to have gone bad based on my collection, it would have been Well Go's discs. Something seemed off about them if you held them in your hand. They had a more oily appearance, right from the package.