Early Blu-rays that may have playback issues (Criterion, Well Go USA, etc.) - Page 129 - Blu-ray Forum

neo_reloaded · 05-06-2018, 08:40 PM

Le Cercle Rouge was never pressed at the same plant so there should be no reason to worry about bronzing.

Cocophone · 06-15-2018, 04:34 AM

My American Graffiti bluray (Universal 100th Anniversary edition) doesn't load anymore. I held the disc up to a light and I can see right through to the label printed on the front of the disc. ☹️. It seems the playing surface has dissolved.

fdm · 06-15-2018, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cocophone

My American Graffiti bluray (Universal 100th Anniversary edition) doesn't load anymore. I held the disc up to a light and I can see right through to the label printed on the front of the disc. ☹️. It seems the playing surface has dissolved.

If you held it up to the light when you first got it, it probably would have looked the same. I've seen several that way. Sucks yours doesn't play any more though…

drush9999 · 06-15-2018, 08:34 AM

My Lionsgate copies of Bangkok Dangerous and Lord of War were both borked, freezing, pixellating when I got them recently. Had to replace with UK and German Blu-rays respectively.

Have to be careful buying US Lionsgate Blu-rays from 2006-2009.

neo_reloaded · 06-15-2018, 04:12 PM

IFPI numbers, both Mastering and Mould, really help (the below image is for CDs but the numbers are in the same places on Blu-ray discs)

Vandal Savage · 06-15-2018, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fdm

If you held it up to the light when you first got it, it probably would have looked the same. I've seen several that way. Sucks yours doesn't play any more though…

That's just what blu-rays look like. If you have one wthat doesn't have a fully painted label, it looks transparent.

BucketheadPikes · 06-15-2018, 10:24 PM

I have 2 Well Go titles that are bronzed & I emailed them twice & still no reply from them & it's been over a week. Is Well Go still offering replacements? Their lack of a response seems to indicate that this isn't much of a priority for them.

the blob · 07-16-2018, 01:07 PM

So has anyone been successful in getting a replacemt of The Lady Vanishes? My copy now doesn’t even load when it played fine watching it a long while ago.

Aunt Peg · 07-16-2018, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torrente

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

)

Coming in late here but I watched The Green Ray a couple of months ago from the Potemkine set and it was fine.

Donnie D · 07-16-2018, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the blob

So has anyone been successful in getting a replacemt of The Lady Vanishes? My copy now doesn’t even load when it played fine watching it a long while ago.

Originally bought 2013/06 finally watched 2018/07/04 Disc started freezing

[Show spoiler]

Pressed to go to Main menu and tried starting again but no luck. After that, the main menu freezes. Tried playing on another player, same issue.
Since it's been so long since I bought it, I decided to repurchase during B&N sale (bought on 2018/07/13). The new disc played perfectly, also, disc itself seems thicker than previous.

fdm · 07-16-2018, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the blob

So has anyone been successful in getting a replacemt of The Lady Vanishes? My copy now doesn’t even load when it played fine watching it a long while ago.

Shouldn't be a problem, just send it in to Criterion explaining your symptoms, reassure them you have the latest firmware installed for your player. I'm sure they've heard about this one and replaced it for others dozens of times. (The OP has an address to use.)

oliversip · 08-04-2018, 06:51 PM

Hi guys, I don't know if here is the right place to ask this, but anyone facing trouble with the Hitchcock collection by Universal? The first one, in the glass case with painted birds. More specific, the movie Shadow of a Doubt. I was going to watch last night when a realized this black stain in the disc and now it simple doesn't work anymore. I'm from Brazil so I doubt that universal will change for me, probably I'm gonna have to buy a new disc. However, I'm really concerned about the fact that this may happen to another disc sometime soon.

returnofthemack · 08-04-2018, 07:06 PM

I’ve only had one disc that has seemingly died on me. Avengers age of Ultron. Skips a huge chunk of the movie and the disc looks fine. At least the UHD is coming, this is probably my least favorite of all the marvel movies but unplayable disc plus upgrade means I’m buying it.

Torrente · 08-23-2018, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torrente

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

)

Again...

New disc from the Rohmer set to be reported on french forums: Conte d'été !

fdm · 10-16-2018, 04:17 AM

So, finally getting out of my procrastination rut, at least for the bronzing Criterions. I'm going to test out all of them using VSO Inspector, including the ones I have watched successfully in the intervening years. So every title I've seen mentioned here and there as potentially going bad is getting checked out.

Starting with the unswapped ones, I'm running 50-50. Days Of Heaven and 8-1/2 made it through Surface Scan ok. Wings Of Desire and Le Cercle Rouge did not, they both got rather stuck about half-way through, so I assume that's bad news.

The only one I'd actually played before was Le Cercle Rouge, so that's quite disappointing if Surface Scan turns out to be accurate. The number on that disc was IFPI OW20 by the way.

(I did back this one up fortunately...) Wings Of Desire was IFPI 10K8.

Still lots more to go.

Edit: I'm wondering a bit about this blu-ray reader, seems like it doesn't like the Howard's End replacement disc I got either... Hadn't gotten around to watching it, just the original it replaced. But it is having problems about halfway through as well.

--

(Fwiw, I was able to watch the whole French Roehmer big box, finished it up early this year, and subsequently went ahead and backed up all the blus just in case.)

fdm · 10-18-2018, 11:39 PM

In the midst of a pause after the first batch of Criterion Surface Scans (basically all the ones I have left with IFPI 10K_ manufacture codes).

It wasn't long after my previous post that I got suspicious of the blu-ray device I had attached to my Windows 7 HP portable PC, both probably at least 6-8 years old. I did find a newer firmware for it, which made it work a bit better on some blu-rays, but some of the others it now won't recognize them at all, especially those with IFPI OW__ codes (though I did get one to read last night, but it failed halfway through (Lady Vanishes)). So seems the best that can be done with what I have handy is get an idea of perhaps which ones are closest to becoming unplayable, if they're even recognized by the player. Basically I'm thinking this old Samsung blu-ray thing is kinda crap, and not dissimilar to their old blu-ray players that were kinda crap.

As of now (the original release) Monterey Pop disc #2 and Che Part 1 are the ones that are maybe the closest to being toast, they failed the PC's Surface Scan... but I was able to copy them on the Mac fine (which has an even older blu-ray burner in it, but obviously a better one). A few others were a bit hesitant at the layer change but still scanned to the end. (And after the firmware update, Days Of Heaven was deemed ok after all, but Le Cercle Rouge would mount at all (so looks like will just have to play it again).)

Next stop for those that didn't test too well is the Oppo to see if they still play. (At least a successfully completed full scan I can probably forego another watch of the ones I've watched before.) And in the meantime I will finish up with a pretty good number of other Criterions that have also been mentioned in the past (if I can get that blu-ray device to even recognize them

).

Pretty tedious, probably why it took me so long to get around to.

WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW · 10-19-2018, 05:48 AM

One of the seasons of X-Files has the discs encoded with the wrong video levels and there is a replacement program.

Also "Much Ado About Nothing" is listed on the back as having MA track but it's missing on the actual disk and you have to pick a lossy audio track to get sound.

MassiveMovieBuff · 10-19-2018, 06:04 AM

My copy of Cabin Fever (2002 unrated director's cut) got a form of disc rot. Bought it when it first came out in 2010 and it's played fine every year for my horror marathons but the movie started freezing and skipping this time around. I looked at the disc and there were disc rot spots all over it.

Dubliner1 · 11-10-2018, 09:01 PM

Just picked up "8 1/2" (Fellini) Criterion blu- without resorting to playing the disc in it's entirety how do I tell if it may be a problem disc? (looks bronzed already)...
Codes/digits around center spine of disc...?

joe_b · 11-11-2018, 12:33 AM

Seeing this thread pop up again reminded me to finally check my early Lionsgate titles. These three no longer play and have turned dark bronze with spotting on the data side:

The Phantom (Billy Zane)
The Relic
Universal Soldier (2008 edition)

Did a keyword search of this thread and didn't find these mentioned as problem titles.

06-15-2018, 10:24 PM	#2567
BucketheadPikes Blu-ray Knight Member since:Oct 2016 Location:Quixote's Coop at Bucketheadland Trading Score:1	The Man From Nowhere/Shaolin I have 2 Well Go titles that are bronzed & I emailed them twice & still no reply from them & it's been over a week. Is Well Go still offering replacements? Their lack of a response seems to indicate that this isn't much of a priority for them.

10-16-2018, 04:17 AM	#2575
fdm Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Nov 2007 Location:Way Out West 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Digital collection:- iTunes collection:- Prime collection:- Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:3	So, finally getting out of my procrastination rut, at least for the bronzing Criterions. I'm going to test out all of them using VSO Inspector, including the ones I have watched successfully in the intervening years. So every title I've seen mentioned here and there as potentially going bad is getting checked out. Starting with the unswapped ones, I'm running 50-50. Days Of Heaven and 8-1/2 made it through Surface Scan ok. Wings Of Desire and Le Cercle Rouge did not, they both got rather stuck about half-way through, so I assume that's bad news. The only one I'd actually played before was Le Cercle Rouge, so that's quite disappointing if Surface Scan turns out to be accurate. The number on that disc was IFPI OW20 by the way. (I did back this one up fortunately...) Wings Of Desire was IFPI 10K8. Still lots more to go. Edit: I'm wondering a bit about this blu-ray reader, seems like it doesn't like the Howard's End replacement disc I got either... Hadn't gotten around to watching it, just the original it replaced. But it is having problems about halfway through as well. -- (Fwiw, I was able to watch the whole French Roehmer big box, finished it up early this year, and subsequently went ahead and backed up all the blus just in case.) Last edited by fdm; 10-16-2018 at 05:09 AM.

10-18-2018, 11:39 PM	#2576
fdm Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Nov 2007 Location:Way Out West 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Digital collection:- iTunes collection:- Prime collection:- Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:3	In the midst of a pause after the first batch of Criterion Surface Scans (basically all the ones I have left with IFPI 10K_ manufacture codes). It wasn't long after my previous post that I got suspicious of the blu-ray device I had attached to my Windows 7 HP portable PC, both probably at least 6-8 years old. I did find a newer firmware for it, which made it work a bit better on some blu-rays, but some of the others it now won't recognize them at all, especially those with IFPI OW__ codes (though I did get one to read last night, but it failed halfway through (Lady Vanishes)). So seems the best that can be done with what I have handy is get an idea of perhaps which ones are closest to becoming unplayable, if they're even recognized by the player. Basically I'm thinking this old Samsung blu-ray thing is kinda crap, and not dissimilar to their old blu-ray players that were kinda crap. As of now (the original release) Monterey Pop disc #2 and Che Part 1 are the ones that are maybe the closest to being toast, they failed the PC's Surface Scan... but I was able to copy them on the Mac fine (which has an even older blu-ray burner in it, but obviously a better one). A few others were a bit hesitant at the layer change but still scanned to the end. (And after the firmware update, Days Of Heaven was deemed ok after all, but Le Cercle Rouge would mount at all (so looks like will just have to play it again).) Next stop for those that didn't test too well is the Oppo to see if they still play. (At least a successfully completed full scan I can probably forego another watch of the ones I've watched before.) And in the meantime I will finish up with a pretty good number of other Criterions that have also been mentioned in the past (if I can get that blu-ray device to even recognize them ). Pretty tedious, probably why it took me so long to get around to. Last edited by fdm; 10-19-2018 at 06:42 AM.

05-06-2018, 08:40 PM	#2561
neo_reloaded Banned Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Blu-ray collection:416 Trading Score:72	Le Cercle Rouge was never pressed at the same plant so there should be no reason to worry about bronzing.

06-15-2018, 04:34 AM	#2562
Cocophone Expert Member Member since:Aug 2010 4K collection:110 Blu-ray collection:1204 DVD collection:268 Digital collection:74	My American Graffiti bluray (Universal 100th Anniversary edition) doesn't load anymore. I held the disc up to a light and I can see right through to the label printed on the front of the disc. ☹️. It seems the playing surface has dissolved.

06-15-2018, 08:34 AM	#2564
drush9999 Blu-ray Baron Top contributor Member since:Nov 2016 Location:Sutton Coldfield, England 4K collection:566 Blu-ray collection:6093 DVD collection:488 Trading Score:1	My Lionsgate copies of Bangkok Dangerous and Lord of War were both borked, freezing, pixellating when I got them recently. Had to replace with UK and German Blu-rays respectively. Have to be careful buying US Lionsgate Blu-rays from 2006-2009.

06-15-2018, 04:12 PM	#2565
neo_reloaded Banned Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Blu-ray collection:416 Trading Score:72	IFPI numbers, both Mastering and Mould, really help (the below image is for CDs but the numbers are in the same places on Blu-ray discs)

07-16-2018, 01:07 PM	#2568
the blob Power Member Top contributor Member since:Dec 2009 Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Trading Score:1	So has anyone been successful in getting a replacemt of The Lady Vanishes? My copy now doesn’t even load when it played fine watching it a long while ago.

08-04-2018, 06:51 PM	#2572
oliversip New Member Member since:Mar 2014	Hi guys, I don't know if here is the right place to ask this, but anyone facing trouble with the Hitchcock collection by Universal? The first one, in the glass case with painted birds. More specific, the movie Shadow of a Doubt. I was going to watch last night when a realized this black stain in the disc and now it simple doesn't work anymore. I'm from Brazil so I doubt that universal will change for me, probably I'm gonna have to buy a new disc. However, I'm really concerned about the fact that this may happen to another disc sometime soon.

08-04-2018, 07:06 PM	#2573
returnofthemack Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jun 2012 Location:Ohio 4K collection:124 Blu-ray collection:885 DVD collection:353 Trading Score:176	I’ve only had one disc that has seemingly died on me. Avengers age of Ultron. Skips a huge chunk of the movie and the disc looks fine. At least the UHD is coming, this is probably my least favorite of all the marvel movies but unplayable disc plus upgrade means I’m buying it.

10-19-2018, 05:48 AM	#2577
WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Feb 2012 4K collection:751 Blu-ray collection:2324 DVD collection:279 Blu-ray reviews:7	One of the seasons of X-Files has the discs encoded with the wrong video levels and there is a replacement program. Also "Much Ado About Nothing" is listed on the back as having MA track but it's missing on the actual disk and you have to pick a lossy audio track to get sound.

10-19-2018, 06:04 AM	#2578
MassiveMovieBuff Blu-ray Count Member since:Apr 2014 4K collection:414 Blu-ray collection:1628 DVD collection:97 Trading Score:3	My copy of Cabin Fever (2002 unrated director's cut) got a form of disc rot. Bought it when it first came out in 2010 and it's played fine every year for my horror marathons but the movie started freezing and skipping this time around. I looked at the disc and there were disc rot spots all over it.

11-10-2018, 09:01 PM	#2579
Dubliner1 Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Apr 2010 Location:Spain Home Theater Gallery:11 4K collection:346 Blu-ray collection:599 DVD collection:5 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:18	Just picked up "8 1/2" (Fellini) Criterion blu- without resorting to playing the disc in it's entirety how do I tell if it may be a problem disc? (looks bronzed already)... Codes/digits around center spine of disc...?

11-11-2018, 12:33 AM	#2580
joe_b Senior Member Member since:Jan 2012 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:-	Seeing this thread pop up again reminded me to finally check my early Lionsgate titles. These three no longer play and have turned dark bronze with spotting on the data side: The Phantom (Billy Zane) The Relic Universal Soldier (2008 edition) Did a keyword search of this thread and didn't find these mentioned as problem titles.

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