LOTR TTT: CHAP. 51 glitch

[Reggie44]

I'm using a pretty old Sony S530 and everything's fine with the disc except that when I hit chap. 51 and Gandalf is talking about how the battle for middle earth is just beginning, at the nine second mark it either skips to 20 seconds, or sometimes reverse back to the start of chap. 50.

Anyone else experiencing the same problem??

The disc seems to work fine in the playstation.

[Numskull]

Mine had that problem. I went back to the store and exchanged it. Now I can watch chapter 51 in all its glory, but I don't know about the rest of the movie yet (watching it twice in two days would have been a bit much).

[Brian Shannon]

No I did not have this problem.

[Vryce]

Mine glitched in the same spot. I have a Sony C650D(I think that is the model)

Gandalf just started talking and it glitched and went back about an hour and a half to chapter 23 :eek:

I got back to the spot and it started to glitch again, but just continued on. I'm going to look at it when I get home and see if its scratched or just dust. If its scratched or anything, I'm going to exchange it at the store.

[pro-bassoonist]

I have the same problem.....noy sure why!! ( I have a Sony too).

[gcribbs]

no problem on my Panasonic Rp62.

[juice21]

my denon dvd-900 also experiences a problem here. it just pauses for about 2 seconds, pixelates and then continues. i'm on my second copy of TTT and it does it on both. at first i thought it was an isolated flaw, but now i am assuming not...

[young]

yup, had that problem on my sony ps2. haven't tried it out on my other dvd players (like my xbox) thinking it was just my old ps2. i'll test it out tonight.

[folgersnyourcup]

The first release of fellowship had a similar problem when they arrive in Rivendell of same discs if I recall correctly...

[PalmerJoss]

No problem on my panasonic. The only thing I noticed was that the music faded WAY out in many scenes to the point where you could barely hear it. One of the places I noticed this was when we first see the Riders Of Rohan in the film. The music fades way down, almost to a muffled sound. I'm not sure if this is due to a defective disc or a bad mix.

[Sonicflood]

Mine has the skip glitch too! :(

It starts @ 2:47:34 and skips to 2:47:40! Funny though, I can use the FF or REV and see the missing 6 seconds.

I have a Philips DVD 623 and an Apex AD-1225

Well, back to Wal-Mart for a replacement! How can we know which discs are the bad ones without having to test them in the store?

I've not even seen the movie yet, in the theater or on DVD, so I was excited to finally get to watch it, yet this anomaly presents itself! :mad:

Sonicflood

[caiman]

I had that exact problem on my Sony S360, as well as my Pioneer DVD ROM, but it didn't happen on my newer Sony 5-disc (I forget the model). I took the DVD back to BB and got a different one. I figured it was just a fluke, but it sounds like there are some patterns.

[Leon Liew]

No glitch problems on my trusty 4 year old Pioneer 525 DVD
player. I guess they don't manufacture players like they used to
any more now.

The only bad glitch experienced was that the disc was a faulty
one 'The General's Daughter" other than that it plays flawlessly.

[DVDmig]

I have had two defective like this so far (from Walmart). I'm taking back the second copy for an exchange today. There was also a printing error on the insert booklet on the first copy I bought. The cover art had a big discoloration. I am using a Hitachi player that just turned a year old.

I had problems with the LOTR: FOTR disc too. I went through 5 copies before I got one that worked!

[Binger]

No problem on my Sony DVP-NS715P, Xbox or my Sony DVD+-RW drive. It is glitching on my Sony DVP-S330 and my PS2.

[dvdisoil]

i have a RCA ( forgot the model #) and it does the same thing.., works fine on my laptop though . i thought it was my dying DVD player but looks like it might be the DISK itself ......

[Jepthah]

1999-purchased Pioneer 525 w/firmware upgrade, no problems.

[reubs82]

NO problems on my Panasonic RP-62, either. Either it's player specific, or a Wally World exclusive b/c I got mine from BB.

Only problem I see with the disc is that I'm not watching it on a huge 16:9 HDTV w/ a pimped out surround sound set-up.

[Rypro 525]

havent' tried it yet, but is any one expierienceing problems on a samsung player?

[Tarnower]

I tried in on my PS2. But mine has no problems. :banana:

[snoogins]

Mine's good

Sony DVP-S300

[Cornelius1047]

There was no skipping or pixelation at the 2:47:34-40 (Chapter 51) right now, but I haven't watched the rest of the disc. Man, I hope it's okay. My DVD Player is a Sony DVP-S560D. The disc was bought at Circuit City.

Also, if there was a problem with the Fellowship disc, can someone please tell me where on that disc it occurs? I haven't watched the theatrical version on DVD yet, and I've had the disc over a year. :eek:

K

[PrometheusUFO]

Originally posted by PalmerJoss
No problem on my panasonic. The only thing I noticed was that the music faded WAY out in many scenes to the point where you could barely hear it. One of the places I noticed this was when we first see the Riders Of Rohan in the film. The music fades way down, almost to a muffled sound. I'm not sure if this is due to a defective disc or a bad mix.

Strangely, I'm getting that same problem on my Venturer. The sound just became really low after this horn as blown and would stay that way. I tried removing the disc, then I tried removing the disc and restarted the player. After that , it was alright again.

[The Void]

Originally posted by Cornelius1047
I haven't watched the theatrical version on DVD yet, and I've had the disc over a year. :eek:

Good thing you bought it :D

I have also had the theatrical FOTR for a year and watched it for the first time about a month ago. It's getting hard to keep up with all my unwatched DVDs.

My theatrical FOTR played perfect. I'm still waiting on my Two Towers disc to arrive which should be any day now. I'll be sure to check that spot when I get it.

[Cornelius1047]

By the time I got around to watching it, the Extended Edition had come out and I figured, eh, I'll watch this one. Haven't really found a reason to watch the theatrical cut since then. Of course, I'll probably watch it this weekend along with The Two Towers. You seriously don't understand how many DVDs I own that I haven't gotten around to watching. I did watch all the special features on the 2-disc though. Man, I gotta get on the ball. This job thing is cutting into my slacking off time, which includes watching tons of DVDs... Hmm.

K

[DVDmig]

Like I said, I went through 5 copies of FOTR before I got one that worked right. Each disc had different problems though!

As I recall, the first disc played great, but the bonus disc would freeze up on the featurettes originally made for the website. Not one would play all the way through!

Well, I was paying for a two disc set so.....I finally got a bonus disc that played right on the 3rd copy I brought home...but....the movie disc now had different sound and visual problems so......I finally got both discs to play fine on my 5th copy.

There were weird sound distortions during the tavern scene when the hobbits meet Aragorn/Strider for the first time. The disc would lock up also, but I'm not sure right now where these happened (at differnt spots on each disc).

Anyway, I contacted New Line by e-mail and they had the attitude that I was using an inferior DVD player and that I should get a new player instead! Well, I didn't!

These were all Wal-Mart discs. Maybe I should have learned something from this?

BTW--I also bought the 4-disc extended edition at Wal-Mart and have never had a lick of trouble with it.

[young]

i tried it on my sampo and it didn't have the problem. (so far only the ps2)

[DusterAZ]

Must be some bad discs out there, I watched TTT all the way through on Thursday without a single glitch on my old Sony DVP-S330.

[Ian11]

Sony S-330. No problems with my copy.

[Iron_Giant]

I have the same problem and I bought the DVD at Walmart, going to trade it in at BB and see if it fixes the problem.

[darkside]

Played fine on my Sony S300 and my Samsung S221 but I have a one second skip on my Magnavox 630R.

Tried exchanging the disc, but it still has the same problem with the Magnavox.

[bigdogkt2003]

Watched all of mine last night and it worked fine

[exilejedi]

Had the chapter 51 glitch as well (super-bad pixelation and then freeze-up at 167'34") on my Pioneer DVL-919. I exchanged it today at Suncoast, but the replacement has the exact same problem at the exact same place. The replacement seems to work okay in my Sony DVP-S530D, though. Of course, that's upstairs on the small TV and with no good sound setup, so that doesn't count. :-)

So, how many exchanges should I try at Suncoast before I just get a refund and try buying from somewhere else?

[Reggie44]

If this was any other movie I would have probably returned it over and over to get a copy that might work in my player (although it's a good chance this is a player problem). BUT, I figure I'm going to get the EE in a few months anyway and in the future, this copy will gather dust while the EE will be the version of choice, as is the case with FOTR. SO WHY DEAL WITH TRAFFIC AND THE COST OF GAS TO EXCHANGE SOMETHING THAT FOR THE MOST PART WORKS???

[GuessWho]

Another :up: for Sony playback

[Iron_Giant]

Originally posted by Iron_Giant
I have the same problem and I bought the DVD at Walmart, going to trade it in at BB and see if it fixes the problem.
Exchanged it a BB, the 1st time chapter 51 was played it work with no problem (my son said it did freeze, maybe I was looking away at that moment). But after playing it all the way through, chapter 51 had a small freeze (not as bad as my 1st DVD) again.

Bummer, but not that bad.

[jekbrown]

have watched both the pan/suck and WS version of this film on the same sony dvd player with no glitches.

j

[Ergyu]

No problem on my pioneer.

[Mistoffeleez]

Same problem, also on an old Sony player. Mine skips from Chapter 51 all the way back to Chapter 34 or so. But if you just fast forward thru the glitch spot everything works ok and you miss a whoppin 10 seconds.

[milkdog]

Bounced back a few chapters on my old Sony. :( I use to own Laser Pacific stock (the company that did the DVD authoring). The stock tanked on me too.

[LivingINClip]

I got a Pioneer 3-disc and it's alll good.

[AmazingColossalPumaMan]

I just tried playing the movie on my PS2, and it seems to have the glitch. It skips forward a little bit. Other than that, however, it seems to play fine.

Of course I've had nothing but problems since getting the movie on Tuesday on my normal DVD player (it's a General Electric GE1105P--yeah, I know it sucks, but it's played most things fine for almost 4 years). It stopped being able to read the movie after an hour and a half. Although if I put the disc in fresh and skipped to the part where it breaks up, it seems to play, but with small glitches (pauses) here and there. I'm on my second disc from Wal-Mart, but I guess I'll try again for one that at least works perfectly on my PS2.

[TomOpus]

Got my copy at Wal*Mart and it plays fine on my Toshiba SD4800.

[Captain Harlock]

My copy seems to work fine...

and I played it in an Apex 500W

:jawdrop:

[wildcatlh]

Plays fine on both my Toshiba SD2109 and my Sony DVP-NS315

[AndyB976]

Mine works fine on an old Philips Magnavox DVD825

[KingSmoth]

Perfect playback on my PS2, as always.

[gcribbs]

Originally posted by AmazingColossalPumaMan
I just tried playing the movie on my PS2, and it seems to have the glitch. It skips forward a little bit. Other than that, however, it seems to play fine.

Of course I've had nothing but problems since getting the movie on Tuesday on my normal DVD player (it's a General Electric GE1105P--yeah, I know it sucks, but it's played most things fine for almost 4 years). It stopped being able to read the movie after an hour and a half. Although if I put the disc in fresh and skipped to the part where it breaks up, it seems to play, but with small glitches (pauses) here and there. I'm on my second disc from Wal-Mart, but I guess I'll try again for one that at least works perfectly on my PS2.

for those with problems playing it on a PS2 do you have the newer drivers from the sony remote loaded or are you using older drivers?

I had a GE 1105p that I bought from fry's :(
I ended up smashing it up and throwing it into the trash it made me so angry. Mine did not like any dual layer dvd's. It would stutter and pixelate after the layer change which was unacceptable.

[grunter]

My copy glitched at Ch. 51 using a Sony DVP-S330 player.

I bought my copy at Target.

Is anyone having any luck returning the disc and getting copies that actually play through this chapter without any further problems?

Looks like I might have to buy another copy and return this "glitchy" version (as I seem to have tossed the receipt).

[Unseen]

I got TTT from my local Circuit City, the 2nd disc gives certain images weird horizontal edges. Many horizontal line where there should be smooth vertical ones. Only does it on the preview for RotK and in the menu when the Nazghul fills the screen. I'm on my 2nd copy and it has this glitch too. Anybody else get this?

[grunter]

According to the official New Line Cinema website FAQ (http://shop.newline.com/content.xml?cid=faqs)

you can write to the following email address to complain about a defective DVD: hvoperations@newline.com

I suggest all persons having difficulty with the "Two Towers" DVD write in to this address and at least report the problem, such that the powers-that-be at New Line know that we're not happy with the situation.

When I pay my money for a DVD of a film release as major as the "Two Towers," I expect the damn thing to work. Let's let New Line know that they royally screwed this release up.

Please.

[Iron_Giant]

Originally posted by grunter
According to the official New Line Cinema website FAQ (http://shop.newline.com/content.xml?cid=faqs)

you can write to the following email address to complain about a defective DVD: hvoperations@newline.com

I suggest all persons having difficulty with the "Two Towers" DVD write in to this address and at least report the problem, such that the powers-that-be at New Line know that we're not happy with the situation.

When I pay my money for a DVD of a film release as major as the "Two Towers," I expect the damn thing to work. Let's let New Line know that they royally screwed this release up.

Please.
Here is an email I sent to New Line concerning the Chap 51 Freeze...
<b>
Please add me to the list of people who are having a problem with your LOTR: TTT DVD.

I bought a disk in a Colorado Walmart and it has the Chap 51 freeze, I tried cleaning the disk but nothing would work. So, I returned it to a Best Buy here in California. The new DVD does the same thing, freezes at Chap 51.

I have looked through several DVD forums, and all of them report the same problem (not every DVD player has the chap 51 freeze, Sony seems to be the worse. But, Sony is not a "CHEAP" DVD player).

Well, you can now add another DVD player to the list, LOTR: TTT will do the Chap 51 freeze on my CyberHome CH-DVD 300. This is the 1st time I have had any problems playing back a DVD on the player. Now we can say the that the problem is NOT only with a certain DVD player.

New Line has always had top of the line DVD with no problems (atleast for me), so my only question is:

What is New Line going to do about the Chap 51 freeze problem?

Thanks</b>

[kelemvor]

Original poster, add the info about the email from above to the first post so people see it and can get lots of emails sent in.

I have an old Sony DVP-S360 so we'll see what happens...

[RussG]

No problems on my Sony NS715P. Maybe I got lucky.

[Apocrypha]

I have two copies both from Walmart
they both have no problems I have tried them in 4 different machines
RCA
Dingtian
Panasonic
Go Video

[GMLSKIS]

No problems on my Sony DVP-NS700P.

Being that's my main player I won't even bother with if it works okay on my computers or other player.

[cello_player]

I got the same ~15 second freeze/jump at Chapter 51 on my Sony 3000 (it's an oldie but still a goodie...) I got my TT discs at Wal-Mart in Nashville, TN.

[Dazed]

Seems fine on my PS2

[TenaciousD]

I got my copy from Best Buy and it skips on Ch. 51. I own a Denon 2900 and it skips 3 seconds.

[Goldberg74]

Best Buy. Freezes for 6 secs. Cyberhome DVD Player.

I'll play it in the other 3 that I have and see how it goes.

[Josh-da-man]

Got my DVD for fourteen bucks at a Wal-Mart, and it plays without any problems on my nearly five-year-old Toshiba player.

[bunkaroo]

I had the chapter freeze on a Philips 793C (disc purchased from Best Buy). Here's the weird part...

On Thursday I read about the glitch so I popped in the disc and went to the referenced part. No problems whatsoever.

I finally watched the film last night, and I did have the problem.

Now here's what changed between the two viewings:

1) When I checked it Thursday, the player had just been turned on. When I watched it last night, the player had been on approx. 7 hours (watching FOTR:EE and TTT back to back.)

2) When I checked it Thursday, the player was set to my S-video output and non-progressive scan. Last night it was on progressive scan and had been switched to its component outputs (I just took delivery of a 57" Toshiba 16:9 set yesterday). I can't understand why this would cause the problem, but I wanted to mention it anyway.

As a side note, I kept going back to the scene, and it kept freezing, although you could scan backward and play from any point after the freeze/jump point. I then shut off the player for a couple minutes, leaving the player at chapter 51 after the glitch. When I turned it back on, once it started inside chapter 51 I skipped back to the beginning of Chapter 51 before the glitch. This time it played through OK. I then skipped back into chapter 50 and moved forward, and I had the problem again. I'm going to test this theory again this morning. Is it possible this problem is being triggered by the chapter break?

I may go replace my copy today just for the hell of it, but I am not encouraged about getting a good replacement. As long as there is not a similar glitch on the EE, I'll be OK in the long run.

[mediabear]

I bought my copy at Target and had read about the problems with the freeze before I watched it. I watched it on my Philips DVD player and all went well. My husband had to leave for work during the last 25 minutes of the film, so the following day we put the disc back in so he could finish the movie. This time, the skip appeared.

Thanks for posting the New Line information. I threw out my receipt after the DVD played fine the first time.

[grunter]

Ok - from what I've heard and read here and there on the 'net, people are generally assuming that this is merely a bad batch of TTT discs.

If that's the case, how long do you think someone should wait before returning their defective copy before the stores have re-stocked with corrected and/or non-defective TTT discs? I've heard stores re-stock at anywhere between 7 to 10 days. Is that too optimistic? Should I wait a few weeks before getting a new copy? Will it even matter? Is the defect something inherent in the DVD manufacturing/mastering process that will show up in all future pressings of the theatrical version of the disc?

I'm really seriously pissed about this disc. But I'm unsure as to how to proceed. It seems like a waste of time - right this instant - to go out and replace the defective disc.

Has anyone had any luck returning their Ch. 51 skip-disc and finding a copy thereafter that actually worked (in their Sony player)??

[Spiky]

Hmm. Both theatrical and EE versions of FOTR have had intermittent problems in my Sony D360, as well as many other discs. But they always played fine in my Malata and the EE at least plays well in my new Denon. My uncle's D560 hasn't had problems like this, I think Sony seems to be prone to certain models having playback problems.

I better try my TTT quick (I've only checked out some of disc 2 so far) to make sure I don't have problems. I'd expect them in the Sony (it was never great and is dying), but it better play correctly in the Denon or I'll be pissed.

[Ravenous]

I tested TTT on 2 Panasonic (differrent models and features)players and it worked fine. In fact, Ive seen the movie twice already and I had no problems. But when I read about this glitch I popped it on my Sony Playstation 2 and it freezes at 51 and jumps ahead to the next chapter (somewhere in the middle). When I tried rewinding it, the thing froze and the screen went black with the words "No Information found".

This really pisses me off! Though my living room Panasonic is the main one we always watch movies on, and I rarely see any DVDs in my room, I still didnt pay for a piece of **** disc. I'll probably return it to Wal Mart right when the 30 days are almost passed

[catracho]

No problems with my sony dvd player ns315

I bought my TTT dvd in Amazon

[grunter]

Any more word on how to fix this?

[Goldberg74]

Tested it my 4 year old RCA 5220P, worked fine.

Tested it in my PC on a Sony DVD-Rom (DDU1612), worked fine.

Tested it on my Apple Matashita CD/DVD SR-8584A, worked fine.

Still hiccups in my Cyber Home DVD player (as noted above).

I'm befuddled...

[grunter]

I suppose I'm the only one whose completely livid over this situation. But dammit - I want a copy of the THEATRICAL RELEASE of this film to "effin'" work!!

I have this fear that this whole issue will be glossed over or completely ignored by New Line and we'll simply have the defective version out in the general public and no other alternatives. To me, that's a big crock o' crap.

The diagnostics menu for the Sony players that's apparently in the 500's series doesn't exist for the 300's - as far as I can tell. Unless someone can clue me in as to some "backdoor" way to get to it - some way that's not detailed in my disc player manual.

Is my only hope at this point to return the damn disc and seek out a bootleg somewhere? I know I'm obsessing over this one disc - but dammit, this is the only film I've been waiting and waiting and waiting to have come out on DVD. In fact, it's the first DVD I've bought on day of release in months and months and months.

I'm just so friggin' frustrated and pissed off about this . . .

GRRRRRRRR!!!!

[bunkaroo]

Update:

I got a new copy from the same Best Buy I got the original from.

No skip on this one. I went back and forth several times, and even went from chapter 50 on to allow for the natural chapter progression...never froze once. We'll see if it stays that way.

I suppose it is possible the BB I went to is selling from a second "batch", because if not I have no idea why this one works better...

[TheOne]

Played fine on my Toshiba SDK620

[grunter]

Still haven't heard diddly from New Line as to the batch . . .

Dammit.

:mad:

[buckee1]

Played it on my Tosh 3109/2109 no problems.

[Deckard-10]

I didn't experience the Chapter 51 glitch on my Sony DVP-NS900V or my 6-yr old Philips DVD405AT. &nbsp The only problem I have is a layer change that stops my Sony dead in its tracks for a good 5 seconds!

[boc4ever]

Reggie44,

I can't thank you enough. I picked this up on 8/29 and had no intentions of watching it anytime soon. Thanks to your post, I popped the disc in last night and discovered the glitch on my APEX 3201. I wasn't optimistic about finding a problem-free replacement today when I went to BB to exchange. When I got home, I cued up CH 51 and it played right through the spot. I was so happy, and it only took one exchange. Thanks again!

[Spiky]

Well, I tried it on my decent players. I must have a good one. Just fine on Denon 2900 and Malata N996. This was purchased at Walmart.

Those with the layer change issues, where is the change? I like testing the Denon....

[grunter]

The problematic layer change is at Ch. 51, about 6 seconds in, when Gandalf says the word "swift."

My copy no longer jumps back to the earlier layer switch. It now merely skips ahead 15 seconds or so and continues playing.

[Spiky]

What do you mean by earlier layer switch? There are only 2 layers on a DVD so one layer change, I'm wondering where the actual change is, regardless of the issue with chap 51.

[grunter]

See? I thought there was only one layer change on a disc too. But there are folks who insist that the Chap. 51 glitch is due to a layer change. With the stuttering and stalling happening in that spot, you'd think so - but I'm not convinced.

The obvious layer change happens right after Aragorn gets dragged off the cliff by the orc lion-creature. The usual pause occurs there.

Occasionally, when the Chap. 51 glitch occurs, you are sent back to the chapter with Aragorn's fall - which would imply that the Chap. 51 is somehow related to the layer change.

But I dunno. It's completely confusing and apparently not worth the effort of most folks to really complain about at this point.

I don't see New Line doing diddley about the problem. And quite frankly, there's not much enthusiasm on this board to really pursue the matter. I'm thinking the best one can hope for is an eventual re-release of the theatrical version sometime in the distant future.

But I'm not holding my breath.

[HoNuts]

No problems from my copy on a JVC XV-511BK or Playstation2. I bought mine from Columbia House.

[Filmmaker]

No glitch (so far--I've only watched it through once) on my Sony DVP-S7000...you guys really had me worried, since this is one of Sony's earliest players...whew...

[RoboDad]

Originally posted by grunter
But there are folks who insist that the Chap. 51 glitch is due to a layer change. With the stuttering and stalling happening in that spot, you'd think so - but I'm not convinced.
Those "folks" are dead wrong. There is no such thing as a DVD with more than two layers, and there would be absolutely no point in having a movie begin on the first layer (layer 0), then switch to the second layer (layer 1) during the presentation, and then for some bizarre reason, switch back to layer 0 later in same presentation. The now-infamous chapter 51 glitch is not in any way due to a layer change. It is simply an authoring problem with the disc.

If you need more convincing, my player (a Sony S360, which does exhibit the problem) has the ability to display the active layer during playback. In the scene where Aragorn goes over the cliff, the player reports that it changes from layer 0 to layer 1. However, during the chapter 51 glitch, it never leaves layer 1.

[Spiky]

Thanks, grunter. I haven't actually watched this on the DVD, yet, to find this stuff myself. I'll get to it, though.

[Iron_Giant]

Originally posted by Iron_Giant
Exchanged it a BB, the 1st time chapter 51 was played it work with no problem (my son said it did freeze, maybe I was looking away at that moment). But after playing it all the way through, chapter 51 had a small freeze (not as bad as my 1st DVD) again.

Bummer, but not that bad.
I traded the DVD in at BB again and now the DVD plays through chapter 51 with no problems. I waited for a week to go by until I returned the DVD for the 3rd time, hoping that a new shippment would come in.

The numbers on the back of the DVD are different than the one I have befor.

So, it does look like there is a bad batch (on some DVD players) of DVD for TTT.

Good luck to anyone else who has the problem.

[MvRojo]

I have the problem on my DVP-S330 player as well.

What number were you looking at to see that it was different? Was it on the actual DVD or on the outside case?

[Iron_Giant]

Originally posted by MvRojo
I have the problem on my DVP-S330 player as well.

What number were you looking at to see that it was different? Was it on the actual DVD or on the outside case?
The numbers were on the back of the DVD box next to the UPC bar Code. What it means to me is that DVD came from a different batch or manufacturing location.

UPC Code Number: 9404363552

ISBN 0-7806-4333-X

This DVD batch must be a good batch, I wish I had written down the old DVD UPC Code Number - maybe there is a connection.

[TylerDurden_73]

Originally posted by Iron_Giant
The numbers were on the back of the DVD box next to the UPC bar Code. What it means to me is that DVD came from a different batch or manufacturing location.

UPC Code Number: 9404363552

ISBN 0-7806-4333-X



My dvd is from this batch listed above.


I have watched it twice so far on 2 different players, and not had a problem.

sony s530d
sony nc655p

[MvRojo]

Originally posted by Iron_Giant
The numbers were on the back of the DVD box next to the UPC bar Code. What it means to me is that DVD came from a different batch or manufacturing location.

UPC Code Number: 9404363552

ISBN 0-7806-4333-X

This DVD batch must be a good batch, I wish I had written down the old DVD UPC Code Number - maybe there is a connection.

Mine's that too, but has the glitch.

[PJsig08]

I've had no problem with this glitch.

[DVDmig]

Originally posted by grunter
I suppose I'm the only one whose completely livid over this situation. But dammit - I want a copy of the THEATRICAL RELEASE of this film to "effin'" work!!

I have this fear that this whole issue will be glossed over or completely ignored by New Line and we'll simply have the defective version out in the general public and no other alternatives. To me, that's a big crock o' crap.

I'm just so friggin' frustrated and pissed off about this . . .

GRRRRRRRR!!!!


I am totally with you on this one!! I am so pissed off!! :grunt:

I went through 4 copies at Wal-Mart and finally got the returns guy to give me a refund. I am waiting now and I will try to buy another copy at Best Buy, Circuit City, or somewhere else. As I said in another post, I went through 5 copies of FOTR before getting one that worked right (all at Wal-Mart).

I have FOTR EE and it plays fine, as well as 2 other New Line discs that play fine. I am hoping to buy one from a new shipment that works.

My Hitachi has never had compatibility problems. Every defective disc that I've come across has been replaced with one that worked correctly (unless I couldn't find a replacement). I never notice layer changes either. And, I buy DVDs from a wide variety of manufacturers.

I am going to contact New Line today, but I contacted them about the FOTR defect, and they sent me an email talking down to me. They said it was a player problem and to try it on my other players! Not all of us can afford players and Tvs in every room! I wrote back all pissed off and they never replied. :brickwl:

I contacted them at a "DVDteam" email address, but I can't find this on their web-site now.

Apparently the world is full of people who don't mind these types of defects. I just don't get it! :hscratch:

Oh, how I'd like to get my hands on those New Line guys!!

:johnwoo: :johnwoo: :johnwoo:

[darkside]

Originally posted by DVDmig

Apparently the world is full of people who don't mind these types of defects. I just don't get it! :hscratch:

:johnwoo: :johnwoo: :johnwoo:

Between this and Meaning of Life its been a rough couple of weeks. Two DVDs I was looking forward to and both have problems. Since the Two Tower problem doesn't occur on every player I doubt they will fix it. I've tried the email route and hopefully they will offer a real solution other than buy a new player.

[boc4ever]

Originally posted by darkside
Since the Two Tower problem doesn't occur on every player I doubt they will fix it. I've tried the email route and hopefully they will offer a real solution other than buy a new player.

I don't think the problem is player specific. If this was the case, then the replacement copy I received wouldn't work...

[danwiz]

Watched it last night on my Sony DVP-NS715P and no problems!

By the way, the UPC and ISBN codes have nothing to do with the "manufacturing batch" which the DVD came from.

[Iron_Giant]

Originally posted by danwiz
Watched it last night on my Sony DVP-NS715P and no problems!

By the way, the UPC and ISBN codes have nothing to do with the "manufacturing batch" which the DVD came from.
Is the number on the inside ring of the DVD tell us where it as made at?

[psychobabble]

Ok, I had noticed the glitch (a pause for about 1-2 sec. on my 2900) several times this past week including about 20 minutes ago. THen, I came to my computer to look into the glitch and found this discussion thread. I went back to verify it was at the same clock location and THE GLITCH DIDN'T HAPPEN!!?? My player had cooled down by the time I went back (the 2900 seems to run hot), has anyone noticed if it happens when their players are hot and/or cool? Hey, I'm grasping at anything here now that it is no longer happening on my same player!?

[folgersnyourcup]

I have the DVP-NS715P player and am now on my 5th copy of The Two Towers. The exchanges have all been done at Best Buy and I have gotten 2 different UPC codes. The discs have primarily been tried on the Sony dvd player but I have tried them on several computer dvd players as well along with an RP-92 and the Bravo DVI player and they all feature the chapter 51 glitch problem. I don't believe it is a player specific problem though, it sounds like an authoring problem.

After 4 exchanges though, I am fed up. I will be going back into Best Buy to request a refund and will not be giving New Line my money for the theatrical version of TTT. I will be instead giving my money to an Ebay bootlegger. Compression artifacts and shimmering be damned, at least I know that I can watch the film without having to dread the damn chapter 51 problem. The night I purchased TTT I watched it with my family and the response afterwards by my mother who I was trying to get into DVD's was that the skipping problem was why she did not like DVD's. Because they skip. Thanks a lot New Line.....

[DusterAZ]

tragic .... sheds a tear :P

[grunter]

Anyone think it's safe to go out and buy another copy of "Two Towers" at this point and be well beyond the bad batch of discs that glitch at Ch. 51?

What do you think?

[RoboDad]

Originally posted by grunter
Anyone think it's safe to go out and buy another copy of "Two Towers" at this point and be well beyond the bad batch of discs that glitch at Ch. 51?

What do you think?
I don't think the problem is "a bad batch of discs." It behaves much more like an authoring problem that is incompatible with certain players. My copy plays perfectly in my Panasonic player, but fails in my Sony. If the disc itself was defective, it would most likely fail in both players.

So, to answer your question, I don't think it is any more or less safe to buy a copy now than it was a month ago.

[The Void]

I bought my copy through Columbia House and have no problems at all. I tried to play through chapter 51 in 2 different Toshibas, a Panasonic, and my Lite-On DVD-ROM drive. All played the disc just fine.

It sounds like a problem between the disc and certain players but what puzzles me are the reports that some people exchanged it and the exchange worked.

[boc4ever]

Originally posted by RoboDad
I don't think the problem is "a bad batch of discs." It behaves much more like an authoring problem that is incompatible with certain players. My copy plays perfectly in my Panasonic player, but fails in my Sony. If the disc itself was defective, it would most likely fail in both players.

So, to answer your question, I don't think it is any more or less safe to buy a copy now than it was a month ago.

No offense, but I'm not sure this is completely true. If that was the case, the replacement copy would have behaved the same way in my APEX 3201. The replacement played fine through repeated trials on the same machine. The original copy got "hung up" to various degrees on every trial.

I understand what you are saying about authoring problems being player specific, but this is possibly only part of the problem...

[Iron_Giant]

Originally posted by boc4ever
No offense, but I'm not sure this is completely true. If that was the case, the replacement copy would have behaved the same way in my APEX 3201. The replacement played fine through repeated trials on the same machine. The original copy got "hung up" to various degrees on every trial.

I understand what you are saying about authoring problems being player specific, but this is possibly only part of the problem...
I bought a disk (Colorado - Walmart) that played ok on my 2 computers, but did not play on my CyberHome 300. So, I returned it (California - Best Buy) and the 2nd did not work either.

When I returned (California - Best Buy) again, this DVD worked just fine in my CyberHome 300.

Maybe there was two different authorings for LOTR TTT...how could manufacturing cause this problem.

[psychobabble]

Plays on some but not others?

So does anyone have an idea why it WAS happening on my Denon but now I can't get it to happen!?

Also, why is it that it manifests itself differently on different machines?

When it was happening on my machine, it would only pause for a second or two.

Has anyone heard of or experienced this type of problem with other disks??

[MvRojo]

I got this email yesterday:

In response to feedback from a few limited customers, WAMO and New Line Home Entertainment have determined that the widescreen edition of the DVD of The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers contains a nuance in a small percentage of disc one of the two-disc set. While viewing the film, a small number of DVD
players are experiencing a problem in Chapter 51, where the film skips forward or backwards even though the discs are in full compliance with the DVD specification.

In order to make sure viewers who are experiencing problems with Chapter 51 will have an opportunity to exchange their disc, consumers can call a hotline, established by WAMO to obtain information on how to send their disc in to exchange it for another disc. The hotline is available 24 hours a day. The caller will get recorded instructions and additional contact information if necessary. The hotline number is (866) 262-2403.

DVD TEAM

[boc4ever]

Originally posted by MvRojo
I got this email yesterday:

In response to feedback from a few limited customers...

I love the way the majors tap dance around widespread technical glitches! Oh well, at least they are willing to exchange, I guess that is something...