My player is a Panasonic too (DVD-S75).

I had trouble with Side B and some of the ending on a PS2 for the DVD

You can add me to the list of people with skipping/freezing discs. My player is a Pioneer.....

First, I wasn't suggesting that it's always the DVD player's fault. I'm sure there are bad DVDs out there. I was just saying that in my experience of the 400 or so DVDs I own, i've only had 3 or 4 that gave me problems and the problems were limited to being able to play on a specific brand of DVD player. But you guys are right, even if the disc works on some players and not on others, something is still inherently wrong with the disc. Playing the bad DVD on another player is just a band-aid on the problem I guess.

Second, I guess I was just being naive in thinking everyone has several DVD players to test on, sorry about that. I have 6 different to try (including my car, portable player and computers).

I guess Universal is cutting costs by making 2-sided releases as it seems every dvd they release that could have been a multi-disc set is getting the double sided treatment. MGM has released several double sided movies and they don't seem to cause problems with any players.

I definitely prefer a 2-disc set over the 2-sided, but looks like Universal won't be switching back anytime soon. If that anniversary edition of Back to the Future does come out this year, I'm sure it'll be 2-sided as well.

Well i am happy and sad to see that so many people are having the same problem i have. I am happy because it shows we are all in the same boat....but it makes me sad....and plenty pissed at the fact that we are all havcing to put up with this crap from these cost cutting studio execs who want to cash in as much as possible by reducing production costs. I fucking hate these flipper discs with a vengeance. I play my movies through a top of the range Pioneer, a PS2 and occasionally my PC. The PS2 and Pioneer are giving me the problems with playback on these Universal discs. But its weird as Mallrats really give me shit, and the Columbo series 3 also did the same. So back they went and i got new copies. The new Mallrats doesn't seem to be as bad, but still jumpy in some areas. I am actually looking to get another DVD player in the not too distant future so it will work out fine. But for a lot of people that don't intend to get a new player it is a major con. Universal needs to make this type of disc obsolete. No one wants to spend their hard earned money on something as piss poor as this. If anyone knows of a y existing petition to sign against this i will gladly add my name. Until then i am going to email Universal and give them some shit for screwing with us all.

Here is the email link to the DVD/VHS contact section for Universal. I recommend as many people contact them giving them shit as possible. My mail has already gone.

http://www.universalstudios.com/home...gi?email_id=10

I am glad that I do not have an urgent need to upgrade on Mallrats. I am happy with the Universal CE's version I own for now, it may not be the best but it's fine by my standards. As for DVD18 and Universal releasing these to cut production costs on more discs, I think it's sad. I feel bad for everybody.

The fact that regardless of the dvd player you use, that people are having all these problems with these Universal DVD18 dvd's, it says that whatever the studio is doing either needs more work or it needs to stop pressing discs that, as the studio's name suggests, hehe, are not Universal playing dvd's.

People have a right to be pissed, they are shelling out $20 bucks of their hard earned money to Universal and are getting a dvd that is, more or less, flawed.

I have the exact same problem!

It will be out here in the UK on November 7th. Won't be double sided here at least, that's for sure. But then we hardly ever get double sided discs anyway - it's a real rarity. Not sure how it worked out that way as the same goes for P&S discs, but I'm glad it has

In the past Geoff has been able to help with things like getting the original audio on Princess Mononoke. Is there anything DVD Talk can do to get an answer from Universal about all of the issues with their current line of DVD-18 releases?

Many of us have sent emails and gotten nothing but canned responses. I even sent my discs back to Universal with the exact errors and players affected only to get back discs with the exact same problem.

Is there anyone here that has enough pull to actually talk to someone at Universal and get something done about this?

I'm sure the response will be that we all need to buy new players, but its worth a try.

Even when they work right I don't like 2-siders as I've got a mega-changer.

Yeah it'd be great if they could just change their minds about it, I too, emailed them about the situation, and they said

"Thank you for contacting us. Input from our customers helps us improve
our products. We have forwarded your comments to the appropriate
department.

We appreciate your patronage and hope you will continue to enjoy
Universal releases.


Sincerely,

Universal Studios Home Entertainment"

Me too. I'd like to get the additional extras and different cut of the film, but seeing all the problems that people are having, I'll stick with my original CE for now. At least that one plays flawlessly. I really hope that Universal takes note of problems like this and sees the bad word of mouth they end up getting. I would have definitely bought the new Mallrats disc this weekend if it wasn't for all the issues I've seen posted here and elsewhere. Based on that (and their past reputation of not usually addressing such problems), they lost a sale from me, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

I've watched the Q&A on side two and didnt have any problems (aside from weird French-Texan girls). My Sony player has never refused to play a disc (thinking back to the T2 double sided disc problems).

I'll watch the movie sometime this week and let you guys know if i have any problems.

Well i actually got a reply from Universal today saying that they want details of the faults, where i bought it from etc. and i need to send them the disc back (no postage provided by them mind you) and they will replace any faulty DVDs and it will take up to 6 weeks. This is very poor o their part. A better example of accepting the responsibility was when i recently go the Thundercats box set and the first disc was faulty. I contacted them about it and they are sending an addressed envelope and will replace it. At least they are being productive. Fucking Universal.....what ********ers they are.


Anyway, off the subject a little bit. Concerning the Mallrats and Clerks Reunions that are on the DVDs. Does anyone else find that the people asking the questions aer the dumbest arseholes in the world. Why can't anyone aska decent question. They seem to always feel like it is their chance to have the spotlight. It makes me cringe. What should be a good item to watch just makes it unbearable. The Clerks one isn't quite as bad as the Mallrats one. And there is always one of the cast or production people that stands out as being out of place. Mallrats is Jeremy London by a mile. How the hell did this talentless moron ever get into movies. He just mutters and looks a complete dick. Although saying that Kevin Smith didn't do himself any favours either. He needs to stop chewing the gum and start concentrating on making a decent movie in the future. His potential looked unlimited after Clerks....but since then it has been downhill all the way.

"Mallrats", "Chasing Amy", "Dogma" and "Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back" doesn't really seem like a downhill trend to me -- did you even LIKE "Clerks"?

I watched this movie last night and, aside from the mentioned jump cuts, i had zero problems watching the movie.

I own an "ancient" Sony DVP-S530D. I'll have owned it 6 years in december



Somehow i feel that the people asking to stupid questions and acting overly foolish are picked purely for the entertainment value.

Case & point: weird French-Texan girl with uncontrollable arms.

Finally got a replacement copy through from CD-WOW today and it seems to play okay