Criterion - disc rot/'bronzing'
10-01-14 | 08:16 PM
#26
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Criterion releases on Blu-Rays, Part II
^I just checked mine and the disc looks the same. I was able skip through the chapters without it freezing, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time.
I just saw this on the blu-ray forum...
I just saw this on the blu-ray forum...
Last edited by dino88; 10-01-14 at 08:30 PM.
10-01-14 | 08:32 PM
#27
DVD Talk Gold Edition
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Re: Criterion releases on Blu-Rays, Part II
My Walkabout blu-ray is toast.
Opened it up, and sure enough, the playing surface of the disc was bronzed. It was darkest around the outer edge of the disc, and discolored about halfway to the center.
I put the disc in my player and it started up fine. I played the disc and used the chapter skip to play through it. It was fine through chapter nine, but it froze up when I attempted to go to chapter ten.
Opened it up, and sure enough, the playing surface of the disc was bronzed. It was darkest around the outer edge of the disc, and discolored about halfway to the center.
I put the disc in my player and it started up fine. I played the disc and used the chapter skip to play through it. It was fine through chapter nine, but it froze up when I attempted to go to chapter ten.
Ditto on Walkabout for me. I have most of the affected titles (all, but Summer Hours) and Walkabout is the only that is bronzed, but I have yet to play any of them.
10-01-14 | 11:19 PM
#28
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Criterion releases on Blu-Rays, Part II
I just did a visual inspection of all the discs I own from the list in post 7118. Of them, the following discs have visible discoloration or cloudiness around the outer edge:
Bigger Than Life
Days of Heaven
M
Summer Hours
Vivre Sa Vie
Yojimbo and Sanjuro
Additionally, a tiny bit of the plastic coating seems to be peeling off A Christmas Tale.
Summer Hours has the most amount of so-called "bronzing." I put that into my OPPO BDP-93 and skipped through the chapters. Sure enough, it froze when it got to Chapter 9, which is just past the 50 minute mark.
I find this very disconcerting.
Just chapter skipping through each of them past the 50 minute mark, Bigger Than Life, Days of Heaven, M, Sanjuro and Yojimbo seem to play OK. Remarkably, so does A Christmas Tale.
I also have a number of other Criterion Blu-rays from this period that don't show physical signs of anything being wrong. I tested Walkabout and Stagecoach, which both got passed the layer change. I don't have time tonight to test all the rest.
Bigger Than Life
Days of Heaven
M
Summer Hours
Vivre Sa Vie
Yojimbo and Sanjuro
Additionally, a tiny bit of the plastic coating seems to be peeling off A Christmas Tale.
Summer Hours has the most amount of so-called "bronzing." I put that into my OPPO BDP-93 and skipped through the chapters. Sure enough, it froze when it got to Chapter 9, which is just past the 50 minute mark.
I find this very disconcerting.
Just chapter skipping through each of them past the 50 minute mark, Bigger Than Life, Days of Heaven, M, Sanjuro and Yojimbo seem to play OK. Remarkably, so does A Christmas Tale.
I also have a number of other Criterion Blu-rays from this period that don't show physical signs of anything being wrong. I tested Walkabout and Stagecoach, which both got passed the layer change. I don't have time tonight to test all the rest.
10-01-14 | 11:29 PM
#29
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Criterion releases on Blu-Rays, Part II
It's very possible all of the discs made by Sonopress are ticking time bombs, at least the ones with visible discoloration and bronzing. It may be a matter of when, not if.
Josh, your signature has misspelled Writer unless it's an attempt to be witty.
Josh, your signature has misspelled Writer unless it's an attempt to be witty.
10-02-14 | 12:44 AM
#30
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Criterion releases on Blu-Rays, Part II
For those who have M, if your disc has the code starting with BVDL then that is a Criterion manufactured by Sony and probably not defective. I'm going to have to check on a bunch more discs since I have a few more that just popped up on the list.
10-02-14 | 01:59 AM
#32
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Criterion releases on Blu-Rays, Part II
I played through my Criterion copy of Darjeeling Limited, and it seems to be fine. There's also no bronzing on the disc, either.
I checked this one because, even though it's not on the list, I bought it at the same time I as my faulty Walkabout. (I got both from Ultimate Electronics during their liquidation back in 2011.)
I checked this one because, even though it's not on the list, I bought it at the same time I as my faulty Walkabout. (I got both from Ultimate Electronics during their liquidation back in 2011.)
10-02-14 | 06:06 AM
#33
Re: Criterion releases on Blu-Rays, Part II
I don't think I had started upgrading to blu-ray until after the affected time period and just wonder if there's a way to see if any that I have from the list may be later pressings rather than from that plant.
All that I have seem fine now, but I want to feel more secure about the future of these discs.
10-02-14 | 07:26 AM
#34
DVD Talk Legend
10-02-14 | 08:16 AM
#35
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
There is a thread on bluray.com where people have discovered that a lot of CC discs released around 2010 have begun bronzing and failing. Some of the effected titles include Pierrot le Fou, Stagecoach, Walkabout, and M. It might be a good idea to start checking your discs.
. I suppose even they have to mess up sometime, but damn .That said, the possible TTM news is hugely exciting. I almost spent $100+ on eBay, but held off. Is it too much to hope? I wonder when if so.
PS Your avatar is going to give me nightmares.
10-02-14 | 09:33 AM
#36
Re: Criterion releases on Blu-Rays, Part II
Great. Just great. I don't suppose there'll be a replacement program or something? Thought not. I'm hoping that the next batch won't be, but how will we tell the difference between them? Damn. I spent quite a bit on Stagecoach and haven't taken it out of the shrinkwrap yet. I'll have to look and see what other titles are listed. Is this the whole series of pressings? Did they switch to a different manufacturer or something? That's very disconcerting . I suppose even they have to mess up sometime, but damn .
. I suppose even they have to mess up sometime, but damn .
I just want to reach through my computer and give him a pat on the back and tell him it will all be ok.
Seriously though, while know one seems to know the full extent of the problems, it seems to be limited to early pressings of a select number of 2009/2010 titles. Most likely this was due to a specific run of discs at one of the manufacturing plants Criterion uses. While no one can say for sure that this problem won't present itself in other titles down the road, I'd be surprised if that were the case. As it stands, I own at least 4 of the discs in question and have had no issues with any of them. There is no replacement program in place at this moment, but Criterion is aware of the issue and will be addressing it after they get the Eraserhead situation dealt with. Here are some bullet points a blu-ray.com member relayed after talking with someone at Criterion:
Spoiler:
The bottom line is that this is a potentially huge problem, but I have 100% faith that Criterion will deal with it as they have any other time there's been a problem with one of their discs. It's just going to take time.
10-02-14 | 09:55 AM
#37
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Criterion releases on Blu-Rays, Part II
You think this sucks for you owning some of those bad discs, think how Criterion feels about this? They had good faith in that pressing plant and now they have to deal with this. I hope they can get money from that plant for their screw up.
10-02-14 | 09:57 AM
#38
DVD Talk Legend
10-02-14 | 10:04 AM
#39
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Criterion releases on Blu-Rays, Part II
I cracked open my copy of Summer Hours. I'm pretty sure there's some browning/bronzing right around the outer edge, but not as bad as the pics I've seen of others. I think I'm going to watch that one ASAP just to be sure.
10-02-14 | 10:42 AM
#40
Re: Criterion releases on Blu-Rays, Part II
Seventh Seal, Monterrey Pop, and Pierrot le Fou (all 2009 titles) are some of the titles that are being mentioned. There may be more.
Also, apparently Criterion has started getting back to people who have e-mailed them about this. Here's their stock response:
Also, apparently Criterion has started getting back to people who have e-mailed them about this. Here's their stock response:
I hope this email finds you well. Thank you for writing in regarding a discoloration and playability problem with one or more of your Criterion discs. We are aware of this issue, which appears to affect a number of titles pressed four or five years ago at a pressing plant that we no longer use, and we are currently working on a solution. Please be assured that we are dedicated to your satisfaction and will be replacing defective discs. As soon as we have a system in place to handle exchanges efficiently, we will send out a link with instructions on how to receive replacement discs. Thank you for your patience and understanding while we work through this issue.
All the best and thanks for supporting Criterion!
Jon Mulvaney
All the best and thanks for supporting Criterion!
Jon Mulvaney
10-02-14 | 12:03 PM
#41
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Criterion releases on Blu-Rays, Part II
I still have a sizable number of Criterions on DVD, has anyone noticed an issue with those?
10-02-14 | 12:30 PM
#42
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Criterion releases on Blu-Rays, Part II
Is that code a consistent amongst other Criterion discs? Or is there a consistent start to the code on the discs from that plant?
I don't think I had started upgrading to blu-ray until after the affected time period and just wonder if there's a way to see if any that I have from the list may be later pressings rather than from that plant.
All that I have seem fine now, but I want to feel more secure about the future of these discs.
I don't think I had started upgrading to blu-ray until after the affected time period and just wonder if there's a way to see if any that I have from the list may be later pressings rather than from that plant.
All that I have seem fine now, but I want to feel more secure about the future of these discs.
I found another defective disc last night Che Part 1. Around chapter 16 or 17 it started to skip forward and when I FF later it the disc just froze.
10-02-14 | 12:58 PM
#43
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Criterion releases on Blu-Rays, Part II
Whenever hanshotfirst posts one of his frequent laments, whether it's about Kodak, Star Wars OT, or whatever, this is always the image that comes to mind:
I just want to reach through my computer and give him a pat on the back and tell him it will all be ok.
Seriously though, while know one seems to know the full extent of the problems, it seems to be limited to early pressings of a select number of 2009/2010 titles. Most likely this was due to a specific run of discs at one of the manufacturing plants Criterion uses. While no one can say for sure that this problem won't present itself in other titles down the road, I'd be surprised if that were the case. As it stands, I own at least 4 of the discs in question and have had no issues with any of them. There is no replacement program in place at this moment, but Criterion is aware of the issue and will be addressing it after they get the Eraserhead situation dealt with. Here are some bullet points a blu-ray.com member relayed after talking with someone at Criterion:
The bottom line is that this is a potentially huge problem, but I have 100% faith that Criterion will deal with it as they have any other time there's been a problem with one of their discs. It's just going to take time.
I just want to reach through my computer and give him a pat on the back and tell him it will all be ok.
Seriously though, while know one seems to know the full extent of the problems, it seems to be limited to early pressings of a select number of 2009/2010 titles. Most likely this was due to a specific run of discs at one of the manufacturing plants Criterion uses. While no one can say for sure that this problem won't present itself in other titles down the road, I'd be surprised if that were the case. As it stands, I own at least 4 of the discs in question and have had no issues with any of them. There is no replacement program in place at this moment, but Criterion is aware of the issue and will be addressing it after they get the Eraserhead situation dealt with. Here are some bullet points a blu-ray.com member relayed after talking with someone at Criterion:
Spoiler:
The bottom line is that this is a potentially huge problem, but I have 100% faith that Criterion will deal with it as they have any other time there's been a problem with one of their discs. It's just going to take time.
10-02-14 | 01:50 PM
#44
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Criterion releases on Blu-Rays, Part II
Look around the layer change for when a disc will fail. That will usually occur near the end of the first hour of the main feature. Like a lot of Blu-ray companies, Criterion probably uses whatever replicator has excess capacity at the moment of their need. Most of the reported failures have been traced to Sonopress.
This should not affect their DVDs. This is a uniquely Blu-ray problem in this instance.
This should not affect their DVDs. This is a uniquely Blu-ray problem in this instance.
10-02-14 | 02:41 PM
#45
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Criterion - disc rot/'bronzing'
From the list posted on BD.com, I only own Wings of Desire & The Seventh Seal. Checked both discs (visually) and they look the same as more recently pressed discs (Harold & Maude).
I'll probably skip through chapters before I head out to class.
I'll probably skip through chapters before I head out to class.
10-02-14 | 02:51 PM
#46
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Criterion - disc rot/'bronzing'
I checked some of the discs in question that I own last night and honestly couldn't tell since all the Criterion discs I looked at seemed to have a gold or bronze looking finish on the disc.
10-02-14 | 03:18 PM
#47
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Criterion - disc rot/'bronzing'
If skipping through Chapters is any indication if your disc has gone kaput, both of my discs (The Seventh Seal & Wings of Desire) are fine. I was able to skip through all Chapters without any hiccups.
10-02-14 | 05:19 PM
#49
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Criterion - disc rot/'bronzing'
I've got all the discs mentioned that have been bronzing for people. I will now check to see if mine are fucked.
BRB
BRB
10-02-14 | 05:26 PM
#50
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Criterion - disc rot/'bronzing'
The only one on that list that I own is Stagecoach. No bronzing!