Problems with Roger Moore Ultimate edition box set

richbond · August 2013

Tonight I tried to watch Octopussy which is in my Roger Moore Ultimate edition box set of Bond films and it kept sticking and eventually wouldn't play. I bought this box set about a year ago along with the Sean Connery Ultimate edition box set. I'm gradually working my way through the films, and this was the first time I'd ever played the Octopussy disc. When I checked the disc I noticed the surface was sticky. All the other Roger Moore discs when I checked have now started to go sticky on the playing side. The Live and let die disc looks awful now, yet it was fine when I played it a few months ago. I have many box sets on the shelf surrounding the Bond ones. I've checked and the other box sets look fine. So far!!! It's a mystery why the Moore box set has started to biodegrade. Is that the right term? Can anyone help? Thanks, Rich.

MooseWithFleas · August 2013

richbond wrote:

Tonight I tried to watch Octopussy which is in my Roger Moore Ultimate edition box set of Bond films and it kept sticking and eventually wouldn't play. I bought this box set about a year ago along with the Sean Connery Ultimate edition box set. I'm gradually working my way through the films, and this was the first time I'd ever played the Octopussy disc. When I checked the disc I noticed the surface was sticky. All the other Roger Moore discs when I checked have now started to go sticky on the playing side. The Live and let die disc looks awful now, yet it was fine when I played it a few months ago. I have many box sets on the shelf surrounding the Bond ones. I've checked and the other box sets look fine. So far!!! It's a mystery why the Moore box set has started to biodegrade. Is that the right term? Can anyone help? Thanks, Rich.

Tough problem, sorry for the troubles you are having.

I would say first get a DVD you wouldn't mind losing and play it in your DVD player. It's possible that there was a sticky disc that you put in your dvd player and now the sticky residue is in the DVD player itself causing the other discs to get sticky.

I've never heard of a disc itself just going sticky, though I guess it's possible if it is left in a very hot area. I did find this that sounds like a similar problem someone is having with their actual dvd player: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1158725?start=0&tstart=0

I would be weary of playing any DVD that you cherish in the player right now.

richbond · August 2013

Hi, I think it's the discs in this particular box set rather than the player, because the disc that looks the worst, Live and let die, was played probably a year ago now and hasn't been in the player since, and I've used the player many times since then. The Live and let die disc looked perfect a year ago but the surface has now gone sticky. They've only been kept on the shelf away from heat, and the other box sets I have are fine. It seems strange that all the discs in only one box set are affected. Has anyone heard of problems like this with the Roger Moore box set? Thanks.

Thunderbird 2 · August 2013

Its probably a coincidence, but I had a problem with the Octopussy disc in my complete Ultimate edition DVD set sticking or jumping. I very carefully used a soft static free soft cloth to wipe it and the disc tray. Since then, it seems to behave. None of the other discs had this problem.
There was. othing obvious either, no residue, scraches etc.. ?:)

richbond · August 2013

Thanks for the replies. I also have the Connery box set bought at the same time (Just checked and it's Nov 2010, so longer ago than I thought!) and that still looks fine, it's only the Moore discs that have gone sticky. I've just read on one forum that there has been issues with MGM discs in the past whereby some glue-like substance within the discs starts to seep out over time onto the surface of the disc making them sticky and then they won't play properly. I believe you can wash them with soapy water which someone said makes the discs play again. I think I'd rather return them to MGM for corrected discs. Hopefully the Connery dvd's won't start to be affected like this
Can I ask 2 questions? Am I safe to play my other dvd's in my player, after trying to play the Bond disc which kept freezing last night. It won't affect the playing surfaces of other discs now placed in the player will it? Also, I can't find a UK email address for MGM. Can anyone help? Many thanks, Richard.

richbond · August 2013

There's 2 email addresses on the Bond box set. MGM appears to be the US one, the other is 20th century fox which is a UK email address. I've emailed them. I'm hoping they have an exchange policy! I've had the box set over 2 years, but as it's a manufacturing issue I hope they do the honourable thing. I've heard about disc rot and other such things, but I thought it was all just scaremongering. I can't believe what's happened to my Bond set after only 2 years, especially as I look after everything so well. What is going to happen to all our dvd's in time? I still have my old videos in a cupboard. I think I'll keep them just in case! Rich.

Asp9mm · August 2013

Sounds like those discs have been pre-owned by Bondtoys. He likes Sir Rog a little too much

chrisisall · August 2013

I'm speechless at that last comment....

hehadlotsofguts · August 2013

My copy of TMWTGG doesn't work anymore, i've watched it that much

richbond · August 2013

I read some advice on the net that if you wash the disc with soapy water the sticky goo is removed. I've tried this and it does work, and now the disc plays again! The advice said the goo doesn't return once it's been cleaned off the once. Relieved! It's still confusing what happened to the discs.

BIG TAM · August 2013

There were problems with MGM Region 2 discs going milky a few years back. This caused playback problems - disc rot I think it was called, caused by resin in the paint on the picture side. I think these issues were resolved though. I don't know if Region 1 discs were affected in a similar way.

Miken Ayers · August 2013

What's so Ultimate about these actor specific box sets when the Moore and Brosnan ones each leave out a film?

richbond · August 2013

Not sure about Brosnan's, but the Moore box set I have (region 2) has all 7 of his Bond films in it. I have been able to remove the sticky glue from the discs with a cloth dipped in soapy water and now the discs play again. It's 3 films that have been affected so far, the other 4 look ok, touch wood. The Connery box set also is ok. Can I ask any knowledgeable people out there, will the movies stored on those 3 discs start to diminish over time, now this substance has oozed out of the disc. Was this glue used to keep the data safe on the disc? Or will it make no difference? Hope it's the latter! I'm still waiting to hear back from MGM. Thanks, Rich.

DangerMouse · August 2013

Played my own Octopussy DVD out of the RM UE set on account of what I've read here and it works okay, touch wood. Might also be the DVD player used to play it.

Problems with Roger Moore Ultimate edition box set

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