The Snowman/Father Christmas menu glitch - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

snoopygirl · 12-04-2001, 11:38 PM

Bummer! I settled in to watch my new DVD and can't see the show I want. The disc has "The Snowman" and "Father Christmas" on it. I bought it for "Snowman" thinking the other would be a nice bonus.

Well... when the menu pops up to select which show I want to see, it doesn't matter which one I pick - I get "Father Christmas" like it or not. But when I put the disc in my Mac Powerbook, it's fine.

I've got an RCA 5225 DVD player. It's played every disc (over 30 different) I ever put in it with no problems. Could it be that the disc is defective and the "real" DVD player notices while the computer doesn't? I'm debating whether or not getting a replacement DVD would solve the problem.... anyone "been there done that"? Thanks!

Disc-Flipper · 12-05-2001, 03:34 AM

I've heard of this problem before. I don't think getting a replacement will help. It's probably in the title authoring. Mine plays fine on one of my DVD players, but not the other one. Is there a way to select the title/chapter on the numeric keypad?

Welles and Ford Fan · 12-08-2001, 01:50 AM

I just tried the disc out, and mine works fine. It's too bad your Snowman won't play, because...Father Christmas sucks!

I actually bought the disc for Father Christmas, which I had taped of PBS a few years ago, but the DVD version is a total bastardization of the original British movie! In the original, Santa is a grumpy English character-in this DVD, they have dubbed him with a "kinder, gentler voice" and substituted many of his lines, and cut a few for good measure. Examples-when Santa delivers the gifts on Xmas Eve, he should voice over a song called "Another bloomin' Christmas". Apparently "bloomin'" was too strong an expletive for the PC losers who dubbed this thing, and they have substituted the lyric-"another Merry Christmas"!
At the end of the movie, when Santa goes to bed, he should turn back to the camera and say, with tirednes (and a gruff but lovable quality) "Happy bloomin' Christmas to you!". In the emasculated version, he says, as kindly as possible-"and a merry Christmas to you." And so it goes.

I loved the original, and almost took the DVD back to Best Buy, but I had never seen the Snowman, and I loved that one, too.

Thank goodness I still have the PBS tape of the real Father Christmas. Sorry you can only get that one to run.

Sampo 620 DVE.(it also played correctly on my Toshiba).

snoopygirl · 12-08-2001, 10:16 PM

I wasn't really impressed with Father Christmas... I've not seen the original, but this one wasn't all that great. Why do some people think everything needs to be smarmy and PC? Why do so many feel that any animation should be aimed at 4 year olds? Ugh! Too bad they didn't see fit to put the original on DVD, it sounds a bit funnier. I did like the Snowman party scene in FC. I really like The Snowman though, so am hoping a replacement DVD will do the trick.

I got this at Amazon and it's no-cost to exchange for a new one, so it's worth a shot. It should arrive Monday. If this one doesn't work as well, back it goes. I don't want to keep it if I can only see the show I don't like

At least I've got Snowman on VHS.

Whoops - forgot to answer Disc Flippers question: no, that doesn't work. It's an odd thing - can select Snowman, the pink star lights up and I get the little highlight with it but it still dumps straight into the FC menu.

snoopygirl · 12-13-2001, 09:18 PM

Well.... replacement disc arrived and does the same stupid thing. Back it went. Rats.

Guess it's VHS for that one. I just can't see holding onto a DVD that doesn't seem to like my particular player

caligulathegod · 12-18-2001, 04:38 AM

Tried the title button?

Winnie · 12-18-2001, 08:40 PM

Hi, snoopygirl,

Have you tried contacting the publisher? I had a similar problem with a WWII documentary (War in the Pacific) by Madacy. On one of the discs, it did not let me choose two of the four different episodes. Everytime I clicked on either of the two, one of the remaining two episodes started. I could not get it to play with "skip" or any other functions either. The replacement that I obtained from Best Buy had the same defect so I contacted Madacy. They responded that they had heard of the defect and corrected it. I send in my defective disc, and Madacy returned a new one without the defect.

If you still have the defective DVD, it may be worth contacting the publisher. Good luck.

snoopygirl · 12-20-2001, 03:09 AM

caligulathegod: It doesn't matter how you select it - no Snowman.

Winnie: I'd planned on that before returning it. I went to the Columbia-Tristar website thinking that they would have a customer service email or *some* kind of contact info. They had zip. I guess they don't want to be bothered with pesky consumers.

When I returned the second one, I supplied Amazon with my player model and suggested they contact Columbia-Tristar as I really would like this DVD... I'm just going to be difficult and insist upon one that I can actually play

I don't care if I don't have it for Christmas... The Snowman is good all the time
:santa:

12-04-2001, 11:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
snoopygirl Supporting Actor Join Date: Nov 2001	The Snowman/Father Christmas menu glitch Bummer! I settled in to watch my new DVD and can't see the show I want. The disc has "The Snowman" and "Father Christmas" on it. I bought it for "Snowman" thinking the other would be a nice bonus. Well... when the menu pops up to select which show I want to see, it doesn't matter which one I pick - I get "Father Christmas" like it or not. But when I put the disc in my Mac Powerbook, it's fine. I've got an RCA 5225 DVD player. It's played every disc (over 30 different) I ever put in it with no problems. Could it be that the disc is defective and the "real" DVD player notices while the computer doesn't? I'm debating whether or not getting a replacement DVD would solve the problem.... anyone "been there done that"? Thanks!

12-08-2001, 10:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
snoopygirl Supporting Actor Join Date: Nov 2001	I wasn't really impressed with Father Christmas... I've not seen the original, but this one wasn't all that great. Why do some people think everything needs to be smarmy and PC? Why do so many feel that any animation should be aimed at 4 year olds? Ugh! Too bad they didn't see fit to put the original on DVD, it sounds a bit funnier. I did like the Snowman party scene in FC. I really like The Snowman though, so am hoping a replacement DVD will do the trick. I got this at Amazon and it's no-cost to exchange for a new one, so it's worth a shot. It should arrive Monday. If this one doesn't work as well, back it goes. I don't want to keep it if I can only see the show I don't like At least I've got Snowman on VHS. Whoops - forgot to answer Disc Flippers question: no, that doesn't work. It's an odd thing - can select Snowman, the pink star lights up and I get the little highlight with it but it still dumps straight into the FC menu. Last edited by snoopygirl : 12-08-2001 at 10:20 PM.

12-13-2001, 09:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
snoopygirl Supporting Actor Join Date: Nov 2001	doomed to vhs! Well.... replacement disc arrived and does the same stupid thing. Back it went. Rats. Guess it's VHS for that one. I just can't see holding onto a DVD that doesn't seem to like my particular player

12-18-2001, 04:38 AM	#6 (permalink)
caligulathegod Actor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Grove City OH USA	Tried the title button? __________________ "Would you like to play spider with me?" ~Spider Baby

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12-05-2001, 03:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
Disc-Flipper Actor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada	I've heard of this problem before. I don't think getting a replacement will help. It's probably in the title authoring. Mine plays fine on one of my DVD players, but not the other one. Is there a way to select the title/chapter on the numeric keypad?

12-08-2001, 01:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
Welles and Ford Fan Actor Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Houston, TX USA	I just tried the disc out, and mine works fine. It's too bad your Snowman won't play, because...Father Christmas sucks! I actually bought the disc for Father Christmas, which I had taped of PBS a few years ago, but the DVD version is a total bastardization of the original British movie! In the original, Santa is a grumpy English character-in this DVD, they have dubbed him with a "kinder, gentler voice" and substituted many of his lines, and cut a few for good measure. Examples-when Santa delivers the gifts on Xmas Eve, he should voice over a song called "Another bloomin' Christmas". Apparently "bloomin'" was too strong an expletive for the PC losers who dubbed this thing, and they have substituted the lyric-"another Merry Christmas"! At the end of the movie, when Santa goes to bed, he should turn back to the camera and say, with tirednes (and a gruff but lovable quality) "Happy bloomin' Christmas to you!". In the emasculated version, he says, as kindly as possible-"and a merry Christmas to you." And so it goes. I loved the original, and almost took the DVD back to Best Buy, but I had never seen the Snowman, and I loved that one, too. Thank goodness I still have the PBS tape of the real Father Christmas. Sorry you can only get that one to run. Sampo 620 DVE.(it also played correctly on my Toshiba).

12-18-2001, 08:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
Winnie Supporting Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Dallas, TX, U.S.A.	Hi, snoopygirl, Have you tried contacting the publisher? I had a similar problem with a WWII documentary (War in the Pacific) by Madacy. On one of the discs, it did not let me choose two of the four different episodes. Everytime I clicked on either of the two, one of the remaining two episodes started. I could not get it to play with "skip" or any other functions either. The replacement that I obtained from Best Buy had the same defect so I contacted Madacy. They responded that they had heard of the defect and corrected it. I send in my defective disc, and Madacy returned a new one without the defect. If you still have the defective DVD, it may be worth contacting the publisher. Good luck.

12-20-2001, 03:09 AM	#8 (permalink)
snoopygirl Supporting Actor Join Date: Nov 2001	caligulathegod: It doesn't matter how you select it - no Snowman. Winnie: I'd planned on that before returning it. I went to the Columbia-Tristar website thinking that they would have a customer service email or some kind of contact info. They had zip. I guess they don't want to be bothered with pesky consumers. When I returned the second one, I supplied Amazon with my player model and suggested they contact Columbia-Tristar as I really would like this DVD... I'm just going to be difficult and insist upon one that I can actually play I don't care if I don't have it for Christmas... The Snowman is good all the time :santa: