MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-816 won't play *some* DVDs now (mysteriously!).

Quite mysteriously, my Mac is refusing to play some of my DVDs.
The DVDs aren't scratched or unplayable. I tested them this weekend on someone else's multi-regional player.
These DVDs most certainly did play before on this laptop (a late-2003 Titanium Powerbook--details below) but now just do not! Won't read at all. The DVD never mounts on the desktop. Sputtering. Eventually get spit out.
The two DVDs that my Mac now refuses to play are GRAHAM NORTON FOR YOUR PLEASURE [Region 2] and TABOO THE MUSICAL [Region 2 or maybe Region 0].
I can't imagine what's happened/happening. These played fine as recently as March 2007. I've done nothing to my firmware since that time (on purpose, at least!).
I just got the new BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE DVD [Region 2] and it plays just fine. It also plays all Regions (limits reset by Region X).
Any idea at all why my drive refuses to read/play certain DVDs?
Your help &/or theories are appreciated!
Thanks.
==
BIG BUNNY’S TITANIUM POWERBOOK G4 (15”)
System Version: Mac OS X – v. 10.4.11 (Tiger)
Kernel Version: Darwin 8.9.0
Machine Model: PowerBook5,2
CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (1.1)
Number Of CPUs: 1
CPU Speed: 1.25 GHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 512 MB
Bus Speed: 167 MHz
Boot ROM Version: 4.7.1f1
MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-816 (Firmware Revision: XXJ3)

It started the same way on my PowerBook G4 15" aluminum with the same optical drive (my laptop is from Sept 2003). After reading some DVD/CD and some not (even didn't recognize them in Finder), once, when I tried to write something on DVD-R (or+R - I don't remember) it didn't do the task - neither with Toast Titanium 9.0.4, nor with Dragon Burn 5.0.5, nor with Disk Utility...!?
One of Geniuses in one Apple store told me my optical drive is about to "die" and I shoul replace it. Well, the estimated cost of replacement was close to $450.
I decided not to do it within Apple.
I ordered new optical drive "*+Apple SuperDrive 8x DVD Burner Drive - Aluminum or iBook G4+*" (MATSHITA DVD-RAM UJ-875S - Reads DVD:Yes; CD-Write:-R, -RW; DVD-Write:-R, -R DL, -RAM, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW; Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, DVD-DAO) from POWERBOOK MEDIC.COM for $99 + shipping. I replaced it myself for about 2 hours. Replacement by professional shouldn't be more than cost of the part.
Now, I have a new powerful and fast optical drive working as a dream.
I wish you lack.
prof. DEJA VUE

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