I finally got the disc, and it played perfectly on my updated Samsung. Not only that, but this is my first BD with the "wow" factor I've enjoyed with the best HD-DVDs.
I watched it last night. It's excellent. I found myself watching the detail in the amazing indoor sets and costumes with astonishment - and in the fx scenes, contemplating how much effects have improved in the last 20 years or so.
Okay. I downloaded the firmware yet again and installed it. Then I set the "parental control" function - it defaults for level 1 - to 8 and Speed is playing for me now.