I had similar problems, and similar lines in syslog. Totem greyed out, VLC refused to play the disk.
After browsing around a bit in Launchpad Bugs, I intuitively removed the Brasero disk burner application. I don't understand the connection between Brasero and DVD playback, but now the DVDs play!
(The playback is still quirky, but that seems to be a different bug.)
Please check this in your case - if someone would confirm me, this bug could be assigned to the Brasero team.
I had similar problems, and similar lines in syslog. Totem greyed out, VLC refused to play the disk.
After browsing around a bit in Launchpad Bugs, I intuitively removed the Brasero disk burner application. I don't understand the connection between Brasero and DVD playback, but now the DVDs play!
(The playback is still quirky, but that seems to be a different bug.)
Please check this in your case - if someone would confirm me, this bug could be assigned to the Brasero team.