Something to try is to install totem-xine and remove totem-gstreamer.
Totem-gstreamer has trouble with displaying menus, but totem-xine is the fix
for this. This should not affect VLC though. I have also read about a GNOME
bug that affects playing DVDs. I always run two or more desktops in case one
messes up and I would try it in another desktop if this was my system. That
way you can try to localize the problem.