Sounds like problems I've had with cheap players. But never with my 2900. Perhaps dirty discs or a faulty 2900. I've never experienced dropouts with Die Another Day, I haven't watched the other films you mentioned. I assume these are not bootleg discs, correct?

Should not be the cable, that would probably cause longer dropouts, depending on your receiver. Many of them take a couple seconds to regain the digital signal once it is lost.

I don't have the firmware numbers around, maybe you should ask for the most recent upgrade anyway and try it out. Otherwise you may need repair.