I am convinced that my copy of Halo: Reach is cursed (either that or I).
 
Since the game booted up I have had each of the following:
 

• Disc Errors on Loads (Depsite being installed)
• Cutscenes restarting themselves
• Freezing and crashes
• Unplayable framerate
• Sound delay
• Sound cutting out

Sounds like your disk is buggered. Any better luck when you install it? Either way, you should probably get a replacement.

Sounds to me like a disc error as well. Just go get a new copy.

I don't have my copy yet, but I have been playing with a friend for about an hour. No problems thus far, in campaign or matchmaking. Are your other games acting up? If so, it could be your console. Otherwise, might just be some unfortunate luck with a bum disc.

I would agree with the others, sounds like a bad print/press.  Trade it in for a new one and see what happens.

It does look like this issue is relatively common, there's 3 threads here about it already - not sure if it's just because there's so many people getting the game it's bound to happen to this many people, or whether there's an issue with some of the first-run copies.

We should keep an eye on things but so far of the dozen or so people I know who got the game, and are currently playing it, no one has had any issues like the OP has listed. Except the guy who got the special edition system with no game in it. That's insult to injury right there.

Sounds like some serious problems, take it back for a new disc.

" We should keep an eye on things but so far of the dozen or so people I know who got the game, and are currently playing it, no one has had any issues like the OP has listed. Except the guy who got the special edition system with no game in it. That's insult to injury right there. "

Try formating your HDD, then install it again, you HDD might be fragmented so it takes longer for your X360 to acces stuff.

I had a buggy disk too. It took around 3 or so minutes to load the first level. In it I had serious frame rate issues and the music would cut out constantly. I took it back and got another copy, since then I've had no troubles and the load for the first level this time was less than 8 seconds. Fingers crossed that nothing else goes wrong.

I'm having the same issues, from what I have read on other forms it might be the 360 that is the problem, not the disc. The launch 360's and a little after might not be able to play the game. This isn't fact, but speculation by others on the bungie.net forms.

I have a pretty old 360 but I had no problems aside from the occasional loading at checkpoints.
Had it installed too.