If you are using a cable or sat box you can run the red white audio cable straight from the box into your receiver. Run the HDMI from the box into your tv. Turn off the tv sound.
Do you have the blu ray player sound coming out of a sound system and the tv coming out of the tv speakers? If so, just turn off the sound on one of them. And how can you have two things showing on the tv at once?
Check the link for a good, inexpensive indoor dryer vent. It works very well tho throws off lots of heat and moisture, so you need a window or opening in the room to allow the moist air out. In a garage, it probably won't be an issue. It does an excellent job.
It is safe and does provide a lot of heat and moisture to the house in the winter. (If you have a gas dryer, check with your gas provider, I have electric and it's safe for that.) Check the link to a nice, inexpensive little vent that catches the lint much better than just a nylon stocking...
Fill the sink with hot water and put in some Dawn or other dishwashing liquid and let it all sit for a few hours. The stink will subside and the residue will come off more easily.
The automotion, trumotion, etc., can cause the chop. So find what your tv calls the motion blur reduction feature and turn it way down or off, that should fix the chop.
The stopping blu rays is usually something wrong with the blu ray player. Check thru the owner's manual for the player and...
To some extent the pic will be clearer. If you are currently getting a good quality pic thru your dvd you should probably skip the blu ray. If possible, and you have a friend that has blu ray, have them bring it over and check for yourself.
Your tv will always run at it's native resolution and hz rate. Any info you see on the screen is showing you what signal is being SENT to the tv. It will take any incoming signal and upconvert it to 1080p, 120 hz. The auto motion plus is another setting, which you can turn on/off or adjust as...