An update to my original problem.  I was able to get the game to start up again after taking the disk out, and putting it back in a few times.  Since then I encountered the problem again after a later point in the game saving by the demon door in Rookridge.  After doing some trial and error, I've found that the lock up occurs if I ...

I just bought the game today on XBOX 360.  I did the automatic patch upon starting the game.  I had just finished the first quest of your adult life in the lake temple and I saved the game at the top of the rock spire after you get out and kill the beetles up there.  Now whenever I load, it plays for about 10 seconds and then freezes