i would recommend to check directx (dxdiag) or update some audio and video codecs. You said it crashes after the first video.If that does also not work then disable the videos in the freelancer.ini file and check how far you can get
ok, then it seems its a codec problem somehow, maybe the sound from the video. Dunno but there is not much that could be in conjunction with the videos...
I dont think so. But have you checked if the codecs are OK. It wonders me that you have the problems with the movies. Its nothing totally new (codes for the movies) and thus the videos should be displayed without the software gets stuck.