Just updated to AnyDVD 5.9.5.3 and was happy to see the new version has fixed issue with "out of memory" with ripguard movies. I was able to rip the entire movie using dvd shrink with no errors. I then tried to open dvd with Nero Recode and the error was "Nero Recode Encountered a error and can not continue. A unknown error occured when checking validity of Dvd structure (VTS). The strange thing is this same dvd opens fine with dvd shrink.

You could try to use the AnyDVD ripper. Or you could just use Shrink or CloneDVD2.

Narnia worked here with AnyDVD 5.9.5.3, and CloneCD 5.2.8.1 to +RDL on my Pioneer 111 f/w 1.06. Problem is the speed varied from 1.95x~2.20x, even though 4x was selected. King Kong worked just fine at 4x the night before w/ AnyDVD 5.9.4.1 installed. Any idea's?

Did you use the same type/brand of medium? The speed is highly dependant on the media used. AnyDVD has nothing to with burning at all.

Except that AnyDVD is always running in the background... what else?

Yes, using the same Verbatim +RDL's from the same batch.