strange .avi file that VLC player doesn't play!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I downloaded an anime off the internet and for the first time vlc player wouldn’t play the files! Its strange vlc player will play the file for around 5 seconds without sound or video, I just don’t get it.
I tried gSpot to check what codec it is but all it tells me is that it isn’t an avi file, but then I get even more lost to what it could be. It could be a derivation of a .ogg type file because my .ogg viorbis system tray keeps popping up when I try to play them but only for around 2 seconds. Plz if anyone can help it would be appreciated.