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Critics of Blu-ray often talk about how expensive the discs are, but in recent weeks, a growing number of Blu-ray movies have become more affordable, with many dipping below the $15 price point and several even slipping in at $7.99 (or less) on Amazon.

Cheap is popular these days and, not surprisingly, a lot of these bargain-price titles end up on the best sellers list on Amazon. But when it comes to owning discs, most people have become pretty discerning, and don't just buy anything because it's cheap. With that in mind, we've culled down the list of bargain titles and selected 15 we think are worth owning.

As always, it's important to mention that taste is subjective, and if you don't like our picks, call us out and make your own suggestions in the comments section. If you're persuasive enough, we'll edit the list and swap in new titles. And as new budget Blu-rays come out, we'll also update the list. (Note: The discs on the list all were priced at less than $15 on Amazon at the time of this writing. Naturally, those prices are subject to change.)

For reference, here are some discs we considered but ultimately didn't include this round (call them honorable mentions): "Fargo," "Heathers," "Silence of the Lambs," "40 Year-Old Virgin," "L.A. Confidential," "Bullitt," "Unforgiven," "Beetlejuice," "V for Vendetta," "Swordfish," "A Clockwork Orange," "I am Legend," "Fugitive," "The Road Warrior," "The Dirty Dozen," "Enter the Dragon," "Risky Business," "Dirty Dancing," "The New World," "Top Gun," "The Dark Knight," and "Being There."

Click on any image to view the movies we did pick.

Watch this: 15 Blu-ray movies for less than $15

Related coverage:

• Top 40 must-have Blu-ray Discs
• Top 40 movies not out on Blu-ray
• The decade's 25 biggest tech flops

Update, February 8: We added more affordable Blu-ray titles to the list.

A screenshot of Home and Garden Surplus's LG BD390 product page, with the border and red highlighting added by CNET.

(Credit: Matthew Moskovciak/CNET)

Product reviewers at CNET generally don't cover disputes between customers and Internet resellers, but a recent case revealed a new sales policy we've never seen before.

On January 26, we received an e-mail from a reader complaining about the sales policy of online reseller Home and Garden Surplus. He had ordered the LG BD390, but received an LG BD370, a step-down model with a list price $100 cheaper. The reader stated that when he complained about the switch, Home and Garden Surplus explained that its policy allowed it to make a substitution.

We're not shocked that a company would switch a product with one of a lower value--we hear reports of it all the time--but we were surprised to see that Home and Garden Surplus was actually telling the truth about its policy. On the product page for the LG BD390, it does state that the company may switch a BD370 for a BD390, although it's buried at the end of a long list of specs and there's not even a line break to separate it from the previous bullet point.

Furthermore, when we looked at the company's privacy policy page, the company elaborated on the substitution policy:

A screenshot of Home and Garden Surplus's privacy page, border added by us.

(Credit: Matthew Moskovciak/CNET)

This policy was also recently added to the FAQ page--we're not sure why it's on the privacy policy page to begin with--but it's worth pointing out that this shouldn't apply to the LG BD390 anyway, as the BD370 is clearly a product of lesser value.

The reader who contacted us isn't the only one who's taken issue with the policy.

The $599 L1 is due to ship February 12.

(Credit: Aaxa Technologies)

Aaxa Technologies, which makes a line of Pico projectors, is about to release what it calls "the world's first laser pico projector with an internal media player and storage."

So far we haven't been terribly impressed with the first few batches of Pico projectors, but some laser-based models appear to be more promising--though expensive. The Aaxa L1 has a $599 price tag and a ship date of February 12. Pico projectors that use LED-based light sources tend to range in price from about $250 to $350.

Aaxa says the L1 uses its PCOS technology, which combines a three-color laser light source, proprietary despeckling technology, and an LCoS image to deliver a 20-lumen output at 800x600 resolution without "the pixilation problems found in some laser projectors." Like other laser Pico projectors, this model offers "focus-free operation" so you can easily move the projector around to project an image at whatever size you want (the company claims it can produce color-rich images up to 50" in dark environments--we'll believe it when we see it).

Here are some additional specs:

• 20-lumen laser light source
• SVGA (800x600) resolution
• USB memory stick reader (2GB USB stick included)
• Onboard AVI, MP4, MP3, JPEG decoder
• Reads Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF files
• Composite and VGA input support
• 1.5-hour battery life from rechargeable battery
• Size: 4.2 inches by 2.1 inches by 0.8 inches, 170 grams (including battery)
• Additional accessories allow the L1 to connect to Apple iPhone/iPod, Microsoft Zune, Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP), and cell phones from Nokia, LG, Samsung, and HTC

As we said, this looks intriguing on paper, and competitor Microvision has attracted some attention with demos of its own laser projector, the ShowWX (see video below), which uses the company's PicoP display engine but doesn't have an exact release date or pricing.

An Aaxa spokesperson said its laser engine is completely different from the one used by Microvision. "Our engine uses an LCOS panel vs. their beam-steering MEM's design," said Max Hu, the company's director of marketing. "The diffused laser light allows higher brightness and classification as a FCC Class 1 product vs. a focused beam design which has eye safety issues. In that regard, our design has the potential for much brighter designs in the future (which we are currently developing)."

If you're interested in the L1, it's available for preorder, though Aaxa says supplies are extremely limited due to a the scarcity of laser diodes. Hopefully, we'll get our hands on a review sample sometime in the near future.

Comments?

(Credit: Amazon)

A lot of people like to complain about the premium you have to pay for Blu-ray Discs, but Blu-ray price watchers should take heart in the $5.99 sale price on the "Heathers" Blu-ray at Amazon.

As one might expect from a disc that wasn't known for having particular good video quality on the DVD, this Blu-ray doesn't pack much visual punch. When Hi-def Digest's writer Kenneth Brown reviewed the disc back in November 2008, he was disappointed with the video quality but found it passable.

"Vibrant reds punctuate the experience, but the remaining image is too washed out and inconsistent to hit with any memorable impact," Brown wrote. "While the transfer's fine detail is the most improved aspect of the presentation (when compared with both previously released standard DVD editions), texture and edge clarity is a bit unreliable from shot to shot, appearing crisp at times and slightly hazy at others."

But what the hell, the thing costs $5.99 (and $5.86 at Wal-Mart) and it's a good movie, right? Apparently a lot of other people think it's a pretty good deal because it's currently the No. 29 best seller on Amazon. Who knows how long that pricing will last, but it may just be too good a deal to pass up.

Comments? Anybody see a Blu-ray movie for cheaper than this?

More: Top 40 must-have Blu-ray Discs

We've been longtime fans of Oppo's disc players, but as much as we liked the company's BDP-83 Blu-ray player, its $500 price puts it out of reach for most buyers. With that in mind, Oppo has released the BDP-80, a lower priced Blu-ray player that looks to keep much of what we liked about the BDP-83 for only $290. It's available today.

The easiest way to see the differences between the new BDP-80 and the BDP-83 is to check out Oppo's comparison chart, but the short story is that it keeps most of the BDP-83's features, but has a step-down video processor, can't output DVD at 24 frames-per-second, and it lacks some customer-installation-friendly options like an RS-232 port and IR inputs and outputs. It's also worth pointing out that the BDP-80 doesn't make any mention of streaming media services, which are widely available on competing players.

The BDP-80's back panel.

(Credit: Oppo)

Of course, we'll have to get the BDP-80 in for testing to see how well it performs, but our experience with Oppo's step-down DVD players has been uniformly positive. Our initial impression is that this should be a solid option for home theater fans who put a premium on performance, but can't afford the BDP-83.

The never-ending quest to ditch your cable box may become a more realistic endeavor as rumors are beginning to surface regarding ESPN showing up on Xbox Live. The New York Times first broke the story on Monday, after word got out that the Walt Disney Company and Microsoft had taken meetings regarding the subject. There hasn't been anything officially announced as of yet, but the idea seems to be similar to what ESPN 360 currently offers--the ability to stream live sports events through a fast Internet connection.

Regardless of the content, it's definitely a huge first step toward a cable box-less future. When Xbox 360 first debuted, Microsoft was very adamant about making the console the center of living room entertainment. Four and a half years later you can rent and buy movies or TV shows, stream Netflix, update and browse Facebook and Twitter, and soon (hopefully), catch an out-of-market baseball game.

Theoretically, a TV network could reach millions of people with an Xbox Live "channel." Microsoft has sold 39 million consoles worldwide, with half of those systems hooked into Xbox Live. With numbers like that, it's no wonder cable companies are looking to game consoles as another outlet.

The service, of course, will cost a premium, though it's not clear if you'll need to be an Xbox Live Gold Member as well. Also, there's always the variable of picture quality, which will solely rely on Internet speed. While it's still very early, this business model could be a sign of things to come. Wouldn't you rather pay for individual channels via something like Xbox Live instead of a lump-sum to the cable company?

MacGruber movie, coming soon!

(Credit: Saturday Night Live)

The 404 Podcast Tip of the Day: it's an unspoken rule that every nerd has to include a multitool of some kind in his or her EDC arsenal. My most recent addition is the Leatherman Skeletool CX, a 7-in-1 with carbon inserts to lower the weight. I also own the comprehensive Leatherman Wave for heavier jobs, and Wilson's choice is the blade-less version because he likes to travel with it on his person. It doesn't matter which one you choose, but it's always good to be prepared!

(Credit: Nexus 404)

The first story of the day is one that Jeff holds very close to his heart: ESPN might finally come to Xbox 360. According to the latest rumor in The New York Times, ESPN could partner with high-speed ISPs to offer streaming sporting events right on the gaming console. You can already stream Netflix movies and purchase videos within the interface, but sports content might make the perfect complement to their 3D sports channel supposedly happening within the next year.

After a very short run in theaters, China has stopped screening "Avatar" due to concerns over its financial success and fear that the underlying themes of revolution might plant inappropriate thoughts in the minds of its citizens. Having already scored $73.2 million in China, Fox has already confirmed its cancellation-- the movie is already replaced with a Chinese movie about the life of Confucius.

Quick side note: we initially threw this story in the rundown hoping Wilson could provide valuable insight based on his six-month sojourn in China, but his post-dentistry medication keeps him from really opening up on the subject. Unfortunate timing or blessing in disguise? We'll let you decide.

In addition to a big Calls From the Public and a few hilarious reader e-mails, we check out the new "MacGruber" movie trailer and also discuss the the most successful "SNL" movies, like "Superstar" and "The Blues Brothers." Of course, no 404 episode would be complete without us ripping on something, so we also talk about the biggest "SNL"-adapted movie flops.

Just can't get enough of The 404? Have you heard all the back episodes? If not, be sure to check out The 404 Wikia for an extremely detailed episode guide with links to every show we've ever recorded, guest breakdowns, top content, editable entries, etc...enjoy and thanks to everyone who maintains our page!

Active shutter glasses for Panasonic's 3D TV.

(Credit: Panasonic)

Starting later this year, subscribers to the U.K.'s Sky HD television services will have access to a third dimension of entertainment.

Sky will be broadcasting content in 3D through its Sky+HD set-top boxes, the third such channel announced in recent days. Sky will follow ESPN and Discovery, both of whom announced joint partnerships on dedicated 3D TV channels with Sony at CES 2010 last week.

Sky's 3D channel will be the joint effort of BSkyB and 3ality Digital, the company behind last year's 3D broadcasts of NBC's Chuck episode, an NFL game, and the filming of "U2 3D."

Sky currently has 1.6 million subscribers to its Sky+HD service. But to access the new 3D content, customers will also need a 3D-enabled TV. Several models, many of which were also announced at CES, will begin shipping this spring.

3D TV is certainly hot right now, as evidenced by the deluge of products and services announced or demonstrated at CES. But is it a fad or here to stay? There are still reasons to be skeptical about whether consumers are ready for 3D at home right now, as my colleague John Falcone points out. If you want to chime in on whether you'll be upgrading to a 3D TV for your home, check out our CNET poll here.

The Cinemin Swivel retails for around $300.

(Credit: Wow Wee)

WowWee's Cinemin Swivel is one of the more distinct pico projectors on the market thanks to its swiveling design, which allows you to project images at various angles, including straight up at the ceiling.

In case you don't know what a pico projector is, as its name implies, it's a miniature handheld projector that's capable of casting a big image (WowWee says the Cinemin Swivel can project an image from 8 inches to 50 inches). The key to these pint-size projectors is that they use an LED light source that's very energy efficient.

Pico projectors come in different shapes and sizes; most cost between $300 and $400, and they currently sport resolutions up to 640x480 pixels, though the Cinemin Swivel only offers 480x320 pixels or HVGA resolution. This model uses DLP technology for projecting an image. That's the same technology employed in many rear-projection TVs, but projected on an external wall, movie-theater-style, instead of the backside of a TV screen.

The Cinemin Swivel is similar in size to competing pico projectors, but the 3M MPro120 is slightly smaller and more compact. Weighing in at 6.4 ounces and measuring 5 inches by 3 inches by 8.5 inches, the Swivel model does indeed fit in a pocket (or easily slips in a laptop bag) and comes with a protective sleeve, as well as an adapter for iPhones and iPods.

The projector is designed to sit on a flat surface, then tilted slightly upward (yes, there's a hinge in the middle of the projector that allows you to tilt the front up). Like other pico projectors, this one doesn't have any keystone settings, so getting a perfectly rectangular image does take some tinkering, and you do have to play around with the focus as you move the projector around.

Read the full review of WowWee's Cinemin Swivel to find out how good it really is.