Most people buy bottled beverages and don't even think about how they're made, marketed or eventually disposed of. The production of these drinks has increased exponentially during the past few decades; in particular, bottled water has grown to become a multi-billion dollar industry. The majority of this water is sold by Nestle, Coke and Pepsi under the guise of brands like Poland Spring, Aquafina, Dasani and Deer Park. Nowadays, many people now grab a bottle out of the fridge instead of relying on tap water...and more often than not, the bottle ends up in the trash instead of the recycling bin. Tapped, a new documentary by The Disinformation Company, has set its sights on the bottled water industry and why it's bad for us.

From start to finish, Tapped sits carefully outside the boundaries of the traditional documentary: this is a completely one-sided affair, as films from The Disinformation Company usually are. But it's also a fact-filled lesson that really deserves to be heard---and even though it has trouble staying on track at times, Tapped is hard to turn away from. During an early segment, we're given a sneak peek at just how certain global corporations procure this water, and what it does (or will do, at the very least) to rural communities across America. We're also reminded of the massive profit margin made by these companies, as well as why spring water (and "purified water") is less regulated than what comes out of the average tap. If that weren't enough, we're also shown what the increased production of plastic has done to certain communities, their residents and the surrounding bodies of water, as well as the political and social impact of turning water into a commodity. Yes, Tapped bounces around more times than a Michael Moore documentary, but it still manages to make a convincing and eye-opening argument.

As an aside, I'd like to add that I'm not easily swayed by such one-sided documentaries...no matter which side of the fence I'm on. Even so, I bought a filter for my kitchen faucet several days after seeing this film, and I've sworn off gallon-sized jugs of spring water for home use. I recycle often, but Tapped reminded me that water from a local source is more economical, more regulated and more convenient. If that's not a good enough selling point for the average consumer, I don't know what is.

Presented by The Disinformation Company, Tapped arrives on DVD as a relatively thin but well-meaning one-disc package. The whole product screams its message at the consumer on every level: from the packaging to the menu designs, the preaching begins long before the disc is even popped in. Even so, what's here is undoubtedly passionate and provocative content---and more often that not, it hits the mark. Pairing a decent technical presentation with a small assortment of bonus features, Tapped should have no problem being passed around once it's been viewed. Let's take a closer look, shall we?

Presented in its original 1.78:1 aspect ratio and enhanced for 16x9 displays, Tapped looks good but not overly impressive. More often than not, this is due to a lack of consistency: stock footage and interview sequences are of lesser quality, while a handful of segments suffer from very mild edge enhancement. Wide shots are typically soft, even during several outdoor sequences. Aside from these problems, though, Tapped doesn't look half bad for a lower-budget documentary.

Likewise, the Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo mix is on par for the genre. Separation is strong and the dialogue is clear, rarely fighting for attention with the film's occasionally dramatic score. All things considered, this is an acceptable presentation given the circumstances. Unfortunately, no subtitles or Closed Captions are offered during the main feature or bonus material.

Scathing and unrelenting from start to finish, Tapped aims to inform consumers about how impractical, unsafe, and irresponsible the sale (and purchase) of bottled water really is. It's truly one of the most one-sided "documentaries" in recent memory...but given the history of The Disinformation Company, this film's double-barrel approach really isn't much of a surprise. What is a surprise, however, is the sheer number of facts, figures and statistics used to back up these claims; from profit margins to pollution, Tapped pulls no punches during its attack on this multi-billion dollar industry. The Disinformation Company's DVD package offers basic support for the main feature, pairing a good technical presentation with a few (almost unnecessary) extras. This one's definitely worth a look, no matter what side of the fence you're sitting on. Recommended.