At first glance, Home would appear to be in the vein of similar nature documentaries like Planet Earth. Both feature amazing cinematography similar to films like Baraka and Earth. And when you look at the cover art and description of Home, you see that the film touts "A Stunning Visual Portrayal of Earth," using the planet's "incomparable beauty and acknowledging its vulnerability to change." So why was I put off so much by it?

In a word, preaching. The film was made for a simultaneous international release, distributed by a French conglomerate named PPR, and narrated by Glenn Close. Within the first few minutes of the film before things get going, Close touches on a story on the frailty of the Earth, which the viewer can choose to accept or dismiss. Wait, what? I was expecting the beauty of nature, and I get An Inconvenient Truth? Ugh. And every ten minutes or so there's a subtle ominous note about what we (as the proverbial 'greedy capitalists') have done, or are about to do, to poor planet Earth. There is also the underlying note that if we don't stop raping natural resources in the next decade, the planet will be irreversibly damaged. What's funny is that Close is saying this, it reminded me of when her Damages co-star Ted Danson once said that the oceans had to be saved in ten years.

That's what's frustrating about the discussion surrounding the environment and the future long-term health of the planet. Periodically, somebody takes the hyperbole crown in making the most dire prediction, only to have it not come true. Moreover, they are praised for bringing awareness to the discussion. It started way back when with Paul Ehrlich's "Population Bomb," and it continues today four decades later, with almost the exact same message in Home.

I'm not one who denies global warming; I do feel that there has been some sort of environmental impact because of behaviors its citizens exhibit. But until there's a uniform opinion on what's happened/happening, and what we have to do to fix it, the debate will always rage on. When governments and politicians continue to misrepresent science and use scientists like a court-appointed doctor to suit whatever argument suits them best, then the fog of debate can't be lifted.

And when a film like Home uses gorgeous visuals in one hand while tossing out a message that's been said countless times before in the other, one can't help but feel lied to, betrayed. If I wanted to watch a message film about the environment, I could have broken out my old Blu-ray copy of Planet Earth. At least I get outstanding looks at nature without that "Save the Planet" message. Sometimes less is more.

Fox presents Home in 1.78:1 widescreen and in 1080p high definition, and the AVC MPEG-4 encode is done on a BD-25 disc. Yann Arthus-Bertrand photographed the film on high-definition cameras mounted on helicopters, and the results are breathtaking. You can see fine detail in many of the shots in Africa, and other shots of mountainous train almost as if they were painted with snowcaps. Landscapes and exteriors are reproduced accurately and without concern, and it's a great-looking disc.

The film's DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio lossless soundtrack brings out the natural ambient noise quite nicely. Close's narration is strong and solid in the center channel, and the film's score even has some punch from the subwoofer occasionally. Not too shabby from the folks at Fox.

The film's conservation theme continues to the extras - there's nothing here.

Home doesn't give you anything that you don't already know or haven't read countless times before. Moreover, if you've already got the Planet Earth series, you get the same type of pictures, but the message is simpler, thus more powerful. If you want to explore Home on your own, make sure you've got the MUTE button on. Otherwise, I'd save your time and money.