Wrestling the Mississippi

The Mississippi River is a work in progress; the river changes course at will, overflows into other rivers, and threatens established cities. As the mighty waters sculpt and rearrange the landscape, humans work to balance their ability to live beside the river and still protect its resources. Examining the role of the Army Corps of Engineers and the government in battling nature, as well as the tension between commercial interests and environmental concerns, Wrestling the Mississippi features excellent photography that shows the power and variety of the river. Unfortunately, the documentary also follows the example of the river, veering off course and shifting its focus so much that no logical train of thought is maintained for long. Tighter editing would have been a real boon; still, the excellent content (despite the scattershot approach) makes this a strong optional purchase. [Note: This title is also being sold on the Discovery Channel's website--www.discovery.com--for $19.95.] Aud: H, C, P. (J. Reed)