Best and Worst Reel Rock Segments?

Over the past 15(ish) years the annual Reel Rock showing has become a part of climbing culture, and has an impact on how viewers perceive the climbing world. A previously-obscure character or event can become very mainstream, once the film comes out. Or it can re-tell and engrain popular characters or stories. They are generally high production value, but how well (and how accurately) they portray the story is a mixed bag. Some are a lot better than others.

What do you think the best, and worst, Reel Rock segments have been? Why? This includes all Reel Rock installments in the catalog, but does not include non- Reel Rock films.

Some criteria to consider: entertainment value, storytelling, visual appeal, character development, significance of events portrayed, uniqueness of story, impact on climbing culture, accuracy to actual events, etc.

I tend to only pay attention to the alpine or adventure climbing segments, but black ice was one of the better segments in recent years. I was watching it with a few non climbers, who loved it, then immediately tuned out the rest of that year's reel rock. 

I show pretty everyone I can find United States of Joe's. Gotta be one of the best in my opinion.

Dodo's Delight hands down

Worst Segment: Rad Dad, Up to speed, Young guns

Best Segment: Born among Boulders, Big things to come, United states of Joe's

Worst: Lonnie's Daddy issues

Boys in the bugs.. toes up, best film!

Winners for me are wide boyz, deep roots, and the nose speed record. Wide Boyz and the speed record were so entertaining, and who could forget about Tommy’s colossal simul-climb whip? Deep Roots was incredible and might come out on top for me. Embracing the danger on small gear, crimping and fingerlocking real hard, drawing on history and incredible cinematography 

RR16 pumped out a few turds. Part of it seemed to be because of covid, but it made me sad that it seemed like RR was tracking with the cutting edge of this ever-progressing sport, and either they lost touch with the athletes on the cutting edge of that or we collectively lost our edge and stopped progressing. That being said, I thought big things to come was the worst… I was tracking with it a lil until they revealed that she was beat out in the race to send by another girl… I found myself wondering why we weren’t watching the reel rock for the one who sent first?

Worst: black ice and all of the ones about plastic or bridge climbing.

Best: Age of Ondra is very good. United States of Joes is a lot of fun. Nose speed record is an obvious choice (and better movie than the Dawn Wall). Sharma DWS are great, as is Margo sending 5.15

I've always enjoyed the one at HCR but its a bit too much sometimes 

Safety 3rd has a special place in my heart   

Red River Ruckus and all the Masters of Stone are better than any of the Reel Rocks.

My faves: Nose Speed Record,  Joe's Valley,  Race for the Nose,  Stumped,  Obie and Ashima, The one with PC and LR climbing on the incredible hulk, Safety Third, Hennekin Falls, I liked some parts of Dodo's Delight alot, but way too much annoying singing. 

My least faves: Rad Dad, The Bridge one, The CUDL traverse, Barefoot Charles, Sketchy Andy, Cold (?), any of the Sharma ones. And Queen Maude land just seemed like a commercial.  

I liked Black Ice but it's not a good climbing film. It's a good film that happens to have a little bit of climbing in it. 

I like the ones about passionate, obscure crushers out there rather than pro climbers who are mostly just creating content. And footage of nice climbing/locations. It's interesting to have a story arc and an interesting personality at the center of the film, but it needs the climbing as well to make it a really great climbing film. 

That said, I enjoyed almost all the segments.  Just some I watch more than once, some never again..