HEA better than Remember!?!?
Most certainly.
Remember definitely has the memberberries running strong through it with the heavily leaning on Disneyland's attraction history; but, on a purely technical level - HEA does everything that Remember did; but, on a much more impressive scale. More shells, lights, and effects with a larger canvas to paint with. I can only think of the limited use of the shells around the hub (semi-perimeters) as something that Remember did that would be a net add to HEA's palette. Remember's use of them in the Haunted Mansion stretching room sequence was especially clever especially when standing in the hub. I also believe that Disneyland Forever topped Remember in terms of spectacle (really loved the search light usage and the moment where they formed the diamond over the center of the park); but, certainly didn't reach the heart like its predecessor.
Beyond the technical, HEA has many moments of all of the pieces of the puzzle coming together in harmony that resonate into something special and in my opinion, the sheer quantity of those special moments in HEA are what puts it over the top when compared to the other shows.
I knew Wishes backwards-and-forwards and for photography purposes had all of the various shell combinations memorized - especially the moments where the Fantasyland launch sites are in use as when shooting long exposure stills, you want to capture the trail at the beginning since a disconnected trail doesn't look right in the finished photo. Wishes had only a handful of moments in the show where these launchers were used as the show ebbed and flowed.
HEA has very frequent use of both the northern launch site as well as the rooftop Fantasyland launchers and they are basically intermixed throughout the entire show.
In this thread, I've previously talked about HEA's use of projection mapping in using it to repaint the castle and not just for small character sequences; but, when they do "small" moments - they really shine. I can't imagine a better use of effective restraint than the aforementioned Tink's flight; but, perhaps the flower of adversity is an even more effective use of the harmony in the technical tools available placed into perfect synergy with this show. The pace of the show slows, the lighting and music turn towards the ominous as the castle projection is repainted to appear completely different as a single character is projected unto the real balcony of the castle to speak his lines as a single shell (actually it isn't) rises in the sky beyond creating a flower stem that bursts forth in a spectacular colorful blossom. This shell has been used in other shows; but, here it is allowed to stand most effectively on its own and is uniquely captivating.
It's in these combinations of the resources available that make this show so effective. The painters have a broad palette at their disposal and have made sure to fill the entire show with these artistic flourishes. It also doesn't hurt that it has at least 3 sequences that are finale worthy moments that could be used in any other show.
I can certainly understand those that would prefer a different themed overlay to what could be perceived as a clip show. The musical cues selected I believe are appropriate and tonally fitting to the overall concept. The orchestrated choices are some of the best examples of these themes that have been made. Go the Distance in particular has never sounded better or been better implemented than it is here. In my opinion, the regal feeling the combination of SpectroMagic and Wishes was the perfect mood for MK at night. With HEA's intro and outro and overall classy use of music and technology, it continues along the same vein.
Enchantment was a miss in my book on most every front, so the reset back to HEA is a welcome return to form for me.
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