Rent - the Movie

So...
I must admit that up until last night I had managed to avoid any wholesale exposure to "Rent" (apart from the send up in "Team America")
Primarily for the same reason I have avoided "Miss Saigon" and unsuccessfully avoided "Aida" (which is now one of my faves)

For the most part I enjoyed it...
but, I have one question:
Am I the only person who thought the ending was a cop-out?
For all the talk about it being hard-hitting etc. I thought Puccini had much more guts for actually letting his Mimi die.

What do other people think?
or am I about to be lynched...

Paul Treasure

PS You should see how bad my seats are for Madam Butterfly
H1-2 Upper Gallery, I do not think there are worse seats at His Maj, apart from the ones behind the pillars
Serves me right for not booking earlier