I saw a stage production of Rent when it was on tour in North Carolina, I guess a few years ago now, and I have no intention of seeing the movie. I liked the show, the music was good, staging was minimalistic and unique (the musicians were on stage with the cast as part of the props), and the story was decent.
I would say that the meanings of Mark and Roger finishing their own movies and songs was to establish something more lasting and personal in a world where everything else they had was temporary. Everything else seemed very fleeting. "When friends, landlords, lovers, your own blood cells betray..." People living and dying with nothing to really call their own.
Not my favorite, but I liked it. Would have been better if Mimi did die.
~clpMINI