Wow all this for a movie. I personally think Butler did a great job and I thought the movie brought out more to the book than the stage production. However, it may be that most people have not actually picked up the classic novel and read it so you have no way to compare. The whole impact of the book and movie were to make you feel for the phantom. In the end you are suppose to cheer for the phantom and empathize with his plight, to actually see him as a man and not a poor creature disfigured. The madness came from being shunned not who he really was. As much and I loved Crawford and Brightman there is no taking away from the powerful performance of "The point of no return". The ability of Joel Schumacher to incorportate a feeling of the stage performance was magnificent. Also, keeping the signifigance of the rose and incorporting the trap and keeping your hand at the level of your eyes. Again one must have an appreciation for the exceptional piece of litirature and to understand how you pull those feelings out of the novel and into a brilliant movie. Maybe I am just being a female and seeing the overall.