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Amazon.co.uk Review
It's, like, Shakespeare, man! This good-natured and likeable update of The Taming of the Shrew takes the basics of Shakespeare's farce about a surly wench and the man who tries to win her and transfers it to modern-day Padua High School. Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles) is a sullen, forbidding riot grrrl who has a blistering word for everyone; her sunny younger sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) is poised for high school stardom. The problem: overprotective and paranoid Papa Stratford (a dryly funny Larry Miller) won't let Bianca date until boy-hating Kat does, which is to say never. When Bianca's pining suitor Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) gets wind of this, he hires the mysterious, brooding Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) to loosen Kat up. Of course, what starts out as a paying gig turns to true love as Patrick discovers that underneath her brittle exterior, Kat is a regular babe. The script, by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith, is sitcom-funny with peppy one-liners and lots of smart teenspeak; however, its cleverness and imagination doesn't really extend beyond its characters' Renaissance names and occasional snippets of real Shakespearean dialogue. What makes the movie energetic and winning is the formula that helped make She's All That such a big hit: two high-wattage stars who look great and can really act. Ledger is a hunk of promise with a quick grin and charming Aussie accent and Stiles mines Kat's bitterness and anger to depths usually unknown in teen films; her recitation of her English class sonnet (from which the film takes its title) is funny, heartbreaking and hopelessly romantic. The imperious Allison Janney (Primary Colors) nearly steals the film as a no-nonsense guidance counsellor secretly writing a trashy romance novel. --Mark Englehart
Amazon.co.uk Review
It's, like, Shakespeare, man! This good-natured and likeable update of The Taming of the Shrew takes the basics of Shakespeare's farce about a surly wench and the man who tries to win her and transfers it to modern-day Padua High School. Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles) is a sullen, forbidding riot grrrl who has a blistering word for everyone; her sunny younger sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) is poised for high school stardom. The problem: overprotective and paranoid Papa Stratford (a dryly funny Larry Miller) won't let Bianca date until boy-hating Kat does, which is to say never. When Bianca's pining suitor Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) gets wind of this, he hires the mysterious, brooding Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) to loosen Kat up. Of course, what starts out as a paying gig turns to true love as Patrick discovers that underneath her brittle exterior, Kat is a regular babe. The script, by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith, is sitcom-funny with peppy one-liners and lots of smart teenspeak; however, its cleverness and imagination doesn't really extend beyond its characters' Renaissance names and occasional snippets of real Shakespearean dialogue. What makes the movie energetic and winning is the formula that helped make She's All That such a big hit: two high-wattage stars who look great and can really act. Ledger is a hunk of promise with a quick grin and charming Aussie accent, and Stiles mines Kat's bitterness and anger to depths usually unknown in teen films; her recitation of her English class sonnet (from which the film takes its title) is funny, heartbreaking, and hopelessly romantic. The imperious Allison Janney (Primary Colors) nearly steals the film as a no-nonsense guidance counselor secretly writing a trashy romance novel. --Mark Englehart
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
10 Things I Hate About You is a fairly basic teen love story, but with the added twist of Shakespeare and very good comedic acting.
The story is based on Shakespeare's Taiming of the Shrew. It is about two sisters, one very popular, Bianca Stratford(sexy: Larisa Oleynik) and the other, Katrina or "Kat"(superb: Julia Stiles) hated because of her gruff character. Their overbearing father(hilarious: Larry Miller), devises a scheme whereby Bianca cannot date until rebellious Kat does, which seems an impossibility. Thereby is set up a scheme to pair Kat off with the roguish Patrick Verona(outstanding: Heath Ledger). One of the masterminds of this plot is Cameron James(cute: Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a newcomer to Padua high, where the movie takes place. The other is his assistant of sorts, Michael Eckman(David Khyumoltz).
Though somewhat predictable, especially if you have read Taming of the Shrew, it is an interesting light diversion. The dialogue is quite well done, interwining a word or phrase from Shakespeares with modern teen slang. Other does to Shakespeare are seen in Kat's friend who idolizes him as if he is a teen heartthrob, plus reading of his works in one Kat's classes. The timing in the dialogue is also very Shakespearean. It's very rapid fire. I think both David Khumoltz and Larry Miller are amazingly funny!
Overall, this is not your typical shallow teen romance movie, but can appeal to anyone who enjoys witty dialogue, and many literary references.
The DVD is unremarkable. It has a good DD 5.1 soundtrack driven by a nice selection of alternative rock - Letters from Clio had several cameos, but I believe they mainly played cover tunes, not their own stuff. The DVD does not contain any special features.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A classy teen update on Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, this handsomely made and very diverting romantic comedy more than hits all the right comedic buttons as well as the romantic ones. Kat (played tremendously well by Julia Stiles) hates everybody which causes a slight problem for her gorgeous sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik), when their dad tells her that she can't date until Kat does. Presenting loner Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) who's the unlucky guy who introduces Kat to the dating scene while Cameron Jones (Third Rock from the Sun's Joseph Gordon-Levitt) tries his luck with Bianca. The young cast are impressive with Ledger and Stiles being on top with their excellent conversations that includes bickering and sweet-talk whilst Gordon-Levitt surprises as Bianca's sweet but geeky admirer. The script's nicely paced, the slick direction from newcomer Gil Junger's inspiring and delightful and the end result is predictable but ever-so rewarding.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A very funny comedy. Sadly the DVD doesn't include any extras (except English subtitles).
Try "Teen Dreams - Reading teen film and television from Heathers to Veronica Mars" by Roz Kaveney for an interesting analysis of this film.
Try "Teen Dreams - Reading teen film and television from Heathers to Veronica Mars" by Roz Kaveney for an interesting analysis of this film.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
10 things I hate about you
Suited to a teenage audience I feel but very useful for Literature students when making a comparison with Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew.
Published 5 months ago by FranP
Brilliant, fun film
Classic American, high school movie. It's a lighthearted and funny movie to watch- takes you back to those things that seemed life-threatening as a teenager; like not being allowed... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Donna
More Like 10 Things I LOVE About You
10 Things I Hate About You is a rare oddity - it takes the clichéd realm of teen romcom and adds snappy pop-culture laden dialogue, characters with emotions so believable... Read more
Published 15 months ago by EffieCJ
10 things i hate about you review
This is my favourite film ever!!!
I can't recommend it more then that. It's just the perfect teen movie and definately the best ever made.
I can't recommend it more then that. It's just the perfect teen movie and definately the best ever made.
Published 16 months ago by Rosie E. Wilson
Buy it
I will say to anyone interested in purchasing this movie that it is good and worth doing so. It starts out a little slow but picks up along the way.
so buy it
so buy it
Published 17 months ago by NatNat
It simply never gets old!!
'10 Things I hate about you' has to be my all time favourite film!
The script is so witty, the characters are brilliant, the soundtrack is addictive and the cast are... Read more
The script is so witty, the characters are brilliant, the soundtrack is addictive and the cast are... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Shopping Mad!
10 things I hate about you
Classic film - I saw it years ago and now both my teenage kids have had the pleasure of it too!
Published 20 months ago by Matt
One of my all time favorite movies!
Based on Shakespeare's play 'The Taming of the Shrew' (but making it a story about teenagers in the 90s); this is truely an amazing film. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Lars
Staying the course
Despite having been made as long ago as 1999, and having chosen to adopt the format of the American High School teen romantic comedy, "10 Things I Hate About You" remains a highly... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Hywel James
love it! It is packed with loads of humour as well as romance
I have watched it over and over again and still absolutely love it! It is packed with loads of humour as well as romance. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Rebecca
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