The classic comedy that launched the careers of Academy Award winner Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles celebrates its ten-year high school reunion with 10 Things I Hate About You: The 10th Anniversary Edition. This special edition is packed with a million things to love, including an exclusive sneak peek at Heath Ledger’s screen test.
New kid in school Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is smitten with the beautiful Bianca (Larisa Oleynik). The problem is that Bianca isn’t allowed to date unless her surly older sister Kat (Stiles) does. Cameron’s only hope is to enlist the help of Patrick (Ledger), the school troublemaker with a reputation as nasty as Kat’s.
This special edition brings back the love-struck high school classmates of ’99 with a treasure trove of never-before-seen footage. Also featuring a retro soundtrack of memorable nineties tunes, 10 Things I Hate About You is a comedy you can count on.
Okay, I feel like I’m about to commit cinema-sacrilege by admitting this, but I wasn’t all that crazy about 10 Things I Hate About You. Maybe it was because it has been talked up so much as the ultimate ’90s high school romantic comedy, and so my expectations were placed way too high.
The things I loved:
~ Heath Ledger. It was a poignant joy to watch him in his first starring role.
~ Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Easy to see the potential for future roles like 500 Days of Summer.
~ David Krumholz. Charlie from Numb3rs in a very early role – I always did like the cute geeky type.
~ All the Shakespeare references.
The things I wasn’t crazy about:
~ Julia Stiles. I’ve always found her to be very underwhelming as an actress.
~ Allison Janney. I normally love her, but wasn’t crazy about the erotica-writing school counselor character.
I will say, though, that if you haven’t already seen this, it’s definitely worth watching for a chance to see Heath Ledger, though he is bursting with so much vitality and potential, it will break your heart a little.
10 Things I Hate About You
Disclosure: 10 Things I Hate About You was provided to me by Click Communications for the purpose of review and giveaway. The above link is an Amazon Affiliate link. If you click on the link and then purchase anything, I receive a small percentage.
Oh, good! I’ve never liked this movie much. Actually, I have problems with Taming the Shrew and every adaptation of it I’ve ever seen (mainly because I can never understand why no one likes/listens to Kate. She just wants things the way she wants them. Is that too much to ask?!?! Honestly, what is wrong with people). Oh, and Allison Janney’s character I HATED. Heath Ledger is really good in it, though.
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Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Tasha – I like the banter in the original Taming of the Shrew, but haven’t sen any other adaptions, I don’t think. And I was so excited to see Janney’s name in the opening credits, but her character was awful!
I loved this movie! I’ve seen it hundreds of times. But I have to say I agree with you on the pros and cons. Julia Stiles has this thing about her that I can’t quite put my finger on. I’m just so ambivilent about her. I’ll also say that I wasn’t crazy about the girl who played the sister. I found her irksome. But in the end Heath Ledger made the movie for me so I loved it and watched it because of him
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Sunday Salon – 1/17 =-.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Michelle – yes, Heath is definitely the best thing about it!
My husband and I saw this on one of our first dates, so we watch it every time we notice it’s on tv. It’s so deliciously bad!
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Anna – ah, good memories – my husband and I watched Dave on VHS after dinner out on our first date.
Twitter: BethFishReads
says:
I was always kind of meh about this one. I might rent the 10th anniversary edition tho, just to see the extra material.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins =-.
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says:
Beth – I haven’t watched the extras yet, but want to watch Heath Ledger’s screen test.
This is one of my niece’s favorite movies, so I really should make the time to watch it.
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Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Kathy – it’s definitely worth seeing.
Man, I loved this movie when it came out back in the day. I love catching it on television every now and then
And, oh Heath…
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Twitter: booksandmovies
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Amanda – I know, it still makes me so very sad to think of him.
I probably wouldn’t buy this movie, but if it’s on TV, I can totally see myself wasting away an afternoon watching it yet again. You’re right. Heath Ledger kind of made it worth watching. My favorite part: when he’s singing in the stadium. Total cheese, I know. But I can’t help it.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Sharla – I loved that part, too!
I did like this, but never got all of the crazy hype about it. And for the most part, I feel the same way about Julia Stiles.
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Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Stacy – I was trying to think if there was a movie I liked her in, and I can’t think of one!
It’s been ages since I watched this movie but I recall enjoying it. I loved Heath Ledger in it. Julia Stiles must not have made much of an impression since I don’t recall her too well.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Debbie – I know that a lot of people love it – and I’m in the minority to just think it “okay.”
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