Movies and T.V.

10 Things I Hate About You
Director: Gil Junger
Based on: The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare
Distributed by: Buena Vista Pictures
Release date: March 31, 1999

Summary: Bianca and Kat are two very different sisters. Bianca is pretty, popular, and sick of her strict dad ruining all her fun. Kat on the other hand doesn’t care what anybody thinks, is always ready to rebel against the man, and her classmates know to avoid her. When new student Cameron arrives at their high school, he’s smitten with Bianca, but knows she can’t date until her sister does…so he bribes Patrick Verona, the resident bad boy, to ask Kat out. Trouble, high jinks, and surprises ensue. 

Critical Evaluation: 10 Things I Hate About You is an adaptation of Shakespeare's classic tale and a love letter to the 90s, from the clothes the characters wear, to the banter and language, to the soundtrack. Popular songs include “I Want You to Want Me” and “Cruel to be Kind” by Letters to Cleo and “F.M.T” by Semisonic. Teens today who weren’t born in the 90s are sure to love the “vintage” feel and be fascinated by the high school culture they were too young to experience. 

10 Things I Hate About You’s cast includes Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Larisa Oleynik. Each is dedicated to and fully personifies their role, playing into both the serious side and the comedic elements of their character. Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger in particular expertly embody both the awkwardness and loneliness that comes with discovering who you are as a teenager, and the serious nature of finding a kindred spirit for the first time. 

One of the biggest merits of 10 Things I Hate About You is how it explores the universal themes of being yourself and staying true to what you believe in, even when the world seems to be against you. Characters like Cameron and Bianca learn to not care what others think of them, and to do what they think is right. Kate and Patrick moreso learn to let down their walls and let others in, even after being hurt in the past. Teens will identify with these feelings, and the light tone of the movie will keep them engaged and excited about the plot. The plot, by the way, was originally crafted by William Shakespeare, so it’s not too shabby either. The move also briefly touches on the idea of sex, consent, and waiting until you are ready to become sexually active. In this way, Kat is a strong role model for young adults, because she stays true to her convictions. 

10 Things I Hate About You is a fun, comedic movie with a few life lessons tucked in the corners. Teens are sure to enjoy it for years to come. 

Reader’s Annotation: Trouble and hilarity ensues when high school student Cameron bribes local troublemaker Patrick Verona to date Kat Stratford, so that he can date her younger sister. 

Director/Creator Info: “American television director Gil Junger has been interested in photography and music since his youth. After graduating with honors from the University of Austin's Radio, TV and Film School, Junger moved to Hollywood to make his mark. His two week experience as a gofer led him to a television career.

One of his first professional gigs was on the comedy series Soap, as a post-production supervisor in 1977. Almost ten years later, he worked on the hit series The Golden Girls. In the late '80s, Junger worked as a producer on Empty Nest before directing episodes of a number of series including Blossom, Ellen (which earned him an Emmy nomination), Pearl, Dharma & Greg, Two of a Kind and Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane. By the end of the 20th century, Junger had been involved in over 600 television episodes.

By 1999, Junger took his first stab at the feature film industry. Directing the teen comedy 10 Things I Hate About You (based on the Shakespearian play, The Taming of the Shrew, and starring rising talents, Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles) was a good start to his film career. The low budget film raked in big at the box office, despite mixed reactions from critics. Junger made his second attempt at the silver screen with the comedy Black Knight in 2001.

When not in the director's chair, Junger still enjoys photography, music (he was once in a band called Mid-Life Crisis), which he produces from his own music company, and golf”

Retrieved from: https://www.tributemovies.com/people/Gil-Junger/2463/ 

“William Shakespeare was a renowned English poet, playwright, and actor born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. His birthday is most commonly celebrated on 23 April, which is also believed to be the date he died in 1616.

Shakespeare was a prolific writer during the Elizabethan and Jacobean ages of British theatre (sometimes called the English Renaissance or the Early Modern Period). Shakespeare’s plays are perhaps his most enduring legacy, but they are not all he wrote. Shakespeare’s poems also remain popular to this day.”

Retrieved from: https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/william-shakespeare/william-shakespeare-biography/

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Booktalk Ideas:

• Discuss adapting classic works and how they can be made accessible for modern audiences. 

• Talk about the high school experience and how it can encourage us to grow.

Viewing Level: PG-13

Challenge Issues: Teen drinking/discussions of sex and sexuality/ “dirty” jokes

Reason for Including: 10 Things I Hate About You has received rave reviews and is still a teen favorite over twenty years later. It’s funny, heartwarming, and teaches good lessons for teens still figuring out how to stay true to themselves. 

References

Junger, G. (Director). (1999). 10 things I hate about you [Film]. Buena Vista Pictures.