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10 Things I Hate About You    (1999)

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*** of ****
Rated: PG-13
Length: 97 minutes
Writers:
 William Shakespeare (play)
 Karen McCullah Lutz (screenplay)
 Kirsten Smith (screenplay)
Director: Gil Junger
Cast:
 Heath Ledger: Patrick Verona  
 Julia Stiles: Katarina Stratford  
 Joseph Gordon-Levitt: Cameron James  
 Larisa Oleynik: Bianca Stratford  
 David Krumholtz: Michael Eckman  
 Andrew Keegan: Joey Donner  
 Susan May Pratt: Mandella  
 Gabrielle Union: Chastity  
 Larry Miller: Dr. Walter Stratford  
 Daryl Mitchell: Mr. Morgan  
 Allison Janney: Ms. Perky  
 David Leisure: Mr. Chapin

Synopsis:
Katerina, a senior at a Seattle high school, has been anti social for a few years now while her sophomore sister is eager to go out and date.  The sister is
not allowed to date until Katerina does, but nobody wants to have anything to do with her.  Plots develop to get past that problem as other
complications ensue.  

Review:
It was a very good movie.  The movie is peppered with Shakespearean references to keep you thinking about it's roots, and is fast moving to keep your
attention.  Just to be picky, the Ten Things poem near the end actually lists thirteen things, with a couple redirections and a conclusion, but that's fine.  

The post credit out takes make it plain that the editing for continuity and story line was done to smooth out ruffles more than to reduce run time.  This
also makes every scene important in the development of the plot.  What struck me as unique about the movie was the combination of appropriately
talented and cast actors so that every character was well done.  

Larry Miller as the dad, Dr. Stratford, got the most laughs from the audience, and set the tone for the whole movie.  

I suppose "10 Things I Hate About You" could also have been titled "Healing of the Shrew."  Kat is a weak coward.  She buries her pain and fear from
her mother's departure by avoiding any further form of socialization and keeps herself at a distance from everyone but Daddy.  In reality, a protective
father like Dr. Stratford would have had his kids in counseling soon after their mother split, but of course that would end the film a few years before it
started.  Julia Stiles is very good at completely sucking the audience into her characters emotional state.  This is particular useful because she is a good
crier.  Her highlights are the dizzying misdirection speech she gives in the detention room, and the now infamous table dance.  

Bianca evolves much sooner and more clearly than Kat.  Kat's evolution which starts at Club Skunk is treated somewhat lightly possibly because in part
there is no unawkward way to quickly begin the transition.  It is when she writes the poem that Katerina shows that she has grown up enough and has
the strength to deal with her feelings.  Only when she arises to read her poem to her social group (the class) that Kat shows genuine Courage.

Heath Ledger as Patrick Verona gets some of the best lines, and he delivers them well because of his mature carriage.  He handles all aspects of his
character well, but the direction near the beginning needed adjustment.  That may be part of the results with the editing.  That really is him singing.  

The actor who appeared to be having the most fun, Andrew Keegan, portrays Joey Donner, he seemed to be having a ball as the only thing close to an
antagonist in the movie.  Donner the cannibal sucking the marrow of life from the bones of humanity.  Given the Shakespearean naming of the more
favorable entities in the film, Verona, Stratford, and even Padua, I suspected the screenwriters were making a cut on the culls they knew in high school
and beyond, but only they know what they were thinking.  He was very effective in his role.

The movie was filmed in Seattle & Tacoma with bright clear blue skies.  It must have been summer.  The soundtrack is very good, although the use of
sound was itself very limited.  The cinematography was excellent with it's sweeping and intricate movement that added to the scenes.  

This was overall an excellent screen adaptation that is worth seeing.

***********************************************
'Sonnet 141' by William Shakespeare

In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes,
For they in thee a thousand errors note,
But tis my heart that loves what they despise,
Who in despite of view is pleased to dote.

Nor are mine eares with thy tongues tune delighted,
Nor tender feeling to base touches prone,
Nor taste, nor smell-desire to be invited
To any sensual feast with thee alone;

But my five wits, nor my five senses can
Dissuade my foolish heart from serving thee,
Who leaves unswayed the likeness of a man,
Thy proud hearts slave and vassal wretch to be:

Only my plague, thus far I count my gain,
That she that makes me sin-awards me pain,

***********************************************

'Ten Things I Hate About You' by Katerina Stratford.

I hate the way you talk to me,
and the way you cut your hair;
I hate the way you drive my car,
I hate it when you stare.

I hate your big dumb combat boots,
And the way you read my mind.
I hate you so much it makes me sick;
It even makes me rhyme.

I hate the way you're always right,
I hate it when you lie,
I hate it when you make me laugh;
Even worse when you make me cry.

I hate it that you're not around,
And the fact that you didn't call.
But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you;
Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.