10 Things I Hate About You (Two Disc Special Edition – Includes DVD & Digital Copy)

Review by Levi Wallach for 10 Things I Hate About You (Two Disc Special Edition – Includes DVD & Digital Copy)
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10 Things I Hate About You is a fairly basic teen love story, but with the added twist of Shakespeare and some good comedic acting. The story is based on Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. It is about two sisters, one very popular, Bianca Stratford (played by Larisa Oleynik) and the other, Katrina, or “Kat” (played by Julia Stiles) hated because of her gruff character. Their overbearing father (played by the hilarious Larry Miller), devises a scheme whereby Bianca cannot date until rebellious Katrina does, which seems an impossibility. Thereby is set up a scheme to pair Katrina off with the roguish Patrick Verona. One of the masterminds of this plot is Cameron James (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a newcomer to Padua high, where the movie takes place. The other is his assistant of sorts, Michael Eckman (played by David Khumoltz). Though somewhat predictable, especially if you have read Taming of the Shrew, it is an interesting light diversion. The dialogue is quite well done, intertwining a word or phrase from Shakespeare with modern teen slang. Other odes 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 (for a comedy). 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.

Review by Z. Velasco for 10 Things I Hate About You (Two Disc Special Edition – Includes DVD & Digital Copy)
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The movie is based on Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. It is about two sisters Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) and Katarina “Kat” Stratford (Julia Stiles). Bianca is the popular sister who wants to start dating a popular boy, Joey Donner (Andrew Keegan)and Kat is the social outcast. Trying to keep his daughters from dating for fear they may get pregnant, their paranoid father (Larry Miller) makes a family rule where Bianca cannot date until Kat does, which seems impossible. New kid Cameron (Joseph Gordon Levitt) has a huge crush on Bianca and, thinking Bianca likes him in return and wants to date him, he and his friend Michael Eckman (David Khumoltz) devises a scheme where they try to pair Kat off with the school “Bad Boy” Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger). By reading the basic plot above, you probably think this is just another Teen Flick? Well, though technically a teen flick, it lacks the shallowness that other movies of this genre have. With witty dialogue, some very funny physical stunts, some great acting, and a hip soundtrack headlined by Letters To Cleo, this film is a definate must own.As for the DVD, for people with 5.1 Surround Sound, this movie is perfect! However, it is very disappointing in the extras department. The ONLY thing this DVD has is the theatrical trailer for the movie. So unless you really, REALLY want to own the theatrical trailer for the movie, I suggest you save your money and go for the VHS version instead.

Review by Matthew Easterbrook for 10 Things I Hate About You (Two Disc Special Edition – Includes DVD & Digital Copy)
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10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU is a modern update on William Shakespeare’s classic comedy THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. Meaning it’s not Kenneth Branagh. Meaning you don’t need an English-Elizabethan dictionary to understand half the words. Meaning no fops parading around in tight tights. Meaning no royal kerfuffles. Meaning no ghosts, witches, fairies, or one-legged Turkish disco dancers. Meaning no obscure references that only English teachers get. Meaning no actors walking around talking to themselves like they just got released from Shady Acres Happy Home. Meaning, finally, a movie geared towards a young audience. And unlike some modern-day adaptations of classic plays or movies, this one will actually hold your attention for more than seventeen seconds.What makes 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU really work is two things. First of all, it doesn’t pander down to its audience, instead treating it as an equal. Second, and most importantly, writers Karen McCullah Lutz and Kristen Smith flesh out the characters and make them seem real. This couldn’t be accomplished without good actors, and 10 THINGS has plenty of those. Instead of going with the huge teen stars of the moment (Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr, or any other heartthrob with three or more names), the casting directors chose lesser-known actors who could get by on talent, and not necessarily name value alone. They chose wisely.Stiles makes Kat into a multifaceted, complex heroine who is both charming and viciously fierce. Ledger brings a new dimension to the oft-used “rebel who’s really a misunderstood poetic soul” cliche. The chemistry between these two is probably the most compelling part of the movie. When Patrick serenades Kat with the song “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” accompanied by the school marching band, it’s such a joyous and spontaneous moment that I guarantee your heart will melt and you’ll break into a huge smile in spite of yourself. 10 cheers for 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU!