Watching this movie now makes me very sad for the loss of Heath Ledger. His character brought so much to 10 Things I Hate About You. He was fun, really fun in the way that makes you smile in spite of knowing this is all just a movie and these actors are following the script written for them. Health Ledger and Julia Stiles made the characters in this movie breathe a life of their own.

Did you Know the Movie is Based on The Taming of the Shrew?

It does help that The Taming of the Shrew is my favourite Shakespeare story. I love the character of Kate! I loved the character of Petruchio too, the way he tolerated Kate with humour and did not give up in his determined pursuit of her. Yet, he did not become aggressive or a stalker type to feel threatening. Even in those days hundreds of years ago men could find that balance, in some cases. Kate, of course, was the star of the story. Her aggression so different from what was expected of women.

In 10 Things I Hate About You Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger brought The Taming of the Shrew into the modern world. I loved it, the story itself was dusted off and given fresh style and updated, enough that it can still stand without seeming dated more than 10 years later. I liked the story of Kat, when we find out why she is angry and has closed herself off from mostly everyone else. I especially like Kat being a soccer player too. Julia Stiles has always been so much like my own youngest sister who was a soccer player right up until she was 40+.

The Charming Heath Ledger

Most of all, I can’t resist the charm of Heath Ledger, his character, Patrick, in the movie. What woman does not want to be charmed and pursued in spite of herself? What woman does not have a soft spot for the guy who can really talk to her, and listen? What woman does not secretly like a guy who goes out of his way to pay court to her, without being less than masculine or overly mushy and romantic? I will never forget Patrick, the character in the movie, singing to Kat as she ignored him from the soccer field. Of course he got the girl!

Everyone Should Read Taming of the Shrew at Least Once

You can read it or watch it in a lot of different versions and remakes too. Everyone should read Taming of the Shrew at least once. I first read it in English class, in high school. That year the play was also on at the Stratford Festival. All the English classes who had read Taming of the Shrew went to see it, live on the stage. It was wonderfully awesome.

The movie gets it’s title from the poem Julia Stiles (Kat) reads near the end. I found a video post of it, below. If you have seen the movie can you listen to Kat read the poem and not have a tear? I’ve seen the movie at least five times and I get a tear each time. It’s a shame the video doesn’t go a bit longer to the scene out at the car afterwards. But, you can get the movie and see it all, from start to finish.