10 Things I hate about you

So this next blog is probably one for the girls more than anything as it is your typical teenage love story, wrapped amongst every other teenage problem imaginary. This is the main reason I think it has always been so well received by teenage audiences as somewhere along the line it relates to all of us. From our parents keeping us on a tight leash away from boys or to being the kid at school that tries so hard to fit in with the ‘cool kids’ but just isn’t accepted.

Now obviously the main teenage theme throughout is ‘love’ and heartache. The whole typical romance of boy meets girl in an unconventional way leading into a blossoming romance where they unexpectedly fall in love. Of course along the line there is some kind of hiccup that threatens the newfound romance but in the end comes up smelling of roses. So I suppose you could call the film predictable and to be quite honest you would probably be right. 


BUT I think the fact that the film is predictable is more of a comfort rather than an annoyance. For the hopeless romantic in me I sit watching these types of films hoping for everything to work out ok in the end. With the bad guy getting humiliated, the good guy coming up trumps and gets the girl and the story ending with a happily ever after. 


10 things I hate about you for me is the ultimate film for this with the added bonus of Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles starring as a perfect match to play the rebellious teen couple.

This has to be my most favourite part of the film as Heath Ledger's character attempts to ‘woo’ his lady. Have a look:

Fact File

Release date: July 9, 1999

Run time:  97mins

Age Rating: 12

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Lead Actors: Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles and Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Award wins: Julia Stiles won both CFCA award for most promising actress and MTV Movie award for breakthrough female performance

Review: Geoff Andrew from ‘Time Out’ said: "Stiles grows into her character, and Ledger is effortlessly charming."

Plot summary

New student, Patrick Verona, is persuaded into dating hard headed teenager, Kat Stratford, in return for money. This is all part of an attempt by another student to be allowed to date the younger Stratford sister, after Mr Stratford applies the rule of when the older daughter dates so too can the younger. As the plan goes ahead Patrick and Kat unexpectedly begin to fall for each other and their romance blossoms. All is fine until Kat finds out Patrick's initial reasons for dating her and he is left trying to pick up the pieces.

My old sixth form common room: where our own personal
'10 things i hate about you' scenario's took place