One of the greatest writers of all time, Shakespeare, wrote numerous plays that directly influence storytelling today. There are theater productions worldwide every year that follow his words and tell his tragic or comedic tales. But, as it happens to all adaptations: some are more in tune with the original story while others take creative liberties.
The '90s were filled with Shakespeare adaptations that fit the more creative side of them. Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet take the lovers to Verona Beach in modern days. Another example is the teen romantic comedy 10 Things I Hate About You. The movie stars Julia Stiles as Kat and Heath Ledger as Patrick, the lead couple of the movie; these two take a modern twist set in a high school of the classic The Taming of the Shrew.
The movie is fun and is loved over twenty years later. Here are the best moments in the movie.
10 Mr. Stratford Makes a New Rule
The movie's plot really starts at the moment Mr. Stratford (Larry Miller), who is the father of Bianca (Larisa Oleynik), and Kat makes a new rule regarding their dating lives. Bianca can only date if Kat also dates, and that also goes for attending parties and prom. This is the moment that most resembles the original story, The Taming of the Shrew, as this is the modern version of the condition the original character makes to his daughters.
9 Cameron and Michael Have a Plan
Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Michael (David Krumholtz) become a duo early on in the movie, as Michael is the one responsible for showing the school to Cameron. They become good friends and enter this crazy journey of trying to get Bianca and Cameron together. They create a crazy plan that oddly works — even if they have to regroup and rethink their strategy a couple of times.
8 Kat Likes Pretty Guys
Every interaction between Patrick, Michael, and Cameron was entertaining, but this one set in a biker's bar is probably the funniest. Arriving there, Cameron picks up a matchbox, and Michael says that he shouldn't touch anything, or he might get hepatitis. Then, they talk to Patrick about all the things they discovered that Kat likes, and that includes pretty boys, which they find is a possible problem. That's when Heath Ledger looks them dead in the eyes and asks, "Are you telling me that I'm not a pretty guy?" Which they quickly deny.
7 Patrick Changes Tactics
Patrick realizes that convincing Kat to go on a date with him won't be as easy as he first thought. So, he teams up with Cameron and Michael and they do it as a group effort. The boys find out one of her favorite bands is playing in a bar, so Patrick goes there. He changes his tactics and doesn't try to impress her but rather entertains her banter — while also calling her sexy right at the moment the music ends, and everyone hears it. It's the first time Kat laughs, even if at him, rather than scowls in his presence.
6 Cameron Is Honest with Bianca
Cameron is extremely hurt that Bianca let him on without having any real feelings or intentions of going out with him. She asks him for a ride home, and after a pep talk from Patrick, Cameron does her the favor. When they arrive at her house, he asks if she was always this selfish, amongst other things, as he really did like her; he even was going to learn French for her. Bianca rethinks her decisions and kisses him, and that's when they start their relationship.
5 Patrick and Kat Go to Paint Balls
This is Patrick and Kat's first real date, which they go to because she flashed their teacher, and he was able to escape detention for serenading her. It's one of the first moments both of them allow themselves to have fun and be with one another. This is also the first time they kiss. It's fun and in tune with what the characters like, as well as being a perfect moment for a rom-com.
4 Mr. Stratford Changes His Mind
Mr. Stratford is strict with his two daughters throughout the movie. He finds out that Kat applied to and got into Sarah Lawrence College without him knowing about it. At first, he firmly states that she won't go to college on the other side of the country, to her complete desperation. By the end of the movie, he sits down with her and explains why he acts the way he does. At the end of their conversation, he tells her he already made the down payment for her to attend her dream college. It's a nice moment where he starts to redeem himself and mend his relationship with his older daughter.
3 Bianca Punches Joey
Joey (Andrew Keegan) is an insufferable guy that perceives others, especially girls, as challenges for him to conquer. It takes a while for Bianca to see who he really is, but when she does, she doesn't hold back. Joey punches Cameron because he fooled him and is now with Bianca. The girl returns the favor by punching him twice and hitting her knee on his stomach. It's the first time the character stands up for herself as well as avenging her sister and boyfriend.
2 Patrick Sings to Kat
"I love you baby, and if it's quite alright I need you, baby…" This is the most famous scene of the entire movie. Patrick turned Kat down, not wanting to kiss her when he was being paid to take her out, which Kat obviously didn't know about. She's hurt by what he did. So, to win her back, he serenades her with Can't Take My Eyes Off You in front of the soccer team, with the help of the school's band. His dance becomes him running away from the two police officers that want him to stop. An iconic moment for any romantic comedy fan.
1 Kat Reads Her Poem
"But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you, Not even close… Not even a little… Not even at all." Kat loves to read, especially feminist authors. Her teacher asks the class to rewrite a sonnet by none other than Shakespeare (referencing the original story). Kat wrote the poem after Patrick completely broke her heart, and her words are nothing short of heartbreaking. So much so that it was not in the script that the actress should cry, but she did and made one of the best scenes in the movie. Then, Patrick buys her a guitar, and they get back together, having the happy ending that they deserve.