1999 is undoubtedly the best year of cinema. Film masters like Martin Scorsese, Stanley Kubrick, David Fincher, Paul Thomas Anderson and George Lucas were directing up a storm in Hollywood. Iconic blockbuster films like Star Wars, Sixth Sense, The Matrix and Tarzan were topping billboards everywhere. But I believe these blockbuster films don’t even compare to my favorite rom com ever 10 Things I Hate About You. Despite being #53 Domestic Box Office For 1999 this movie is the ultimate feel good film.

10 Things I Hate About You is a charming romantic comedy that’s a modern day embodiment of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. The movie revolves around Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles), a strong and independent young woman who has no interest in conforming to societal norms of high school. She constantly strives to be different and not follow the herd. She despises being involved in the romance scene of high school.  Her younger sister, Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) is an extreme contrast to her sister. She is desperate to date and be like everyone else but can only do so once Kat starts dating as well, according to their father’s rule. Cameron James (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) shines as a lovable and earnest student who is head over heels for Bianca who is described as “out of his league”. This love drives him to desperately try and score a date with his dream girl Bianca, Cameron schemes to find a loophole in Bianca’s fathers rule. Enter Patrick Verona ( Heath Ledger), a mysterious, rebellious and fearless student, seemingly a perfect fit for a “prude” like Kat. Cameron uses his planning skills and eventually gets Patrick to go out with Kat. This unexpected match resulted in the cold hearted Kat falling in love but what she doesn’t know is that the love was just a plan to get her sister a boyfriend.

10 Things I Hate About You is literally the best movie of all time. You will never find a romcom better than this. Katerina Stratford is the definition of a heroine. She’s a role model to all women, standing against conformity and public pressure. Cameron James is the most adorable and precious boy in a romcom. He’s so awkward but he still strives to pursue the girl of his dreams. He even learns French just so he can tutor her and have a reason to hangout. Patrick Verona is portrayed to be scary and mean but we see him as a lovable and persistent character that any teenage girl would crush on. The chemistry between Stile and Ledger is intense. Their scenes together are filled with witty banter and heartfelt moments that are uncalled for based on their character expectations. Their interactions keep the audience engaged and rooting for their love to blossom. The iconic scene of Heath Ledger serenading Julia Stiles with “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” to ask her to prom remains an iconic moment in cinema that still resonates with people today.

Another one of the most iconic moments in this movie is the scene where Kat professes her love/hate for Patrick in a gut wrenching but heartfelt poem.

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 that it makes me sick

And 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 when 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

In conclusion, 10 Things I Not Like About You is the best movies of 1999. It’s an endearing romantic comedy that modernizes Shakespeare’s classic play. It touches the hearts of hopeless romantic teenage girls and Shakespeare geeks alike. This is a feel-good movie worth watching,