CLASSICS WO FILMS FOR TEENS The movie stars Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz, a wealthy teenager that lives in By Katrine Wilkinson Beverly Hills, California. Cher is full of

Writers, producers, and directors have been good intentions but her misguided attempts adapting classic literature for the big screen at finding love for a friend places her in since the beginning of film. For the past few awkward situations. Jane Austin's novels decades, there have been a number of never lack in the fairy tale elements that classics made into films that will appeal to transcend time or generations; the story of teens. Sometimes it only takes some Emma's search for love makes it an ideal contemporary actors and modem settings to romantic story. give these timeless stories a new edge and a The Taming of the Shrew/Ten new audience. The following is a list of Things I Hate About You classic works that have been turned into The 1999 film Ten Things I Hate About You movies for teen audiences. is a modem re-telling of William Emma/Clueless Shakespeare's classic play The Taming of

At the top of the list is the classic the Shrew. The film follows a group of novel Emma written by Jane Austin in 1816. teenagers in high school. Larisa Oleynik

There have been a few plays Bianca, the youngest sister who tries

film adaptations of this to convince her father to

novel but perhaps the change his no-dating

most notable for teens is rule. After much debate,

the 1995 title Clueless. her father reluctantly

33 agrees to his daughter's request on one The story ends in a series of tragedies as '0' condition: Bianca is allowed to date but only follows the plot of Shakespeare's classic to if her older sister, who has no interest in its bloody end. dating, does as well. Bianca must try to She's All That/Pygmalion convince her sister to date before she can She's All That is based on the play also. The film's contemporary take of Pygmalion by George Shakespeare's work is funny and intelligent. Bernard Shaw. She 's Othello/`O' All That is set in high

Othello, another Shakespeare play, school and revolves made it to the big screen as the 2001 film around the makeover

`0'. The names are of the artistic but geeky character Laney, changed to reflect the played by Rachel Leigh Cook. To save his modern setting but popularity after his girlfriend breaks up with the story remains the him for a TV star, Zack, played by Freddie same. In `O' Odin Prinze Jr., attempts to turn Laney from geek represents Othello and Desdemona becomes to chic after taking the challenge on as a bet.

Desi. The film is set in a high school, where The changes work, Laney becomes popular,

Odin and Desi are the popular couple in and they end up falling for each other in the love. He is the star basketball player and she process. It's also relevant to note that the is the pretty girl. A plan is hatched to break classic film My Fair Lady (1964) was also up the happy couple by two jealous based on Shaw's play. characters. Allegations of cheating and Cruel Intentions/Dangerous Liaisons betrayal push Odin to his breaking point.

34 Cruel Intentions, the 1999 film based follows her character Viola as she in a prestigious impersonates her twin brother at his new

Manhattan private school. Viola, an avid soccer player, decides

7174)-1.71715r5 school, is based on the to play the sport at her brother's new school novel Les Liaisons after her own team is cut and her brother

Dangereuses (Dangerous runs away from home to become a musician.

Liaisons) written by While at the school Viola must convince

Pierre Choderlos de Laclos. In Cruel everyone that she is in fact her brother while

Intentions, Sebastian, a wealthy and keeping the secret from her parents and her irresponsible teen with a reputation for crush at the new school. Eventually Viola's stirring up trouble, and his malicious brother returns to the school just in time to stepsister manipulate fellow students. make things slightly more confusing for

Sebastian is persuaded by his stepsister to everyone. seduce the new headmaster's daughter. The The Scarlet Letter/Easy A story ends when the tables are turned on the The most recent teen ..4:411t , two teens. film inspired by a

Twelfth Night/She's the Man classic novel is the

2010 title Easy A, William Shakespeare's play Twelfth which is based on The Night has been recently etc ,01 14:4. .1f3r:Jk Scarlet Letter by adapted into the 2006 film Nathaniel Hawthorne. The main character She's the Man staring Olive, played by Emma Stone, becomes a Amanda Bynes. The film popular figure in her high school after

35 helping a friend fake a relationship. The story in its original format. A timeless story word is spread to other socially awkward will remain a timeless story; fun teen teens in the school, who ask Olive to help versions will only help to attract reluctant them become accepted. An uptight teen readers to the original stories. classmate starts to spread rumours about

Olive's fake encounters with boys in their school which in turn starts a scandal.

Olive embraces the attention and sews a scarlet 'A' on her clothing to publicize her objectionable status. She finally comes clean and tells the entire story to those in her town that were so quick to make snap judgments about her.

Film adaptations are a great way of introducing young adults to classic novels which are not often read anymore outside of schools. Also, many teens may not even know that some of their favourite teen movies were originally classic novels or plays. There will never be a replacement for the original version, but some of these stories adapted for the box office may attract a different or even larger audience than the

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