Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles co-star in 10 Things I Hate About You. The film is being re-released on DVD and Blu-ray.

It is astonishing to think of the impact Heath Ledger had in such a short time.

He became a movie star 10 years ago.

He tragically died two years ago on Jan. 22.

He is now the stuff of Hollywood legend.

Ledger's break-out was Gil Junger's 10 Things I Hate About You, a loose adaptation of Shakespeare's comedy, Taming of the Shrew. The shrew, Kat Stratford, is played Julia Stiles. Ledger is her bad-boy, Patrick Verona. The movie became a cult flick.

It is back on DVD and Blu-ray this week in 10th Anniversary Editions. That is off-kilter, considering the original movie was released on March 31, 1999. But it's close enough for Hollywood. And the home entertainment revival is welcome because 10 Things stands up to scrutiny, as does Ledger's virile and complex performance.

For comparison, see what is on TV now and on DVD next week. Volume One of the 2009 spin-off television series -- also called 10 Things I Hate About You -- is out Jan. 12 in a two-disc DVD set (no Blu-ray yet).

The pilot episode is directed, not coincidentally, by Junger. Many lines and some scenes are lifted directly from the movie. But the new cast is mediocre. Ethan Peck's Patrick is a moody, husky-voiced cliche. Ledger gave the character zest for life; Peck gives him attitude. Meanwhile, Junger is stuck with a dismal script that references (and poorly) the Harry Potter canon, not Shakespeare's. Kind of misses the point.

Back to the original. I like it even better now. Among youth movies, it signifies its era, as The Breakfast Club or Clueless did their time, place and space.

It is deft, funny, romantic and intelligent. The new doc on the DVD and Blu-ray reminds us of how that happened, with the added poignancy of seeing a teenaged Heath Ledger emerge so dynamically.