Why is it so damn difficult to do something?

The commentary questions why it remains so challenging for ordinary cinema-goers to derive profound enrichment from watching films. Using Christopher Nolan's epic movie "The Odyssey" as a case study, the author ponders how such a cinematic experience can make an audience a "richer, wiser, and above all more cultured" person.

Homer's "Odyssey," the literary work upon which the film is based, is presented as a cornerstone of Western literature. The ancient poem is described as brimming with symbolism and profound insights, offering an inexhaustible treasure trove for philosophers and thinkers across disciplines. Therefore, the author contends, it is a disservice to passively consume a film adaptation, treating it merely as an action narrative about a Greek hero's tumultuous journey home from the Trojan War over 3,000 years ago, while neglecting its deeper layers.

The piece implies that a more engaged viewing is necessary to appreciate the film's potential. Simply sitting in the theater, perhaps munching on snacks, reduces the experience to superficial entertainment, failing to capture the essence of the original epic. The author's critical stance suggests a desire for audiences to connect with the intellectual and cultural depth embedded within such grand narratives, rather than just passively observing the plot unfold.