I will post my thoughts on the movie here, they may be of interest to various people;
(WARNING! Plot spoilers!)
SEX AND NUDITY
People have made an issue of this, and so I address it first. There are four scenes which have sexual themes in (although a large number of scenes show some sort of nudity - there are three hundred very buff men standing around in posing pouches for most of the movie, as the Spartans do not wear armour). I do not equate nudity necessarially with sex and - as a man - am not sexually aroused by “beefcake” on display (although, I daresay that if there had been 300 attractive women in bikinis it may have been a different matter). In any case, the four sexual scenes are;
i) A love scene between husband and wife. Their relationship is established as entirely monogomous (given the husband’s comment about the fact it would take more than an adolscent girl to make his wife not look attractive). The husband and wife are clearly in love, have a healthy relationship and are open to children. Both of them clearly seem to enjoy the sex, which is presented in a realistic manner. Her breasts are clearly visible and it is obvious that they are having sex.
This is the SINGLE positive depiction of sex in the movie.
ii) A scene with the Oracle, who is dressed scantilly and dances lascioviously while drugged. She is effectively a prisoner of some corrupt priests (who are told to be corrupt, inbred, evil and part of an older and backward religion of mysticism - not at all like the democratic, civilized rest of Greece). These men are explicitly referenced as taking advantage of her, she is chosen for her beauty, she suffered because of their attentions.
This scene shows objectification of women as sex objects = bad
iii) What is effectively a rape scene - the Queen (the wife above) is forced to offer herself to another man in order to gain his political support. He is violent towards her and specifically says that he will hurt her because he is not her husband - showing that her husband does not. Significantly, although she does drop her top, you do not see her breasts - perhaps showing that she is not opening herself to him. She certainly does not look like she is enjoying it, and very much endures it.
iv) The “orgy” scene shows various conqubines, several of whom are scared and deformed, and otherwise disgusting to look at, engaged in disordered sexual acts. These acts are not shown in any great detail, but it is clear what is going on. This sexuality is used as temptation. The aspect of sexuality being shown here is obvious - sex when used for temptation is disgusting (the scene is not erotic - it is disturbing and weird).
Now, as we can see, three of these depictions of sex are the modern, secular version of it - sex for power, prostitution, sex with anything, sex all over the place - and they are deliberately shown to be bad and those who perform them are evil (two are traitors, the others are the corrupt enemies of the Greeks). The positive depiction of sex is shown between a mother and father who are married and who are in a monogomous relationship open to children. Both are heroic and are very decent, civilized people.
Also, the King says of a boy old enough to fight (at least 18 by his looks and build) that he is “too young to have known the warm embrace of a woman”. that shows that the Spartans (as portrayed in the movie) had very definite ideas about the time for sex.
Not presented in the movie is the homosexuality of the Spartans. While this is historically inaccurate, this shows that the movie as a whole is presenting a certain image, one which I personally take as a pseudo-Christian message. Certainly not perfectly Christian, but having very definite elements…
TREATMENT OF WOMEN
Two characters speak ill of women in the movie - a traitor and a Persian emissary. Both state that women have no speaking rights and are inferior. The heroes of the piece show no such views - although they do clearly recognise that women are inferior fighters. The woman who is spoken off in this manner defends herself not with some modern feminist claptrap, but a line concerning her motherhood.
The concept that women are good and great because of their motherhood is a very positive one which also finds itself in Christianity.
Also, the King’s comment about the adolescent girl not causing him to loose desire for his wife (she is at least old enough to have a 7 year old son, and her husband is 40 - she might very well be about 35 or older) is in direct contravention of the current trend which is “younger is better” (the actress is 34, BTW).
Again, this pushing of monogamous marriage is a positive one.
VIOLENCE
The movie is very, very violent and is exceedingly brutal. Be warned. There is nothing more I can say to that, except that . . . have you read the Bible recently?
The gore is certainly pervasive, but it is not splashed everywhere. It is dramatic, comic book violence which - while not glossing over it - does not dwell on it. I do not think that violence need be a reason to not see a movie.
You need to right a review for a christian site or something on this movie. I could not have said it better myself. I think most Catholics will look as far as the violence and nudity and not look at the biiger picture or hidden meaning in this movie. You said it perfectly. Props to you.