Message

Social Behavior:

Officials betray their loyal servants; underclass heroes do the "right" thing, though that means protecting the boy who is a symbol of the empire that oppresses them.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Two men arm wrestle for a jug of wine.

Violence

Lots of fighting with swords, axes, knives, catapults, flaming arrows, and spears, as well as some martial arts-style fighting (especially by Mira, who frequently spins, kicks, stabs, and flips opponents). Characters fall, catch on fire, and die on screen. The one-on-one fight scenes feature athletic skills and some loud grunting and thudding; battle scenes show blood, especially on faces and mouths. A 12-year-old boy is repeatedly threatened (chained, held over a cliff, thrown hard onto floors); he later stabs an opponent to death. One figure falls off a cliff. Ambrosinus pulls a mask off of a bloody-faced adversary, then vengefully sets him on fire.

Sex

Some cleavage, especially on warrior maiden Mira; her introduction consists of rising from a lake in a wet tunic, catching the eye of her male traveling partner. Mira and Aurelius are thrown into a sort of embrace, and they both catch their breath. Mira slips into Aurelius' tent and bed at night: They look into each other's eyes, and the scene cuts to the next morning, implying that they had sex.

Language

One "damn," one "hell" (Kingsley tells his longtime enemy to burn there as he sets him on fire).