Agora

The early Christians who gradually take control of 4th century Alexandria are a deeply unpleasant bunch - little more than a brutally intolerant, self-righteous paramilitary in some cases. As Hypatia points out, there's little evidence that their god is any more compassionate than the ones just ousted. Hypatia herself has the misfortune to be an intelligent, rational woman living in a time of huge religious upheaval. Under the pagan religion she's a respected philosopher and mathematician, inching her way towards the conclusion that the earth moves elliptically around the sun. Every single one of these factors makes her loathsome to the Christians. Even worse, she refuses to be a "silent" woman as advocated in the scriptures, and the prefect Orestes (a former pupil and suitor) values her opinion. Thus she ultimately becomes a victim of the power struggle over control of the city.
Ancient Alexandria is brought vividly to life (the CGI isn't too distracting thankfully) - the teeming streets contrasting with the calm of the great library, while the famous lighthouse domonates the harbour. This cosmopolitan metropolis (with many of the Christians actually looking as though they come from the Middle East instead of Western Europe for a change), renowned for its intellectual achievements, is about to be ripped apart by religious fundamentalism in a horrifying display of violence begetting violence. A pagan being thrown onto a fire by a Christian leads to a pagan attack on the Christians which has disastrous consequences. It's only as they view the mass of Christians filling the streets that they realize they are totally outnumbered. The new Christian Emperor rules on the side of the Christians, sealing the fate of both the pagan religion and the great library itself. The Christians gleefully sack the library, destroying the assembled knowledge of the world (throughout there are such unsettling reminders of other, more recent, events). Ironically the Jews are spared this initial bout of score-settling but as soon as the Christians gain power they turn their attention to them. The Jewish audience at a theatre are stoned by the armed band of Christian enforcers, and in retaliation the Jews trap a group of Christians and return the favour. The sickening sound of stones hitting flesh (and bone) make these dreadfully visceral acts. It's all a long way from Jesus remarking that those without sin should cast the first stone.
It's no coincidence that Hypatia is the only notable female character. It's very much a male world and marrying would mean giving up her teaching and research. In such ways she thoroughly defies what the male authorities (both pagan and Christian) expect of female behaviour. The film is especially good at pinpointing the basic misogyny at the heart of the Christian church and the accusation that she's a witch is one that would be repeated down the ages to dispose of troublesome women. Fanaticism wages war on rationalism under the impassive "perfect" stars that so fascinated Hypatia. No wonder people become atheists.