I'd love to write about this issue extensively, but my command of english is not good enough, but all in all, I agree with what you say. But precisely because these films are so apallingly deaf to historic and culture subtleties, the criticism shouldn't walk the same path but in reverse (greeks were also bad, etc.…

They do are very different political institutions, which is another reason not to put quotes on democracy. Just feels falsely (and innecesarily, considering the movie in question) academic.

Horrible simplification nonetheless. Athenians (or greeks) were obviously not the shining heroes of American democracy this movie purports them to be, but to judge the city were Real democracy was created by the presente american moral and political standard is ridiculous.
To speak of "democracy" refering to an actual…