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Last week's Film Forum covered reviews of this week's box office champion, Batman Begins—including Todd Hertz's glowing review for Christianity Today Movies.

More Christian reviewers have lined up to praise it, making director Christopher Nolan's film one of the most highly praised films of 2005 so far.

Frequent Christianity Today Movies contributor Peter T. Chattaway (Canadian Christianity) says, "Batman Begins is easily the best of the summer blockbusters so far, and quite possibly the best movie ever made about the Dark Knight. … [It] brilliantly affirms the truth that justice is something more than mere vengeance, and that good and evil tug for control of the hearts of every person. This is the first Batman movie that just might encourage some genuine moral reflection. Let's hope the inevitable sequels can keep up the good work."

David DiCerto (Catholic News Service) says, "Some viewers may feel that the movie's overall tenor is too bleak. But portraying Batman as a tormented and tragic figure is true to the tone of creator Bob Kane's original vision. … What separates Batman from other superheroes—and what the movie conveys—is that his mystique taps into our fears and sense of helplessness. [Batman's] enduring appeal is that of a noble idea: that one man can make a difference and be a force for good in the world."

Josh Hurst (Reveal) is thrilled. "Nolan's first time in the Bat-chair is a movie so artfully crafted, a story so masterfully told that it's easy to forget that it's a comic book movie. Ten minutes into the film, one can't help but feel sorry for all those involved in the Burton and Schumacher films. … This is the work of a skilled, confident filmmaker who truly understands the Batman story. This is Batman."

Michael Elliott (Movie Parables) raves, "By taking us back to the origins of the 'Bat,' Nolan not only breaths life back into the comic book world of Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego, he has given us one of the best super-hero films ever made."

Daniel Revill (Relevant) writes that the movie "should have no trouble laying claim to the title of best superhero film (and one of the year's best)."

Kevin Miller (The Joy of Movies) echoes the enthusiasm, saying it's "the first truly great superhero film. While most superhero films tend to emphasize spectacle over story, Batman Begins is more like a character study masquerading as an action movie."

At Hollywood Jesus, others blog away about the film. Maurice Broaddus says Nolan "emphasizes character and story over special effects and nipples on the bat-suit, creating an adult drama from what my grandmother used to refer to as 'funny books.' And I couldn't be happier." Mike Furches says, "It has the best car, the best story, the best Alfred, the best villains, the best story, the best effects, and the best Batman." And Johann Snyder finds it "a surprisingly insightful film."

"Batman Begins blew me away from start to finish," says Jonathan Rodriguez (Christian Spotlight), "and kept me glued to my seat for its almost two-and-a-half hour running time."

It's a season of "car-driven" remakes at the Cineplex. Batman Begins boasts a way-cool Batmobile, The Dukes of Hazzard rev their engines on the silver screen in a few weeks, and now, Walt Disney's beloved Volkswagen "Herbie" is returning to theaters. Can Knight Rider's Trans Am and The A-Team's battle-armored van be far behind?

Disney is clearly hoping that the Herbie series, which once starred Dean Jones, will now serve as a blockbuster "vehicle" for a very different celebrity—teen superstar Lindsay Lohan. Hey … re-working Disney's Freaky Friday and The Parent Trap worked just fine for Lohan, so why not the Bug?

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June (Web-only) 2005, Vol. 49