In less than a month we will know the answer: will Christian Bale make a better Moses than Charlton Heston?

The Batman star plays the biblical hero in Ridley Scott's epic Exodus: Gods and Kings, due to be released here on Boxing Day.

Bale has already courted controversy by suggesting that Moses was "most likey schizophrenic and was one of the most barbarous individuals that I ever read about in my life".

He revealed that the first film he watched after landing the part was Monty Python's satire Life of Brian, to help him avoid the risk of parody.

But those worried at the portrait of Judaism's most important prophet might take comfort from some of the advance reviews. Writing in the Independent, Geoffrey Macnab said that the film "tries hard not to offend anyone too much", though he was lukewarm about it.

One thing is for sure: Scott won't be following it up with a life of Mohammed.