In China to promote Flowers of War, Christian Bale took a detour to a village in eastern China to pay his respects to 40-year-old Chen Guangcheng, a self-taught blind lawyer who campaigned against victims of abusive practices of China’s family-planning officials (forced abortions) in the late 1990s. Chen has been confined to his home with his wife, mother and daughter and watched 24/7 by guards since he was released from prison. He was sentenced to four years on what many believe were trumped up charges.

Bale learned about him through a CNN report and wanted to “meet the man, shake his hand and say what an inspiration he is.” He didn’t get the chance as when he arrived, plain clothes guards shouted at Bale, CNN correspondent Stan Grant and cameraman Brad Olson to “Go away!” Bale, forgetting he’s in China, asked, “Why can I not visit this free man?” Then he was punched by guards aiming for his camera as they tried to drag him away. Then they were chased through the country. Most likely while Benny Hill music was playing.

A precarious scene ensued Thursday as one of the gray minivans chased our car at high speed on bumpy country roads for some 40 minutes.

When the dust settled, we counted a broken car, a damaged camera — and a “Batman” star disappointed at — but not shocked by — his failure to see a personal hero. CNN

Bale should have just stood there, waved his hands and said, “Me no speako English,” and in that moment of confusion, ran towards the house to get Chen’s autograph all while shrieking with excitement.

Christian Bale is done with the Batman franchise. He and Nolan wrapped filming a few days ago which marked the end of Batman.

“I wrapped a few days ago so that will be the last time I’m taking that [Batman hood] off,” The Dark Knight Rises star tells the Philippine Daily Inquirer. “I believe that the whole production wrapped yesterday, so it’s all done. Everything’s finished. It’s me and [director Christopher Nolan] — that will be the end of that Batman era.” Us Magazine

This is bad news for everyone who loves continuity because you know they’re going to want to extend this series for another three movies when they see how much it makes on opening weekend. Batman 4 will probably be titled Batman vs the Pale, Brooding Vampires and Maybe Werewolves If They’re Still Popular.

Back in 2008, Christian Bale rented an Albuquerque, New Mexico home while filming Terminator. Last week, the body of Michael Snyder who had been missing for 8 years was found buried in the front yard. Snyder’s ex-wife has been arrested for murder. TMZ says Bale had no idea the body was there…. Or did he. Dun dun dun! [TMZ]

Here’s Christian Bale emaciated again on the set of The Fighter getting ready to play a drug addicted boxer. This is the second time he’s lost a massive amount of weight for a role. The first being The Machinist.

That can’t be good for him. His hair is thinning and he’s dressing like a homeless guy. The good news is that he’ll probably be awesome in the movie. Not like that Paris Hilton. Her idea of acting is to look at the camera, giggle and try to lick her nipples. Except she can’t even do that right because she keeps tipping over.

Christian Bale went on KROQ’s Kevin & Bean show this morning (audio below) to apologize for the outburst on the Terminator: Salvation set and to assure everyone that he and Shane Hurlbut squared it away that day. They even spent the next month working together in perfect harmony.

“The thing that I really want to stress is I have no confusion whatsoever. I was out of order beyond belief. I was way out of order. I acted like a punk. I regret that.

“There is nobody that has heard that tape that is hit harder by it than me. I make no excuses for it. It is inexcusable. I hope that that is absolutely clear.”

Christian even welcomed people to mock and remix his rant to their hearts content. So suck it Harry Knowles, you ass kisser. Even Christian Bale is sorry and has a sense of humor about it.

“Feel free to make fun of me at my expense; I deserve it completely.”

As far as apologies go, this was far better than the one I gave my date. Probably because I didn’t mean it. Look, is it my fault that the safe word was “cake”? You try and remember that.

[See post to listen to audio]

By Harry Knowles own admission, he loves movies and hates gossip. Which is why he took the high road when the audio of Christian Bale freaking out surfaced. And by high road, I mean he decided not to post the audio and instead, kissed ass so hard that he almost sucked out Bale’s colon. Because he’s under the impression people care what he thinks and he figures this is an easy way get more invites to sets, Knowles writes:

Hey folks, Harry here… I’m getting slammed with assloads of people angry at me for not posting the Bale explosion from the set of McG’s TERMINATOR: SALVATION. Well, first off – there’s a real simple reason. It isn’t news. And it certainly isn’t cool news. It is a moment in a man’s life taken completely out of context and most likely leaked to personally embarrass Christian Bale.

I know this because I happen to be somewhere where someone that was there that day and for the shoot is. And this person isn’t a publicist, nor are they invested in Bale’s career. They’re just someone that thinks it is absolute bullshit that this moment in Bale’s life is being aired and that the real story should get out there.

The DP on TERMINATOR SALVATION, Shane Hurlbut, is a apparently a light tweaker. He’s a fairly young DP and likes to fiddle with his lights on set during action, which is a big “NO NO” on most productions unless worked out in advance with performers. But apparently Shane was a pretty unrepentant light tweaker.

The scene in question, was a very emotional and tough scene between Christian Bale and Bryce Howard. A scene that required soul bearing and a deep level of immersive concentration. The sort of scene where everyone on set knows not to get in anyone’s eye lines, and definitely not to move lights around while FILMING. You lock that shit down before the scene starts.

The whole thing is pretty long winded and could have been condensed into a thirty second video of Harry making out with a cardboard cutout of Christian Bale. Someone should break it to Harry that Bale will never give him that hand job.

A few months ago, Christian Bale reportedly went off on a director of photography who accidentally walked through his scene and ruined his take. Bale, being the level headed man that he is, bitched, yelled and threatened to kick his ass. Luckily, a brave soul recorded the tirade for insurance purposes and now everyone gets to hear how big of an asshole Bale is. TMZ explains that this was on the set of Terminator Salvation and that Christian Bale threatened to quit if the DP wasn’t fired.

While I’m sure the DP walking in distracted and invariably ruined Bale’s take, I’m pretty sure this 10 minute diatribe didn’t help.

My favorite part is when Bale doesn’t want to take a minute break and utters a Bill O’Reily-esque, “Let’s go again!”  Listen here or below.

[See post to listen to audio]

Who knew actors were such whiny assholes. Jesus. Calm down you big baby. This is Terminator Salvation, not Citizen Kane.

Here’s Shane’s, the DP’s, website.

More details about Christian Bale’s fight with his mother and sister are surfacing. The Sun is reporting that Bale’s sister, Sharon, asked to borrow $200,000 to help raise her three children. Bale refused and allegedly pushed and shoved her and his mother.

They did not want any publicity and the last thing they wanted to do was wreck his premiere evening. But they say he bullied them.

They are both devastated that it has come to this but want him to be taught a lesson.

Sharon and Jenny, a part-time clown from Bournemouth, left the hotel on Monday morning and, on the way to their Dorset home, stopped at a Hampshire police station and reported Bale for assault.

Sharon, who works in computer programming, has two daughters — aged ten and 12 — from a previous marriage and a baby from a new relationship.

Right. “Teach him a lesson.” Sort of like how I taught that girl who laughed at me when I asked her out a lesson by pouring sugar in her gas tank. I taught her humility and the value of a car or something. Bale should realize what a caring mother and sister he has. They’re only trying to make him a better man.

Sources close to Christian Bale tell the Daily Mail that there was no physical assault or threat of violence directed towards his mother. Also, they say Bale has become depressed over the death of Heath Ledger and is currently dealing with problems in his marriage.

‘Christian was stressed, but he didn’t lay a finger on anyone. Instead, he flew off the handle and cussed his mother. He just got very loud because his mother was saying some very outrageous things about him, and his wife.’

‘Christian’s attitude is that this was his mother’s fault because she became very provocative in an argument they were having,’ the source said, adding: ‘Things got out of control and he now says he wishes he just left the room.

‘Normally Christian would just call a friend and go out to a pub to cool off. But he was literally trapped into this confrontation with his mother and sister because there was an army of fans and paparazzi outside.’

Who hasn’t gotten into a heated argument with their mother and exchanged verbal jabs? I do it all the time. Behind her back. When she’s not paying attention. And it’s not so much shouting as it is silently mouthing the words. So, yea. I know the situation exactly.

A commenter by the name of “Edna” — if that’s her real name — posted on Just Jared via ONTD a “first hand” account on what really went down between Christian Bale and his mother and sister at London’s Dorchester hotel on Sunday. She proclaims:

My father works security at the hotel, and he said it was a mess. His mom and sister wanted the front desk worker to let them into his room to wait for him. When they were told no they started cussing and yelling. They sat in front of his door for an hour until he finally arrived.

His mom and sister are alcoholics and drug addicts, they showed up at his hotel uninvited and highly intoxicated. They were calling him big shot and that he needs to take care of his own. His mom was yelling that he would be nothing without her and he owed her. His sister was begging for money and when he was pushing her toward the door his mother came from behind and started hitting him on his head and kicking him. He managed to push them both out the door and his mom fell, they called the police and wanted him arrested. I believe that Chirstian [sic] is the victim here not his mom or sister.

Sure, blame the alcoholics. Listen, they’re tired of being the scapegoats for you sober people. Plainly, Bale’s mom was simply giving her son a friendly reminder that she carried him in her uterus for 9 months and technically, he would be nothing without her. A simple biology lesson from a caring mother. His sister was there for support and was only asking for money because her feet were too sore to walk back home. I’m not sure about the beating and kicking. The most logical explanation is that there was a really big bug on him. Like, HUGE.

Christian Bale surrendered himself to London police today to undergo questioning for an alleged assault allegation made by his mother and sister. He has already left the station without being charged. His rep released this statement:

“Christian Bale attended a London police station today, on a voluntary basis, in order to assist with an allegation that had been made against him to the police by his mother and sister,” the star’s lawyers said in the statement. “Mr. Bale who denies the allegation, co-operated throughout, gave his account in full of the events in question, and has left the station without any charge being made against him by the police. At this time, there will be no further comment by Mr. Bale.”

TMZ speculates Bale may have been arrested for verbal assault which is a crime in England.

Class 4 and Class 5. Class 4 is more aggravated than 5, with “an intent to cause alarm.”

Here in America there’s no such thing as verbal assault. So not only can you shout at your one night stand to “hurry up and get the hell out” you can lace it with obscenities and you won’t even get in trouble. Unless you accidentally mention the roofies, then there might be a problem.

[Image via Splash News]

Detectives have arrested Christian Bale, 34, today over alleged claims that he assaulted both his mother and his sister. Out of courtesy, police took him into custody for questioning only after the Dark Knight premiere.

He is alleged to have lashed out on Sunday night at Park Lane’s Dorchester Hotel — where he has a suite.

Mum Jenny, 61, and sister Sharon, 40, who lives in Dorset, went to a police station in Hampshire yesterday to lodge the allegation. The matter was referred to the Met Police.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: “A 34-year-old man attended a central London police station this morning by appointment.

“He was arrested in connection with an allegation of assault. He currently remains in custody.”

Little is known about Christian Bale’s character because he makes every attempt to stay out of the spotlight. So, there’s no way to even begin to judge the veracity of this claim. Although, one can assume that he didn’t have to tell them twice. Amiright? Guys? Hellooo?

[Image via Splash News]