Is Christian Bale the best Batman ever? Better yet, is he too good for Batman? Christian Bale is actually one of the best young actors working today. He is a surprisingly versatile performer, even while retaining his cinematic charm and looking like a millionaire playboy (which he plays quite often). He has been voted by Entertainment Weekly as one of the 8 most powerful cult figures in entertainment, and also one of the most creative people in Hollywood. Premiere magazine named him as one of the hottest leading men under 30--back when he was still under 30. It is after all the year 2006, six years after the fact!

Christian Bale made his professional debut working with a comedic genius in Rowan Atkinson, of Mr. Bean and Black Adder fame on the London West End stage. His first film role came in 1986's Anastasia: The Mystery Of Anna, a TV special. His first big break however came in 1987 in Steven Spielberg's Empire Of The Sun, a film for which he won a special juvenile performance award by The National Board Of Review.

Bale also appeared in the 1993 film Swing Kids and as the voice of Thomas in Disney's Pocahontas. Supporting roles continued with a group of Shakespearean films, Henry V and A Midsummer Night's Dream, and a few historical chick flicks, namely Little Women and The Portrait Of A Lady.

Just as the old millennium was coming to a close, and the world allegedly ending, so was Christian Bale just beginning to grow from boy toy to serious actor. But before a complete transformation could happen a few ham and cheese parts were needed to fill out his resume.

In 1999 he played the son of God in Mary, Mother Of Jesus. Was he a better Jesus than he was a Batman? At least you can't accuse him of scenery chewing; his interpretation of Christ was certainly a conservative one, and did not include any audacious Brando-isms.

Bale's true break through performance came as Patrick Bateman in Mary Harron's American Psycho. This gory satire, a tongue-in-cheek tribute to horror movies and 80's nostalgia, earned Christian Bale a cult following and solid reviews from critics who could see real talent beyond the blood and guts of the corporate world. For a time there was even some facetious Oscar talk building for his new age Psycho performance.

After appearing in a few forgettable films including Shaft and Reign Of Fire, and one low-budget cult favorite El Maquinista, he landed his next big career catapult: playing Batman, the caped crusader, a part made cheesy by Adam West, resurrected by Michael Keaton, and once again made milky by Val Kilmer and George Clooney. How well did Christian Bale do in Batman Begins? The debate is moot--Michael Keaton Citizen Kaned Batman for the new age. His performance can never truly be topped, not even by a more charismatic Christian Bale. However, speaking in terms only of truth and justice, then yes Bale gave a excellent Batman performance (Though I did eventually tire of all his Clint Eastwood-inspired rasping) and an even better portrayal of a conflicted Bruce Wayne.

Nevertheless, only better things followed. After Batman Begins, Bale now finds himself playing all sorts of roles, from John Rolfe in The New World to the dueling magician Alfred Borden in Christopher Nolan's The Prestige. This film, set for release later this month, reunites the cast of Batman Begins--everyone from writer/director Christopher Nolan, to sidekick Michael Caine to Christian Bale himself--back in his full suit of black armor: mystery, charm and danger only without the Bat mask.