Christian Bale Talks 'The Dark Knight,' Heath Ledger

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- "The Dark Knight" looks to be one of this summer's hottest - and darkest - films, according to Batman himself, Christian Bale.

"Chris [Nolan] manages to make a blockbuster-size, entertaining movie," Bale told IGN.com of the returning director, who also joined the actor on franchise relaunch "Batman Begins." "But there's a whole lot of thought behind it as well."

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In a summer of superhero blockbusters that's already seen "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk" become box office hits, Batman stands apart.

"Although he's certainly in the superhero pantheon, [Batman] is the most questionable of superheroes as he doesn't have special powers whatsoever," Bale said in a separate interview with Parade. "I think the others may well question his legitimacy to be a member of the club."

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With a "Justice League" movie long rumored, it's a club that Bale may soon be joining on screen.

"Well, it's like I say to Chris, 'I'll probably be doing this in dinner theatre somewhere in my 50s,'" he joked to IGN. "I won't knock it because who knows where I'll end up."

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On the late Heath Ledger's co-starring performance as the Joker, Bale was all praise.

"It was fantastic really, this kind of anarchic, sort of punk-rock, druggy take on the Joker, which I think is definitely the best one I've ever seen," he told IGN. "We're both actors who are completely happy within adlibbing I think those moments are usually the best in movies, when accidents happen."

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And when it came to Heath the man, his feelings were no different.

"He was a unique character, a very infectious character. He was a good man, and I was glad to have spent time with him. He was somebody who I'd been seeing on a daily basis for months," Bale told Parade. "It takes a long time to accept that someone's gone, when all body and mind are telling you that this is somebody you will know for a great deal of time. He was something of a kindred spirit to myself."

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