Christian Bale has been called one of the greatest actors of our time. The Welsh-born English actor is extremely versatile. He can switch from one accent to another without missing a beat-- in fact, he'll often do interviews in the accent of his character so as not to confuse fans. Bale is also renowned for his dramatic physical transformations-shedding and gaining weight at a seemingly unhealthy pace. The actor has recently taken on some big budget starring roles such as Batman, but you can also catch him on Direct TV channels specializing in independent and art house films. Bale has an incredible cult following, especially visible on the Internet.

Empire of the Sun: Based on a novel of the same name, this movie tells the story of a young schoolboy, James Graham, whose life is turned upside down with the Japanese invasion of Shanghai in December of 1941. Bale's character is whisked from a life of luxury and thrown into a concentration camp, where he witnesses more than his fair share of horrors. This role propelled Bale into the limelight, making his career. He received so much critical acclaim and attention that he contemplated quitting the business to lead a quieter life. Empire of the Sun has exquisite cinematography and looks excellent in the DVD transfer on any HD TV.

American Psycho: Bale plays the fantastically insouciant Wall Street Broker and Genesis aficionado Patrick Bateman. The stereotypical yuppie participates in nightly rounds of bloodshed, chasing after prostitutes chainsaw in hand as if he were competing for first prize in a bizarre sports competition. Bale did his share of research for the role, reading the novel, working out and tanning to get that athletic Bateman physique. This role solidified Bale's reputation as a talented actor while further strengthening his cult status.

Batman: Bale's turn as Batman in both movies-Batman Begins and The Dark Knight-garnered him acclamation from critics who lauded the actor's twofold portrayal of the Wayne/Batman character. Bale's Batman is a darker, more savage character. It could be argued that his version of Batman is the best of them all. Bale certainly lends the Batman more depth and realism than his predecessors have done.

The Machinist: Bale lost 60 pounds for this role, subsisting on apples and coffee alone for an extended period. Additionally, he went nights without sleep in order to mentally anticipate his character Trevor Reznik, an insomniac tormented by a mysterious co-worker who no one else seems to see. The movie follows Reznik as he attempts to investigate the strange plot that seems to have boiled up around him; in so doing, he is caught up in a nightmarish web of illusion and lies.

Equilibrium: This sci-fi action thriller takes place in a futuristic dystopian world where all emotion-books, art, movies, and music--are forbidden. Feeling is a crime punishable by death. Bale plays a high-ranking government cleric who kills those who resist the rules. Upon missing his dose of Prozium, a mind-altering drug that suppresses emotion, Preston turns against his own kind. This film has a huge cult following and is famous for its gun kata action shots, best viewed in high definition.