Christian Bale Dodges Assault Questions in Japan

Christian Bale managed to dodge questions about his recent assault arrest while in Tokyo for the Japanese premiere of The Dark Knight Monday.

The actor, 34, was was booked by police in London last week, following reports that his mother and sister had accused him of assault.

But he made virtually no comment on his personal problems.

"It's a private matter," he told a crowded news conference. Last week, in Spain, Bale brushed off reporters with a similar comment.

Christian, who plays Batman in the record-breaking film, has said through his lawyers that the assault allegations are false.

But despite Bale's personal problems, The Dark Knight -- which stars a host famous faces, including, Michael Caine; the late Heath Ledger; Aaron Eckhart; Gary Oldman; and Maggie Gyllenhaal -- has managed to cross the $300m in just 10 days in the US and is expected to do well in Europe and Asia.

Bale and his co-stars were at no loss for words over the performance of Ledger, who stole the show with his eccentric and highly charged portrayal of the Joker.

"You could see how much glee and pleasure he got out of playing this character," Bale said of Ledger, who died in January of an accidental drugs overdose.

"The Joker claims the only things you can believe in are chaos and disorder," Bale said. "There is some truth to that."