Christian Bale sounds off on movies, meltdowns and more

Christian Bale in "Terminator Salvation"

Christian Bale is one of those actors who’s well-known for thoroughly researching his roles, but don’t ask him to give you an in-depth psychological analysis of the John Connor character he plays in a sci-fi action flick like "Terminator Salvation," the fourth installment in the "Terminator" movie series. When Bale did a roundtable interview at the Los Angeles press junket for "Terminator Salvation," unfortunately, a few of the journalists at the roundtable seemed fixated on grilling Bale as if "Termination Salvation" could be a study in complex characters. People: It’s a "Terminator" movie. It’s not going to get any Oscar nominations for acting. Bale must’ve been thinking the same thing, as he was practically gritting his teeth while answering the repetitive questions from people expecting him to give deep answers about his John Connor character in the movie. He was also probably wondering if this was a press junket interview or if he had accidentally wandered into a Method acting class, with him appointed the unwitting instructor.

Fortunately, some better questions were asked during the roundtable interview, and Bale also talked about why he decided to do "Terminator Salvation" against other people’s advice and what he thought of previous "Terminator" movies. If you’re not sure what "Terminator Salvation" is about, here it is in a nutshell: John Connor is on a mission to try to save Kyle Reese (played by Anton Yelchin), the man who will become Connor's father. Explosions. There’s a new character named Marcus Wright (played by Sam Worthington) who may or may not be one of the good guys. More explosions. There’s fighting with killer machines and robots that want to take over the world. Even more explosions. Get it? Got it? Good. Here’s what Bale had to say in the interview.

What was your biggest challenge in doing "Terminator Salvation"?

I can’t think of one. The fighting scenes were — compared to other things I’ve done —much easier. There’s not much a human being can do, getting into a fist fight with a Terminator. It wasn’t nearly as rigorous as I expected it to be. It was mostly just weapons. Other than that, I didn’t find a lot of challenge there.

How did you feel about play a character that was already in previously films with other actors?

I like especially "T2 [Terminator 2: Judgment Day]," but I felt no need to study that performance of John Connor. He’s a whole different person. It’s years later and he’s gone through Judgment Day. I think that would change anybody, so I felt happy creating whatever character I wanted.

Christian Bale in "Terminator Salvation"

What did you find most compelling about John Connor?

It’s interesting to play somebody who has this burden of leadership and knowledge of the future and the weight that that carries with it — this feeling of being the prophesized future leader. And I’m sure anyone like that has a great deal of issues. But then beyond that, we’re making a movie about these murderous robots in the future of sci-fi. We skim the surface of the character issues. Let’s not pretend that’s what everyone’s going to the movie to see.

What was it like working with green screen and all those special effects?

We didn’t do that much green screen. I’d done a little bit on some of the Batman movies. With this ["Terminator Salvation"], actually, there was never a moment when I was standing solely in front of a green screen. They had the [robot] models right there to interact with and kick and get thrown by, so most of the time it was practical. What you’ve got to imagine are the vast machines and flying killers. Those you just pretend to look at. The smaller [machines] were there.

Do you plan to do more "Terminator" movies?

I haven’t spoken with anybody about it.

Do you want to do another "Terminator" movie?

If it’s interesting … [My decision will be] based on the script.

Christian Bale in "Terminator Salvation"

The "Terminator" movies have about been machines trying to take over the world. How involved are you in modern technology and gadgets?

I’m not connected to anything. I’m completely oblivious to most of it. I have a cell phone, but grudgingly. McG [the director of "Terminator Salvation," he’s the person to talk to about that, because he’s got every gadget known.

Earlier you said that in-depth character issues are not the main reason why people will see "Terminator Salvation," but you’re known to play complex characters in other movies. Can you talk more about why the action is more important than character in "Terminator Salvation"?

You’d be an idiot not to recognize the bigger picture. The bigger picture is that people want to see great action, great momentum in the movie. They want to see the machines — and of the people end up being interesting and all right, then great, good. But it’s not like we’re making a little character analysis piece that people will sit, when they’re depressed, eating their popcorn and watching at home by themselves. This is a movie made for watching with hundreds of other people.

Christian Bale in "Terminator Salvation"

Did you ask any questions at all about character motivation while doing this film?

You’ve got to ask the questions, of course you do, because every little thing that seems to be incorrect just takes you away from the adrenaline-rush enjoyment later on. You think, "Why would the guy have done that?" You’ve got to have a plan. I’m not saying it’s all thrown out the window. But I would’ve been an idiot if that was the priority going into this movie. We get what we can and make sense of it.

And, of course, I’ve got my own idea of why he’s doing what, and we incorporate that. But I realize that we’re not going to stop for a half and hour and delve into the human soul. We want to see someone kicking the crap out of a machine.

Christian Bale in "Terminator Salvation"

What was your relationship to the "Terminator" movies before you decided to do this one? Were you a fan?

I was a fan … but certainly no fanatic. Please don’t ask me about dates and time traveling and when Judgment Day happened and what machine is what, because you’ll get a blank look from me. I knew it whilst we were filming, but it’s not important information to retain. I had seen the first one, after it came out on video with some friends around my house. I guess I was 14 or something.

And then I saw "T2" when I first came to the States, I think, on opening night. I really remember that. It was the loudest movie experience I’ve ever had. I was excited by that and I enjoyed that greatly.

My initial reaction was that, "It [the ‘Terminator’ series is] is done. It’s had a fork stuck in it." But then I had a creeping realization at how good this [sequel] could be potentially. On top of that, like with many things I choose, I had a number of people telling me it was a bad idea to do it. And naturally, that made me go, "All right, that makes me want to do it more."

Why do you feel the need to go against that advice?

It makes me question why they feel that way. And it makes me want to embark on a challenge to prove them wrong. I don’t know if it’s a little self-destructive, but it’s enjoyable.

Christian Bale in "Public Enemies"

What do you think about Melvin Purvis, your character in "Public Enemies"? And what kind of research did you do for the role?

He was voted as one of the top 10 most popular Americans, along with FDR [Franklin Delano Roosevelt]. It’s all homework that you do, but it doesn’t necessarily end up in the movie anyway. I just found him to be a real fascinating character. I got to know his [Melvin Purvis’] son. I met with many of his friends and learned his back story. You could make a movie just about that man himself. But in this one, it’s got very much to do with his role in the transformation of the Bureau of Investigation into the FBI [and] his role in taking down [John] Dillinger. It’s Dillinger’s movie.

What was it like working with "Public Enemies" director Michael Mann?

Fantastic. Couldn’t be better.

Is he a hands-on director or does he let you do your own thing?

Both. Take it away, do what you want, but the man has an iron trap of a mind … I’ve never come across that level of details and knowledge of the product — and the absolute fascination with the both technical aspect of filmmaking and incredible intuition when it comes to actor.

You’ve worked with a lot of great filmmakers. What do you think they have in common?

What is a good director’s job? It’s to have a point of view, and the better ones seem to have very, very strong point of view. And they’re doing almost always doing everybody’s work for them, so I can go to them with ideas and suggestions about my character, and they’ve amazingly have thought about it just as much as I have. Beyond that, I don’t really sit back and compare them all. It’s a very different experience with each. As long as there is complete dedication to it, then I find a kindred spirit in that and I appreciate that they’re putting in, regardless of whether we get along personally or not. That doesn’t matter a damn to me. I just really respect and appreciate there’s somebody who gives 100 percent at every second.

Christian Bale in "Terminator Salvation"

Now that you’ve done a lot of gun play in movies like "Terminator Salvation" and "3:10 to Yuma," how would you rate your gun skills?

I tend to pick up things pretty quickly and I equally forget things very quickly as well. So I can probably pick it up again if needed. We actually had a very thorough effort to make all of the weapon handling to be very accurate throughout this movie. I always get quite tedious knowing my gun very well. I went to kill houses and things when I was out in New Mexico [filming "Terminator Salvation"]. We had an excellent adviser who was helping me out throughout.

I can always be frustrating to directors, because I look at the weapon and say, "OK, well, there are this many rounds. I’m afraid you can’t have me shooting any more. You have to have me reloading right at this second." To which most of time, they roll their eyes. Then when I see the final movie, they’ve edited it, cut out those reloads and added about a hundred rounds coming from a gun that should only take 16. So I understand. Ultimately, they’re looking to be saying, "You have no control over this, so we’re going to humor you by letting you have your magazine change." But I know that people who know about weapons really appreciate it when you see it done proficiently and properly.

Do you ever want to be a director?

I think I appreciate directors very much, but I think the thing I probably wouldn’t have in common with them is that I don’t want to have to answer to anybody else and I don’t to want have to take care of anybody else. I like being responsible for myself and I don’t want to be responsible for anybody else on the set. If it wasn’t for that flaw in my character, I think I’d say, "Yes, I’d like to be a director." But realistically, I think I just wouldn’t want to do it after a couple of weeks. I think I’d just want to say, "I’ve had enough. All these people are asking me too much. They should just go do it themselves and make up their own minds." I don’t think it would work.