LOS ANGELES : The man behind the counter was impeccably polite. Dressed in a suit accessorised with a shiny gold Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons name tag that read “Henry”, he smiled a perfect Los Angeles smile, and affably enquired about my day.

“And what did you think of the Batmobile parked on our driveway?” asked Henry.

Like a scene straight out of a screwball comedy, I let out a high-pitched yelp, executed a clumsy 180-degree spin on my heels, and embarrassingly tripped over the strap of my laptop bag — surprising many a fellow hotel guest at one of the poshest hotels in Beverly Hills.

Running as fast as my little legs could possibly carry me to the revolving doors — of which I had only just emerged from a few seconds ago — I spilled out onto the limousine-lined driveway just in time to see Batman’s ride (also known as The Tumbler) speed away.

‘Click’ went my camera, crystallising forever that once-in-a–lifetime photo of a smoky exhaust pipe, bits of a uniformed doorman’s leg and a cloud of Batmobile dust.

And so began my Batman misadventures in La La Land. Surrounded by the Batsuit and the Joker’s purple ensemble encased in glass display boxes in my hotel, a multitude of The Dark Knight movie posters, and bombarded by superlative-ridden early reviews (Rolling Stone proclaimed “the haunting and visionary Dark Knight soars on the wings of untamed imagination”), it was hard not to get more than a little excited.

Heady with the thrill of being one of the first people in the world to catch the advanced Imax theatre screening of Christopher Nolan’s follow-up to 2005’s Batman Begins — the film absolutely lives up to its hype — I proceeded to spend the entire night researching the perfect Pulitzer prize-winning interview questions while struggling to contain my terrible excitement over meeting the Dark Knight in person. I arose from my slumber the next day to find myself face-down on the keyboard of a blinking laptop with an almost blank word document, save for the words: “Will you marry me, Mr Bale?”

Which brings us to Misadventure No 3. Sitting in the press room as the esteemed cast streamed in and out, barely able to curb myself from jumping into the arms of an intensely handsome Christian Bale, I had decided by the end of the interview that a photo with Bruce Wayne simply had to be mine.

As I trampled unceremoniously over the feet of fellow reporters, and lunged towards the departing body of our superhero with clicking camera in hand, three minders swiftly stepped in front of me, shaking their heads. Curses. Foiled again.

Oh well, there’s always part three.

The anti-hero Christian Bale

Christian Bale is remarkably like his Batman/Bruce Wayne character in almost every sense. He’s ruggedly good-looking, frighteningly intense, and answers questions staring straight into your eyes. He’s also a charmer. “Which is the latest and greatest gadget here?” he asked with a smile, perusing the multitude of tape recorders in front of him.

Not a whiff of that taciturn, overly serious thespian who is rumoured to be difficult with press. How could one not melt when he shared: “You know, my daughter loves Batman. She wants to bring the Joker to her birthday party.

“I just know the unfortunate day will come when she realises that I am not Batman and that I don’t really save people and do these heroic deeds ... It’s a wonderful time right now when she truly believes that I’m Daddy Batman.” The women swooned. The men took notes.

The 34-year-old Welsh actor was in complete control of the room and he shot the breeze with the press, telling us how he’s interested in working on films of every genre except romantic comedies (“I think it’s an oxymoron. I never really found any of them really funny”), and how it was ridiculous that he’s been named as one of the most stylish men in the world by Esquire magazine (“I hate shopping. I wear clothes until they have holes in them”).

As charming as he was, Bale also showed his more serious side when he payed tribute to his late co-star, Heath Ledger. “He did such a fantastic, superb, iconic villain as The Joker,” he said. “I do think (his performance)is going to be remembered for ages and it was a wonderful thing to have the pleasure of working opposite him.”

“We had many great conversations about our children,” Bale said. “He loved his daughter dearly.”

The nice guy Aaron Eckhart

It’s hard to believe Aaron Eckhart when he goes on about how sick to the stomach the audience will be when his good-guy character district attorney Harvey Dent turns into the villainous Two-Face. It’s just that Eckhart has such a pretty face.

Of course, it is clear from his critically acclaimed performances in Thank You for Smoking, In the Company of Men, and as Julia Roberts’ biker boyfriend in Erin Brockovich that he is more than the sum of his all-American good looks.

Even with his chiselled profile, strong square jawline and piercing eyes that bear into you when he’s talking passionately.

“The difference between Batman and Two-Face is how far they are willing to go and how they make their point,” said the 40-year-old actor from California.

“Both he and Batman have such a strong sense of justice. Harvey’s fiancée is killed. He’s horribly injured. But he is still true to himself. He’s not entirely a bad guy.”

It’s a role that’s close to his heart, having dressed up as Batman for Halloween as a boy.

In fact, he’s not closed off to the idea of maybe playing the titular character one day.

“I think Christian (Bale) is good ... but, I don’t want to lie to you, you know? It’s every kid’s dream to play Batman or Superman or Spider-Man, and if somebody drops out of one these films, then let’s talk. The superheroes are going fast!

“Someday, maybe someday, I will have a video game.”

The wise guy Gary Oldman

Gary Oldman is a really good actor. But don’t quote us — quote the guy himself.

“I’ve done more acting this entire weekend than I did in the movie! And I just love it!” he exclaimed in mock exaggeration, big plastic smile plastered on his face, during yet another round of press conferences to promote The Dark Knight.

The man who Aaron Eckhart said was “dangerous and shouldn’t be allowed on set ... because he’s always making everyone laugh” had the entire room of journalists slapping their knees. “What do you want to know?” he whispered cheekily into my tape recorder.

The 50-year-old English actor then proclaimed that The Dark Knight is a shockingly good movie that is far superior to all the other summer movies he’s seen. “And it’s not just because I’m in it,” he quipped.

In the film, he plays the very serious Commissioner James Gordon. In person, he just can’t help himself.

“I think there are two very different stables of actors. There are some who just, along the way, happen to be in movies like this one, and then there are other ones that desperately want to be in movies like this,” he said. “Of course, I am in the first stable.”

Oldman had the room in stitches. I asked him if he would consider doing more comedic roles, given his obvious talent for making people laugh.

“Oh, I’d love to do comedies. People always ask me why I am always drawn to dark characters. There are actors who do comedies and actors who desperately want to be in comedies,” replied.

“Oh wait, I guess I’m in the second category!” - TODAY/sh

The Dark Knight opens July 17.