"Batman"star Bale punched, stopped from visiting blind Chinese activist

As Christian Bale approached an impromptu checkpoint leading to this tiny village in estern China, four men blocking the narrow path started marching toward him in menacing unison.

"I am here to see Chen Guangcheng,"the"Dark Knight"actor said and I translated, with correspondent Stan Grant and cameraman Brad Olson next to us.

The man, 40-year-old ChenGuangcheng, has been confined to his home along with his wife, mother and daughter, and watched around the clock by dozens of guards since he was released from prison in September 2010. A local court has sentenced him to more than four years in prison for damaging property adn disrupting traffic in a prtest.