Batman receives European premiere

Katie Holmes arrived on the red carpet without Tom Cruise

Hollywood stars Christian Bale and Katie Holmes have attended the European premiere of Batman Begins at the Odeon Leicester Square in London's West End.

Bale, who plays the lead role in the Batman prequel, was accompanied by his wife - but Holmes' boyfriend Tom Cruise did not make an appearance.

Holmes did tell reporters about their relationship, saying: "We are both just loving being in love."

The film, which is the fifth Batman movie, opens in the UK on 16 June.

Cruise, 42, stole the limelight at last week's US premiere when he posed for pictures on the red carpet with Holmes.

The crowd also caught a glimpse of the four-wheeled star of the film

On Sunday, Holmes, 26, said: "Being in love with Tom is so exhilarating. He's amazing and I love him very, very much.

"We are so happy and being with him is wonderful."

The former Dawson's Creek star spent an hour signing autographs. "Its so lovely that so many people are here tonight," she said.

Bale and Holmes were joined at Sunday's European premiere by co-stars Sir Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman.

One of the gleaming black Batmobiles featured in the film also put in an appearance in Leicester Square.

I've never been a fan of Batman and I wasn't really a fan of the other movies Christian Bale

Bale, 31, follows in the footsteps of Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer and George Clooney to play the lead role of Batman.

"I've never been a fan of Batman and I wasn't really a fan of the other movies," Bale said.

"But this film takes the story back to its origins. It's darker and more sinister than anything that has gone before and it's very impressive."

Violent

Caine plays his loyal butler Alfred, while Holmes takes on the role of district attorney Rachel Dawes.

The brooding and violent prequel to the four previous Batman films from Burton and Joel Schumacher is based on a story by David S Goyer.

Following the murder of his parents, heir Bruce Wayne uses his inheritance to travel the world to destroy evil and restore justice.

Back home in Gotham City, he establishes his crime-fighting alter-ego to fight evil characters like The Scarecrow and the immortal R'as Al Ghul.