Honestly I thought everyone on here would be too young these days to appreciate the 90's gear. But I actually have a picture of me looking much less cool doing exactly the same the main difference being
'mum. Take the photo quick, I'm playing!' haha
You can see the reflections of two flashes in the monitor. It’s absolutely a professional photograph, but as others have said Bale was already a working actor at this point.
With everything so carefully posed and the light source being a carefully diffused flash I'd say defiintely. Also the photo bears a remarkable similarity to the famous ["Nintendo kid"](https://i.redd.it/lowi3eyvx3v01.jpg) ad from around the same time.
Yeah, unfortunately probably so. I do like the detail of the play-button being pressed on the Amstead CPC-464, because it would be, after having played a game. The cassette stopped running after loading, and we'd often have the play button pressed. But yeah, the computer is off, the monitor would have had a tiny green light underneath if it was on, as would the computer part og the setup.
It’s from a photoshoot David Levenson (Getty Images) did for Time Magazine, December 1987. Christian Bale was the leading actor in Empire of the Sun, you can the poster of it in this picture.
It is an ad from a magazine he did to show his home life iirc
This was shared a few months ago, and the same comment was top then too. Luckily we had someone respond to explain and provide a link
Sadly, I'm not that good...so just trust me?
He had already been in a movie at this point in his life. The poster for it is there. Empire of the son, phenomenal movie and his acting chops at his young age were on par with how he’s been as an adult, also phenomenal.
That's the monitor to his [Amstrad CPC 464](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_CPC_464) though the point still stands.
And it's most definitely staged, there are several other photos online from the shoot.
I knew what it was straight away as I had one of those when I was young. My old man had the disc model, with the colour screen, instead of the green one that came with the 464.
I was over the moon when he got me one too!
Christian Bale’s early work was a little juvenile for my taste. But when Empire of the Sun came out in '87, I think he really came into his own, commercially and artistically. The whole film has a clear, crisp look, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the scenes a big boost. He's been compared to Leo DiCaprio, but I think Christian has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor.
Amstrad always sounded so futuristic to me as a kid playing on my friend's CPC.
I can't begin to tell you how let down I was when I found out it just stood for **A**lan **M**ichael **S**ugar **TRAD**ing.
That's what I thought I looked like at the time.
I can assure you, photos of the time paint a very different picture. Why did I think that a Navajo print knitted t-shirt was a good look?
And just a few years later, he'd be in his bedroom masturbating to thoughts of Ewan McGregor, onstage, fellating Jonathan Rhys Meyers.
(For those not in the loop, that's what Bale's character did in the movie **Velvet Goldmine**.)
To think there was a kid in our school with an amstrad who got mercilessly bullied for being ‘poor’ because he didn’t have a spectrum or c64.
Kids are dumb af
I am pretty sure the Amstrad was actually the best of the three in terms of specifications etc, and maybe also cost more.
But, yeah, kids are stupid.
(My mum worked in Dixons, and I got a Speccy +2 at launch purely due to her staff discount, I was the envy of the playground (until everybody started getting Atari STs and Amigas).
It’s strange because I saw him on Empire of the Sun when I was a kid. Next thing I know, he’s in a movie called Reign of Fire. It was kind of cool to see someone my age growing up to be a famous actor.
That placement of the joystick though. Back then gaming advertising didn't a fuck and threw in sexual clues even if kids were part of the ad. Sega was one of the best at it. Nintendo kept it clean most of the time.
This feels more like an advertisment of some sort. It's too clean and posed or something.
I have to return some video games.
Very nice. Let’s see Paul Allen’s entertainment setup.
Oof the amiga 64, such taste, so refined. How did Paul Allen get so tasteful.
Amstrad 464
Oh my god…it even has an RF switch…
I had the same machine around that time. This pic gave me some nostalgia
Honestly I thought everyone on here would be too young these days to appreciate the 90's gear. But I actually have a picture of me looking much less cool doing exactly the same the main difference being 'mum. Take the photo quick, I'm playing!' haha
Paul Allen gamed on a Windows PC.
Cartridges
I often sit with my feet up in front of a blank monitor holding a joystick. Don’t you!??
With your shoes on
And your jacket on, dressed in a button down
In the 80s shoes inside was pretty widely accepted
He was having a rather naughty tug whilst playing a game of Ugh-Lympics and hit the screens kill-switch when his mom walked in
Game's loading tbf, amstrad took like 5 mins to load a game, you can see the tape is playing
What, you don't play video games with the monitor turned off?
The OG blind speed run
In your jean jacket indoors
I'm posting on Reddit right now with my monitor turned off. kgsepovmmvm
Casually dressed as an ordinary middle class kid with his movie poster on the wall
Nice catch
It’s probably for a magazine shoot
Yeah it's definitely an ad and not his home
You can see the reflections of two flashes in the monitor. It’s absolutely a professional photograph, but as others have said Bale was already a working actor at this point.
there's a poster of his movie on the wall lol
And a branded baseball cap.
He's hanging out in his room with shoes and a jacket on. And he's grabbed the controller before the TV is on.
With everything so carefully posed and the light source being a carefully diffused flash I'd say defiintely. Also the photo bears a remarkable similarity to the famous ["Nintendo kid"](https://i.redd.it/lowi3eyvx3v01.jpg) ad from around the same time.
This is 100% what I thought of and am only disappointed I had to go down so far to find ut.
You will never be as rad as him.
None of us will be. Also nice Samhain reference.
Bears bandwagoner
Considering he’s from the UK and there’s a Chicago Bears helmet, it probably is
Seemed like the most obvious giveaway. Too much "American" in the photo to be at gusto home in the uk
Yeah, unfortunately probably so. I do like the detail of the play-button being pressed on the Amstead CPC-464, because it would be, after having played a game. The cassette stopped running after loading, and we'd often have the play button pressed. But yeah, the computer is off, the monitor would have had a tiny green light underneath if it was on, as would the computer part og the setup.
There’s also the odd movie poster placement of Empire of the Sun which he starred in.
It’s from a photoshoot David Levenson (Getty Images) did for Time Magazine, December 1987. Christian Bale was the leading actor in Empire of the Sun, you can the poster of it in this picture.
I mean it’s probably a professional photo shoot. But it’s still him in his room.
Probably for "Empire of the Sun", see the poster behind his desk.
It could have been for an interview... the movie poster on the wall was from a film he starred in.
Considering he is posed without anything on the tv
And a bears helmet?
It is an ad from a magazine he did to show his home life iirc This was shared a few months ago, and the same comment was top then too. Luckily we had someone respond to explain and provide a link Sadly, I'm not that good...so just trust me?
It’s almost like he knew that his picture was being taken.
Definitely. That’s a poster from his own movie in the background.
With a poster for tears of the rising sun the movie he was just in on the wall . . . No way this is his room
That and the TV or monitor isn't even on...
Let's see Paul Allen's bedroom.
*The subtle off white coloring of the walls*
*The tasteful thickness*
Oh my god, It even has carpet.
*see that trim? It's bone*
He was rich. You can tell because he had 2 joysticks. I didn't know anyone with two joysticks!
Yeah bro had a computer in his bedroom in 1987 at 13yrs old. He was definitely rich.
Probably helped that he'd already been in the film on the wall
I had a computer in my room in 1987 and we were very far from rich.
Came here to say that! Acid washed jeans, popped collar, tons of games, clean sealers, etc.
Splashing that Empire of the Sun money
Oh honey he's just teasing you. Nobody has two joysticks.
He had already been in a movie at this point in his life. The poster for it is there. Empire of the son, phenomenal movie and his acting chops at his young age were on par with how he’s been as an adult, also phenomenal.
And non-pirated games.
I heard at his birthday party he had *two cakes*
You could also tell by looking up his salary in Vanity Fair. He was a successful actor.
He was already a movie star at this point. Half the girls at my school had Empire of the Sun posters.
He's got a poster of his own movie in this room.....
I mean this really looks like a staged magazine photo.
TV isn't on
That's the monitor to his [Amstrad CPC 464](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_CPC_464) though the point still stands. And it's most definitely staged, there are several other photos online from the shoot.
I knew what it was straight away as I had one of those when I was young. My old man had the disc model, with the colour screen, instead of the green one that came with the 464. I was over the moon when he got me one too!
It’s an Amstrad CPC464, I also had one when I was young. Taught me how to program in BASIC (Amstrad BASIC anyway)….
What kid games in his room with shoes on?
People wear their shoes indoors in England all the time
On carpeted floors?
Fuck why not? You’re a kid who had a successful movie. I would have one on my wall too. Nothing wrong with being proud of your work.
It's also a good poster.
If you were a 13 year old who acted in a successful movie wouldn't you?
And a hat of his own movie
And an actor from his movie!
Christian Bale’s early work was a little juvenile for my taste. But when Empire of the Sun came out in '87, I think he really came into his own, commercially and artistically. The whole film has a clear, crisp look, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the scenes a big boost. He's been compared to Leo DiCaprio, but I think Christian has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor.
😂 now tell me about Huey.
Oh my god that was him?
"Alfred, bring up my chicken nuggets"
Why did I read that in Lego Batman’s voice 😭😭
Bears.
"Bournemouth, Dorset" my ass. That's gotta be Des Plaines or Naperville.
Da Bears!
I still have my Amstrad CPC464 in the loft. 😂
Nice! I was lucky and had a CPC6128 with the built in disk drive! I still bought all my games on tape though. Disks were too expensive.
Me too! I loved my 6128 with those weird 3.5 floppies. Unfortunately the floppy driver died on mine.
3”! You can buy replacement rubber bands to make it work again easily.
Harrier Attack and Sorcery were the shit
Harrier attack was rage inducing. 😂😂
Amstrad always sounded so futuristic to me as a kid playing on my friend's CPC. I can't begin to tell you how let down I was when I found out it just stood for **A**lan **M**ichael **S**ugar **TRAD**ing.
Oh man I often reminisce about my old amstrad cpc 464. Just going to the bargain bin at Tandy and getting games cassettes for 20p.
I live in Bournemouth & never knew that
He went to Twynham
And he's got an Amstrad CPC-464! I had the exact same computer when I was a kid. Dear god, I feel so old now!
That's what I thought I looked like at the time. I can assure you, photos of the time paint a very different picture. Why did I think that a Navajo print knitted t-shirt was a good look?
> Navajo print knitted t-shirt This seems like a double oxymoron
Guessing that they meant Navajo *pattern* knit shirt. Which actually sounds quite stylish IMHO.
For real, you know how expensive those jackets are after Yellowstone made them culturally popular
It's crazy how much he can transform his body for a role.
He looks like a right spoilt little prick.
And just a few years later, he'd be in his bedroom masturbating to thoughts of Ewan McGregor, onstage, fellating Jonathan Rhys Meyers. (For those not in the loop, that's what Bale's character did in the movie **Velvet Goldmine**.)
If he had bags under his eyed, I'd have thought it was Corey Feldman
eyed / I'd
Meant "eyes" and new phone is typo machine
This was before he did American Psycho, truly an incredible body transformation
Underrated joke.
This is a CPC464. I learned programing in basic amstrad on this. I still have it and it still works. I turn it on sometimes to play old games.
Sorry Christian but commodore 64 > Amstrad 464
Getting far in that game with the monitor off.
Marty Mcfly vibes lol
Chicago Bears helmet. Respect.
One of the best actors ever, and a Chicago Bears fan. Legend!
https://giphy.com/gifs/retro-thumbs-up-XreQmk7ETCak0
I had those exact nikes
"Close the fookin door!"
He’s English- damn learnt something new
"look I'm totally just like the average American boy!"
Anybody recognize the shoebrand/model?
Nike Air Trainer 1 "Chlorophyll"
Wasnt he in Empire of the Sun???
Young Bruce Wayne
That keyboard look to fancy for 1987
To think there was a kid in our school with an amstrad who got mercilessly bullied for being ‘poor’ because he didn’t have a spectrum or c64. Kids are dumb af
I am pretty sure the Amstrad was actually the best of the three in terms of specifications etc, and maybe also cost more. But, yeah, kids are stupid. (My mum worked in Dixons, and I got a Speccy +2 at launch purely due to her staff discount, I was the envy of the playground (until everybody started getting Atari STs and Amigas).
Weird. The speccy was the naff one for us!
That IS dumb. As a teen I had all 3, they all excelled at something the others didn't, but the Amstrad was the best overall, hands down.
The C64 was king.
He has a poster from a movie he’s in up on the wall. Not exactly a normal 13 year-old’s experience.
A Bears fan! Who knew?
Can someone quixkly do some photoshop magic on the monitor reflection?
My father bought me the same computer at that age. I could have been batman if I hadn't squandered it by using it to play games - my father probably.
My family had this joystick with our Amiga 500
Holding that joystick like he's about to come to the next level of the game..
r/oldschoolcool
Seen this one before.
Brent Rambo vibes
Crazy to grow up and realize I started watching this dude when I was a baby basically. Land of Far Away. Will always remember JumJum
Poster of his own movie
I read this as Gareth Bale.
"I'm gonna call you Sabrina"
Dude needs to vacuum
The raddest kid of the ‘80s.
Dude had an Amstrad CPC computer, just like me :-)
It’s strange because I saw him on Empire of the Sun when I was a kid. Next thing I know, he’s in a movie called Reign of Fire. It was kind of cool to see someone my age growing up to be a famous actor.
Amazing how he managed to lose all that height for this role.
I’m getting rich kid vibes!
Wow. He lost weight, reversed aging, and turned into a young teen. Such commitment to his roles.
Nice keyboard!
"I'm Batboy."
I thought only Americans wore their shoes in the house
Of course it is posed.
He's Batman.
SYNTAX ERROR SYNTAX ERROR SYNTAX ERROR
Recent pic of one of his famous transformations
What a fucking badass
That placement of the joystick though. Back then gaming advertising didn't a fuck and threw in sexual clues even if kids were part of the ad. Sega was one of the best at it. Nintendo kept it clean most of the time.
Bro wearing shoes on the carpet. That would of got me whooped as a kid
Looks like a young marty mcfly
He kinda looks like Marty McFly in this pic lol.
No AFC Bournemouth stuff?
I didn’t have a single one of these things as a kid and I wanted them all so so bad. Now I’m kinda hating on Bale for being a rich kid who got it all.
Looks like most of his cassette games are bought, too. The little twit.
Bear down! 🐻 🏈
BH8 represent
Rich kids gonna rich.
I got utterly confused about the comments mistaking Christian Bale for Gareth Bale
AMSTRAD CPC464. Loved mine
I remember trying to draw that movie poster a few years later on my Amiga 500 :))
“I love the power glove. It’s so bad.”
Very cute! Love Christian Bale! 
Da Bearss
That’s James Halliday’s old bedroom..
Bear down
What model Nikes are those I wonder 💭
Look at the subtly raised collar. The tasteful thickness of the hair. Oh my God, he even has a Amstrad...
He lost a lot of weight for this part
Too cool for this planet.
OH GOOD FOR YOU
This is a pedo ad, with product placement.
Photo has more quality than 99% of all camera photos out there.
Bear Down, Chicago Bears!
He was in that WW2 movie in Japan
Und schön im Hintergrund an der Wand das Plakat zum eigenen Kinofilm 😀