'The Dark Knight Rises' Rated PG-13

In case you hadn't heard, The Dark Knight Rises has been given a PG-13 rating according Warner Bros. Exhibtor website for "intense sequences of violence and action, some sensuality and language.”

This shouldn't shock many as the first two films in the series - Batman Begins and The Dark Knight - were both rated PG-13 as well.

There are a few tidbits to take from this news - as first mentioned by The Hollywood Reporter - that I will review here, starting off with the fact that the film has even been rated in the first place.

Anyone familiar with the MPAA ratings board knows a film can not be rated unless it is finished, which basically means Christopher Nolan has completed his final Batman film with just over three months to go until its release.  Something like this is nearly unheard of as many films - especially summer blockbusters - go down to the wire in post-production, mere days before a film's release date.  This only solidifies the fact that Warner Bros. must be very happy with the film to give Nolan such an early OK to final cut it as well as prove his efficiency as a filmmaker.

Next, with the film finished, expect the marketing campaign to get going as a third trailer should be coming in the next few weeks (likely with The Avengers) as well as TV spots, early screenings for critics, and pretty much everything else that comes along with a huge summer blockbuster (though I doubt many have ever been as big as this).

Finally, the details of the film's rating, specifically "some sensuality."  This pretty much confirms there will be some kind of love story going on between Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) with Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) and/or Miranda Tate (Marion Cotillard).  The real question is: how far has Nolan gone with this?  Sex scene maybe?  Hey common, you saw how far The Dark Knight was pushed in terms of a PG-13 rating, so it would pretty much shock me if Nolan wasn't pushing the envelope again in for both violence and language (of course) as well as, well, sex.

We all shall know in about three months so get ready Batman fans, because The Dark Knight Rises will be here sooner than you think.