Rocky wrings out one more round

It's been 16 years since the last Rocky movie and 30 since the first. If you haven't noticed, don't be alarmed. Lord knows, we've been busy. Being born, sleeping, eating, aging and, much like you, anxiously awaiting the triumphant return of the underdog story we never really cared that much about in the first place.

We're not the only ones who've had stuff to do either. Sylvester Stallone has filled the time with a string of movies like Driven, Stop or My Mom Will Shoot and Judge Dredd. Oh, did I write movies -- I'm sorry, I meant the kind of mind-numbing torture that should have been outlawed by the Geneva Conventions.

Defying time and logic, Sly has resurrected Rocky for one last go-'round. He writes, directs and stars in the newest (and, to its credit, the least unnecessary) sequel Rocky Balboa, out December 20. In it, Rocky is a rundown widower who gets one last shot at glory for reasons that, let's be honest, don't really matter. As a sign of Stallone's sincere dedication, or, more likely, our lowered expectations, the movie is far from the complete train wreck it could have been, and when it comes to Stallone movies, that vague "pretty goodness" is worth noting.

Stallone discusses the Italian Stallion and more in a knockdown, drag-out interview with The Muse. Be warned, it gets sweaty.

The Muse: You have not directed for a long time. Why go back?

Sylvester Stallone: I didn't direct the fifth one. I just wanted to end the series on the right note. I think that the only way to expect that is to do it yourself. So if it does stumble, you have no one else to blame.

Muse: What was the reaction from the studio when you said, "Let's do it one more time?"

SS: It was not very receptive. They said, basically, it will never happen…It was turned down for seven years.

Muse: What about the way the fifth one ended made you want to make another one?

SS: It ended with nothing. There was no emotion to it. You learn the hard way that no one wants to see the underbelly of their heroes. They really don't. They don't want to see Elvis suffering or the dark side of Frank Sinatra…the optimism that is associated with Rocky was not there. There was no moral message at the end.

Muse: You're doing another Rambo, right?

SS: I've written it. Now I have to decide -- is it smart to do?

Muse: How do you feel about your characters aging as you, an actor, stay relevant to the younger markets?

SS: You have to address the age. You can't just skip over. It's like what Clint Eastwood did with Unforgiven. You're not what you were. The world has moved passed you…and now you have all this modern technology, but if all that stuff is taken away, all of a sudden, the old-fashioned survival techniques come into play.

Muse: So, this is the end of the series? Do you see yourself doing more writing and directing?

SS: Yeah, exactly. I wanted to end it exactly this way…It was so impossible to get done. And I'm so happy the way I brought Rocky full circle. And at this age, what more can you ask for?