Rambo flexes his muscles once more

The 61-year-old is reprising his role as the Vietnam veteran after 20 years, for the fourth film in the franchise.

The movie, which has been given an 18 certificate, is said to be the goriest yet as Rambo comes to the rescue of some aid workers held by a militia.

At the premiere the star said he had received death threats over the Burmese troubles touched on in the film.

Dangerous place

Stallone said: "Yes, got them all the time, it's a very dangerous part of the world. A lot of people do disappear and you know they didn't want this film to be made.

"The civil wars have been going on for 60 years and no one knows about it because they pay a fortune to keep it quiet."

In the film John Rambo is called back into action to rescue a group of Christian Aid workers held hostage by Burmese militia.

Stallone said: "This is the greatest action film, mainly because it's a real story. As we are speaking people are being destroyed. Hopefully we can bring awareness to this."

The premiere, which took place at the Vue cinema in Leicester Square, was attended by celebrities including Chelsea captain John Terry, actress and model Gemma Atkinson and former Big Brother contestant Danielle Lloyd.

'Best movie'

Stallone has joked: "I feel like 20 again - but with arthritis!" about returning to the high-octane role.

"I try to ignore the scepticism about my age and just get on with making films," said Stallone.

"The stunts in Rambo were pretty hard, but I still did all but one of them by myself."

The first Rambo was released in 1982, with sequels in 1985 and 1988.

Stallone has admitted that the last outing was below the standard of the first two, and said of the latest version: "This is the best movie I have ever done and it meant the most to me by far."