I'll tell you why so serious

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

....but it gets better as it goes along, IF you're patient enough. The biggest disappointment here (already hinted at by the DVD cover) is that the star of the previous ITLOD films, Cynthia Khan, has been demoted to an essentially supporting role; the leads this time are Simon Yam and Gary Chow. The film is also excessively cruel, and the fight scenes in the first half are unmemorable. But they get better - as does the film - in the second half, when Cynthia gets more involved with them, and the final set-piece - a 10-minute fight, set aboard a ship, featuring Simon, Gary and Cynthia VS. the villains who are modern-day pirates - almost redeems the entire film. The ship setting is well-used in the fighting, and Cynthia finally lets loose (her best moment: taking on a much bigger Asian guy). In conclusion, "ITLOD 7" does not even come close to the quality of parts 3 and 4, but patient HK action fans will get some minor rewards. (**1/2)