A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

"Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007" (2012 release; 98 min.) is a documentary about the James Bond movie franchise (which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012). After a 'classic' Bond opening, we quickly delve into Ian Fleming's background, and in particular how deeply affected he was by WWII (in which he served) and later the Cold War. It eventually leads him to create the James Bond character, and the first Bond novel "Casino Royal", which some refers to as Fleming's "autobiography of a dream", ha! After this promising start to the documentary, we quickly evolve into the complicated relationship between Albert "Cubby" Broccoli and Harry Saltzman.Couple of comments: this documentary is directed by British film maker Steven Riley. Riley tries to walk a fine line between on the one hand all of the legal issues that have confronted the James Bond franchise over the years (and believe me, there are PLENTY), and giving an overview of how the Bond movies have evolved over the years. There are some tidbits here and there that I found interesting (such as: the budget for the first Bond Movie "Mr. NO" being $1 million--or about $8 million in today's dollars, can you imagine making a Bond movie for just $8 million?; and the interview with one-time Bond actor George Lazenby, on how he talked Broccoli and Saltzman into becoming the new Bond, only then to be kicked out of the Bond franchise after just one movie).I recently stumbled on this while browsing the EPIX on Demand documentary section. When a 50th anniversary celebration movie like this one is put together, you can be assured that it stays on the lighter side when all is said and done, and that's fine. I'm sure one day someone (independent from the Bond film makers) will produce the definitive James Bond documentary.

Over the years, there has been so much media (in all formats) given to the James Bond saga that one would think it would be difficult to approach the matter from a new, fresh perspective. However, that is EXACTLY what "Everything or Nothing" manages to do by focusing on the creative talent behind the creation of Bond.Basically, this documentary tells the "Bond story" from the perspective of those who created the books and films:-It begins with much exposition on Ian Fleming, the book author, and what inspired him to create such an iconic character.-Then, it focuses on the beginning of the films and how the Broccoli/Saltzman relationship became such a dynamite pairing that rocketed the franchise to stardom.-The rest of the show explains how the Bond movies changed over the years due to the ever- changing relationships of the power players behind the scenes.As a huge Bond fan, I very much enjoyed this documentary for its ability to pull back the curtain on the creative side of Bond, exposing some stories I had not heard before and some casting/creative decisions about the franchise that now make a bit more sense once the "backstage" stuff is known.If you are just looking for a "Bond highlight reel", you might be disappointed here. But, if you want some great interviews and all the "dirt" on the creators, this will completely suck you in!

This is a interesting Documentary that delves into Ian Fleming and how the creation of James Bond came into being. While also showing the struggles and stardom of the actors that played Bond. Which also includes the producers and the legal battle when it came to who owns the rights to "007". I think just about everyone can at least empathize with Ian Fleming who was known to have a charming and alarming characteristics. Like how it is mentioned in the documentary, Bond is basically the alter ego of Ian Fleming. How women and fancy drinks wasn't enough, how he disliked his job and wanted more out of life. So in another words Bond is someone he wanted to be but couldn't because of his circumstances. A character that is able to win over just about any women, stand tall and overcome just about any obstacles not matter how much the odds are against him. It's a fantasy that just about every men dream about. Sometimes movies can be a coping mechanism for dark times in peoples life. For Ian Fleming it was his passion for writing stories about his fantasies. It was interesting to to know more about the inner turmoil within the company and legal issues when it came to the rights of the "007" franchise. Especially about each star that played Bonds story and how it all came to be. Overall this is a documentary that all Bond just might enjoy and could lead to more appreciation of the "007" films.8.4/10

As a documentary, EVERYTHING OR NOTHING: THE UNTOLD STORY OF 007 attempts to shed new light on the much-loved film and book franchise as well as being a celebration of the topic. It succeeds in the latter part but is noticeably light in offering up anything new in way of material; Bond fans will find this all very familiar stuff indeed.Still, I enjoyed this as a straightforward retrospective, exploring Ian Fleming's life and his original stories before working its way chronologically through the Bond films and their actors. This was made to tie in with SKYFALL and the 50th anniversary of Bond, so it's pretty comprehensive, with lots of clips and interesting reveals about the behind-the-scenes production wrangling with rights issues and the like.The most fun part of all this is the talking head footage of pretty much every important Bond participant, including Barbara Broccoli. The only one missing is the ever-grumpy Sean Connery, but he isn't missed too much. Roger Moore is a delight as ever, and it's nice to see Christopher Lee in what would be one of his last screen appearances. I'm not sure what Bill Clinton is doing here, but he's here nonetheless. EVERYTHING OR NOTHING will do nothing to change your opinion or outlook about the Bond franchise but it whiles away the time readily enough and certainly puts you in the mood for a Bond film or two.