Illuminated (I) (2019) User Reviews

Factual and Informative, but lacks pizzaz

[rannynm · 6/10 · 6 August 2019]

Illuminated: The True Story of the Illuminati is a decent film that I respect and tolerated, but didn't necessarily enjoy. If you are an insane history or freemasonry buff, this may be a film that you enjoy. In that case, I recommend it heavily.

Illuminated: The True Story of the Illuminati is a factual and historical documentary about the origins and history of the Illuminati. The story of the Illuminati has the potential to be engaging and interesting. Unfortunately, I was slightly let down by this film. It isn't poorly made, but at times was very dry and felt as if I was watching one of those uninspiring videos shown in history classes. The narration is dull and uninteresting. I had a hard time paying attention at times, because it is characterless and tiresome at various moments. Among the positive aspects are the reenactments. The film captures the mysterious spirit of the Illuminati as well as the zeitgeist of late eighteenth century Germany. The costumes are on point and the music fits the film well. The actors, although they have no speaking lines, portray their characters in a believable fashion. The production values are pretty high and I was thoroughly impressed with that part. I have no discernable complaints on any of those aspects.

Another part of the film that I appreciate is its ability to capture the irony of Adam Wisehaupt's life. Wisehaupt spent his entire life dedicated to enlightening people and bringing them to their highest place of being. That is the entire point of the Order of the Illuminati. However, Wisehaupt ended up impregnating his late wife's sister, which prompted him to turn to gambling and drinking to drown his sorrows and distract him from the aftermath of the scandal. I find this hilarious, yet sadly ironic. The film highlights this quite well.

I recommend this film for kids ages 9 to 18, because some of the themes are creepy and may intimidate younger children. I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

Reviewed by Ella L., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. For more reviews by youth, go to kidsfirst dot org.

Information not always correct

[andrea-bonomelli · 4/10 · 12 December 2020]

Wrong information and silly mistakes makes this product non to be trusted. Mixing up Greek and Roman gods is not acceptable for a documentary

oh for god sake

[will1291 · 4/10 · 2 October 2020]

Literally a bunch of folks who support the group and are trying to dissuade people. it's pathetic that we support this falsefied account of a terrible group of monsters.

This is what they want you to believe.

[kt5156 · 1/10 · 14 August 2019]

No value in the information they are giving here, this is the narrative and nothing but the narrative. Think for yourselves.

Ignore the paid reviews

[brasco-80783 · 1/10 · 9 August 2019]

Reviews giving this rubbish a 10 are paid reviews. This documentary is a ridiculous one sided view on the illuminati.

I think this flick was produced by the Illuminati

[arnab-18513 · 1/10 · 23 August 2019]

The Illuminati and the Communists surprisingly share the same ideology. So I'll say Illuminati didn't vanish they just changed from one form to the other.

A fake documentary was written and directed by Johnny Royal

[Bernie4444 · 6/10 · 8 December 2023]

Prepare yourself for Gawd offal background piano music (sometimes slow string instruments) by supervisor Harry Maslin. Too bad they could not afford Peter Coyote for their narrator; Johnny Royal had to do the narration himself.

Look like a series of sound bites from various experts (look them up), Josef Wages (Freemason, Illuminati Historian), Reinhard Marker (Illuminati Historian), Adam Kendall Masonic historian), Teresita Arechiga (Deputy Grand Master Women's Grand Lodge of Freemasons California), Dr. Olaf Simons (Illuminati Historian), Brian Butler (Occultist), Clyde Lewis (National Radio Show Host, Ground Zero with Clyde Lewis), Eric Bertolli (Freemason), and Ron Patton (Executive Producer, Ground Zero with Clyde Lewis).

As the Order of the Arrow is imbedded in the Boy Scouts the Illuminati is imbedded in the Freemasons; this covers the bulk of the story.

Did the Illuminati go out with a whimper?

Or are they still lurking somewhere?

Who is that behind you?

It is still fun, and I hope Johnny Royal will take on the Thule Society next.

I nodded off

[VanBooter · 2/10 · 9 January 2020]

Probably one of the worst docu I have ever tried to battle through. It was like watching a really bad panto with a bad script and actors who couldn't act. The only part which was missing was the beginning ...... Are you sitting comfortably then I will begin. Once upon a time in a land far, far away there lived some very bad people called shills.........

Wolf in Sheeps Clothing

[jayssa · 1/10 · 20 November 2020]

This documentary is narrated and informed by members of other secret societies. Would one consider these individuals to be trusted sources, or more akin to recruiters? I do not recommend this documentary to anyone that wants truth, from reputable sources. This is an advertisement for Illuminati. Peaceful, Utopia. Its a wold in sheep's clothing.

Informative and Compelling

[mdwainwrightbozeman · 10/10 · 4 August 2019]

The Illuminati, a recurring theme in contemporary conspiracy literature, has rarely been so well studied and presented as an actual historical phenomenon. "Illuminated" does an excellent job exploring the historical roots and philosophy of the actual Illuminati (a real secret society that existed in the 18th century), using credible historical sources and the best recent scholarship. Far from a dry academic presentation, the film presents this information in a compelling, visually engaging way that tells a fascinating story known to few. Highly recommended.

Poor one sided documentary

[brasco-80783 · 1/10 · 9 August 2019]

Extremely poor documentary. One sided view. Uninformative of topic.

True?

[mariuchka · 3/10 · 22 May 2021]

Beware of the word "true". Truth is very elastic and in the mind of the beholder. Interesting documentary however very very incomplete. More of a biography of Adam Weishaup. The world is filled with secret societies and conspiracies some of them are true and some of them are false have fun trying to figure it out. Personally who cares.

It's the myth of the Illuminati that is fun and the Freemasons which are very alive and well today.

Finally a no BS documentary about the Bavarian Illuminati.

[odarcinema · 10/10 · 4 August 2019]

At first I was skeptical about what this documentary would dive into. Wondering if it was going to follow the long list of YouTube conspiracies. Boy was I wrong.

Every person interviewed in this documentary is well regarded in their circles. Be they masons, historians, scholars.

I am happy I watched and recommend it to anyone interested in this sort of thing.

Insightful and Entertaining

[thesecession · 10/10 · 5 August 2019]

This documentary is a wonderful history lesson on the beginning and end of the Illuminati. It captures a perfect balance of enlightenment, entertainment, and contemplation. Johnny Royal relies on cold hard facts and depths of knowledge to uncover the truth to this story that has been tainted by years of fear mongering and conspiracies. A must watch for anyone looking for the truth about the Illuminati!

Visually beautiful and accurate account of the real Illuminati.

[Mazster · 9/10 · 2 August 2019]

One must appreciate the art and proficiency in this well done documentary on a subject that most people know little about. The "Illuminati" has either been blamed or credited for most "deep" world government conspiracy theories. The film will educate you on the true life and death of the Illuminati. The visuals are so beautiful they may distract you from the dialogue, forcing you to view the film more than once in order to digest all the information.

Amazing!

[aaalchemist · 10/10 · 1 August 2019]

Beautifully filmed and scored. A must see to educate you on the truth of the past and the ripple effect it has left behind and inspired for mans freedom.

Best film about the real Illuminati

[randallthomasmusic-63533 · 10/10 · 31 July 2019]

This film is by far the most well researched and produced piece on this subject thus far. Johnny Royal's vision and style combined with Joseph Wages deep knowledge and research of the subject make for an informative and engaging expose of the often misunderstood Bavarian Illuminati. This film was visually striking and has something to teach everyone from the novice to the expert. Very well done!

Another amazing movie by Johnny Royal

[mreuther-42086 · 10/10 · 5 August 2019]

Another great movie by Johnny Royal, the amount of time and effort put into this movie is amazing. Great job by everyone that contributed to this movie! Definitely worth to watch!

Great Movie!

[soc-r-ref1974 · 10/10 · 4 August 2019]

Johnny Royal is a genius! This is a great movie. The mix of documentary and dramatic injects make this an awesome explanation of the Illuminati.

Johnny Royal delivers again

[jkindoll · 10/10 · 3 August 2019]

Johnny Royal delivers again with this extremely detailed view into the world's most infamous secret society. Beautifully filmed, thoroughly researched, and accompanied by engaging narration, this is not to be missed.

awe inspiring and riviting

[diver0925 · 10/10 · 4 August 2019]

Truly enlightens those who are in the dark. This movie is better than the first. Johnny puts forth the most accurate information and dedication toward his films. It's a must watch movie

Illuminated Brings Light to the Illuminati

[alleathers · 10/10 · 6 August 2019]

If you want to know what the real Illuminati was all about you have to watch this brilliant film from Johnny Royal. From Illuminati history, to locations, to cast, to cinematography, to narration, to production values, this documentary is world class! Illuminati secret signs and degree rituals are beautifully revealed and you may even catch some Masonic and Illuminati symbols dancing into view if you pay attention. Historically accurate and painstakingly researched. A must-see for every Freemason and anyone interested in ancient mystery schools and enlightenment. Fratres bene!!!

Illuminated - The True Story of the Illuminati (it's not what you think!)

[geoffreyschumann · 10/10 · 5 August 2019]

Johnny Royal, once again, brings to the world, in his second documentary, "Illuminated - The True Story of The Illuminati." His first film 33 & Beyond: The Royal Art of Freemasonry (2017) was a rich tell-tale and inside peeked into the world of Freemasonry and the societies contained within. Now with this second documentary, you can expect the same rich world as before, with his unique style of storytelling.

The narration is done in his voice for this documentary. The interviewed people are well-timed throughout the whole production of the literature. The style of Johnny Royal's documentaries is that the visual moments, rituals, etc.... those are done in silence. You'll never hear or see any verbal movement to the persons on the screen. Instead, you have a visual representation of a narrated story. They are beautifully crafted, allowing you to connect the dots in your mind while your ears are guided along the story arch.

If you have listened to any audio drama from the golden age of radio and to the old classic Hollywood blockbusters of the 1940s to the 1950s, you know that the nefarious Illuminati was there. As if, always pulling strings from a distance, controlling everything, everyone, etc. Heck, there's even a card game created by Steve Jackson.

The truth is, the Illuminati might have been a dream for them, within the order at the highest levels; however, it never came to pass. The Illuminati, as a secret society doesn't exist...

Historically this is proven, documented, and the truth is known. This film, if anything, puts the "period punctuation" at the end of the Illuminati conversation.

This is an actual work of art. The music, storytelling, actors, site locations, cinematography, etc... all of it, truly is Johnny Royal's best production so far. Illuminated is gonging to turn a few heads, as it is not going to convince you of a truth, only you can do that, but it presents an exciting story, historically documented, and from the eyes of a Freemason.

You can't get a more accurate view of this. This film is well worthy of your time, and I highly recommend that you check out illuminatedmovie(dot)com where physical media can be purchased. I can't wait for it to be made available for streaming purchase so that I can have it everywhere!

This film warrants you to do the same! Indeed a piece of cinema of the ages well worth owning.

Casting Light on the Worlds Oldest Shadow...

[chaos-32053 · 10/10 · 31 July 2019]

Last night, at the Red Carpet Premier in Hollywood, and several locations across the US, Illuminated was officially given to the world. It is a stunning visual work, born from the efforts of Josef Wages and his compelling book "The Secret School of Wisdom", and documents the true story of the Bavarian Illuminati. Never before has such an authoritative account been presented on the worlds foremost culprit at the center of nearly all conspiracy theories. This work of art is the vision of Johnny Royal, and its rich visual style delivers the true history of this enigmatic Order, while it weaves majesty with intrigue and dispels centuries of perpetuated myth. Illuminated reveals once and for all the accurate account of the history of the Bavarian Illuminati, and in doing so has itself become a fixture of that history, and arguably one of the most important.

Absolutely Fascinating

[ptobin-86926 · 10/10 · 5 August 2019]

I was a big fan of Mr. Royal's first major release, so I was thrilled to hear he had put out this second feature. Well researched, and thoughtfully done, Johnny has outdone himself with this one. The visuals are beautiful, the music flows perfectly and is at times haunting. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to know the real history of the Illuminati and about the ideals on which they founded their now defunct society.