Probably no ostensibly civic-minded group has aroused more suspicion and even outright anger and hatred than the Freemasons, and while this 3 part documentary (spread over 2 discs) is a little light on the "revelations," it's fundamentally a slick and entertaining overview of Masonic history which doesn't shy away from the spookier aspects of elderly men dressing up and pretending to kill each other in playful "initiations."

The three episodes are entitled Legends, Leaders and Conspiracy, although, in typical Discovery style, information is frequently repeated in slightly different contexts. The whole documentary has a solid visual flair, with nice animations, source photos and unusually intelligent talking-head commentary by both Masons and those who, shall we say, don't like them much.

The actual secrets revealed are few and far between (pictures of secret handshakes, the password of the third degree, etc.), but the history of the order is covered in extremely well-handled detail, making up for the lack of salacious content that is hinted at in the title and teases.

With interest in the order growing with the imminent release of Dan Brown's next book (which evidently will feature Freemasonry), this is an ideal way to get the basics without donning a white apron and pretending to get killed.

The DVD

Video:
An extremely sharp enhanced 1.78:1 image makes this a lot of fun to watch. With a variety of source images and video, as well as shots of locales around the world where Masonic history was made, you'll get an eyeful with this documentary.

Sound:
The standard Dolby 2 soundtrack is clear and perfectly acceptable.

Extras:
A mini-documentary of four men preparing to become Masons is included on the second disc. It provides a more personal insight into the order and those wishing to join it than the more generalist overview of the main documentary.

Final Thoughts:
Conspiracy theorists have long held that the Masons control everything, especially the United States. When this documentary points out that people as diverse as George Bush (both of them) and Al Sharpton are Masons, one begins to wonder a bit about their ability to agree on a meeting time, let alone how to achieve world domination. This whiz-bang look at the history and people behind the curtain is entertaining and informative, and should appeal to history-buffs and pop-culture enthusiasts alike.

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"G-d made stars galore" & "Hey, what kind of a crappy fortune is this?" ZMK, modern prophet