Forget Cinemania, get into IMDb (imdb.com)

Member Name: Twister

Product:	imdb.com
Date:	20/08/00 (10 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Astonishingly comprehensive and up-to-date

Disadvantages: Very addictive

I think the best way to illustrate the comprehensiveness of the IMDb is to relate a particular experience. For years I have owned a copy of Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, and have always been baffled by a cast list anomoly: a character called "Young Henry" is listed in the credits as being played by Alex Hyde-White, and yet there is no sign of him in the film. This bugged me for ages, and having purchased a copy of the "Cinemania" movie CD-ROM, it was the first thing I tried to look up. However, it proved a useless quest. My own assumption was that he played the young Sean Connery (Indie's Dad as a young man) but his scenes had been deleted - presumably his credit had been left in as a contractual requirement. Well, as soon as I discovered the IMDb, I tested it with the same enquiry...and lo and behold, it confirmed my guess.

The beauty of the database is that it covers absolutely everything and everyone in the movie industry. Try a search for the actor James Woods, for example, and not only will you get his complete filmography, but also the details on one James Woods who is a "Key Grip" and various other James Woods who work in the movies but are not themselves movie stars.

If you are into movies in a big or small way, this is definitely one for your favourites menu. Don't waste your time reading my comments - get out there and try it yourself and impress your fellow movie buffs with your encyclopedic knowledge/

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