There are two main ways to search for movie titles on Reel.com.
The Search Box
The Search Box is the box on the top left-hand side of every page
on the site, right below Reel's logo. It says "Search our Database" above it.
How to use the Search Box
- Finding a Movie by Title. To use the Search Box to find a
particular movie by title, enter the title or the first word or two of the
title into the text box, and press the button that says "Find it!". You
will see a page that has a list of movies that match your input. If only
one movie matches your input, you will see the information page for that
movie. If no movies match your input, you will be instructed to try again.
Be sure you type in the first word or words of the title. The Search
Box always looks for movies that begin with the text you input. To perform
a search for words that are in the middle of a title, or a search where you
are unsure of the spelling, try the Advanced Search Page, described below.
- Finding a Movie by Actor. The Search Box can also be used to find
movies with a particular actor or director associated with them. To find
movies with a particular actor in them, type the name or the first part of
the (last) name into the text box, pull down on the box that contains the word
"Title" until it says "Actor", and click the button that says "Find It!".
You will see a list of actors who match the name you input. Click on
one name to see a list of that person's movies. If only one actor matches
your input, you will see that actor's filmography. If no actors match your
input, you will be instructed to try again.
When typing in names, type in either just the first or last name, or the
first name followed by the last name. Typing in the last name followed by
the first name will not work.
- Finding a Movie by Director. To find movies directed by a particular
person, type in the name or the first part of the (last) name into the text
box, pull down on the box that contains the word
"Title" until it says "Director", and click the button that says "Find It!".
You will see results
just like those for the Actor search described above.
When typing in names, type in either just the first or last name, or the
first name followed by the last name. Typing in the last name followed by
the first name will not work.
The Advanced Search Page
The Advanced Search Page contains many more options to help you find the movie
you're looking for. To Access the Search Page, click on the "Advanced Search"
link in the lower left-hand corner of any Search Box. You will see
a page with a big search box, divided into three sections by color.
The three sections control different parts of the search.
The first section has a text box in which you can type things you're
searching for (your "search string") and two pulldown menus.
One of these, the "Title, Actor, Director" pulldown, is just like
the one in the Search box, and tells the search engine whether you're
looking for a person or a movie title. The other pulldown allows you to select
"Begins With" or "Contains". Choose "Begins With"
to find movies or people which begin with your search string. Choose "Contains"
for a more general search to find movies or people which have the search string anywhere in them.
e.g typing "Blood" into the text box, and selecting "Contains" would
find First Blood as well as Blood Simple (as well as a whole bunch
of other movies). If you select "Begins With" instead, you would find Blood
Simple, but NOT First Blood.
The Second section is darker grey. The second section contains two of the most popular search parameters,
Format and Price Range.
Format. Use the Format pull-down if you would like to restrict your search
to movies available in a particular format (VHS, Used VHS,
Laserdisc, DVD, Soundtrack). Click on the box that says "Any Format" and select
whichever option you like.
Price Range. You can click on the box that says "All Prices" and pick a
range of possible prices. Your search will then only return movies that
Reel sells for those prices.
The fourth section is dark blue, and contains additional search
parameters. There are pulldowns here for:
Country. Use this pulldown to select a country of origin. Only those movies
produced in the country you select will be returned by your search.
"Country (All)" is selected when you first load the page, and means the
search engine will ignore this box and search for movies from any country.
Language. Use this pulldown to select a language. Only those movies filmed
in the language you select will be returned by your search. "Language
(All)" is selected when you first load the page, and means the search
engine will ignore this box and search for movies in any language.
Rating - MPAA Rating. Select the one you wish to search for (G, PG, PG-13.
R, Not rated, Unrated). Only those movies that have that rating will be
returned by your search. "Rating (All)" is selected when you first load the
page, and means the search engine will ignore this box and search for
movies with any rating. NOTE: Reel.com does not offer XXX adult videos.
Genre. Selecting a genre in this pulldown will restrict your search
to movies cateogrized in this genre by Reel's editors. "Genre (All)" is selected
when you first load the page, and means the search engine will ignore this
box and search for movies of any genre.
Decade. Selecting a decade in this pulldown will restrict your search
to movies released within that decade. "All Decades" is selected
when you first load the page, and means the search engine will ignore this
box and search for movies from any decade.
Version. The version pull-down allows you to search for videocassettes that
have been released in a special version like Director's Cut, Widescreen,
Dubbed, or Remastered. Select the Version you would like to search for by
clicking on the box that says "Version (All)". "Version (All)" is selected
when you first load the page, and means the search engine will ignore this
box and search for all versions of a movie.
