Playing a video presentation with playback functions

1. A method comprising the steps of:

retrieving video information comprising (a) a plurality of segment definitions defining video segments within a video, the defining being responsive to intellectual aspects within the video; and (b) a plurality of video frame identifiers comprising at least one video frame identifier being associated with an intellectual insight;

enabling a user to establish a presentation preference and a function preference;

playing, responsive to the presentation preference and the plurality of segment definitions, selected video segments from within the video as a storyline driven video presentation that is focused on the intellectual aspects within the video and that is less in length than the length of the video;

monitoring a play location within the video presentation;

searching the plurality of video frame identifiers to identify a video frame identifier that is responsive to the play location and the function preference;

providing, during the playing of the storyline driven video presentation that is focused on the intellectual aspects and that is less in length than the length of the video, and responsive to the identified video frame identifier, an indication that an intellectual insight is available;

receiving, from the user, a request that is responsive to the indication; and

providing, responsive to the request, the intellectual insight.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one video frame identifier is further associated with additional information that is responsive to an intellectual aspect; and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

receiving from the user a request for additional information; and

providing the additional information that is responsive to the intellectual aspect.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the segment definitions is further associated with descriptors that are responsive to an intellectual aspect; and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

keyword searching the plurality of segment definitions; and

selectively playing, responsive to the keyword searching, a compilation of video segments.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving, from the user, a request for additional information that is responsive to an intellectual aspect; and

playing, responsive to user request and from within the video presentation, a compilation of video segments that are responsive to the intellectual aspect.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the intellectual insight provides an explanation of a thematic idea depicted within the video presentation.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the intellectual insight comprises an identification of a clue depicted within the video presentation.

7. A method comprising the steps of:

retrieving video information comprising (a) a plurality of segment definitions defining video segments within a video, the defining being responsive to intellectual aspects within the video; and (b) a plurality of video frame identifiers comprising at least one video frame identifier being associated with an intellectual insight;

enabling a user to establish a presentation preference and a function preference;

playing, responsive to the presentation preference and the plurality of segment definitions, selected video segments from within the video as a storyline driven video presentation that is focused on the intellectual aspects within the video and that is less in length than the length of the video;

monitoring a play location within the video presentation;

searching the plurality of video frame identifiers to identify a video frame identifier that is responsive to the play location and the function preference; and

providing, during the playing of the storyline driven video presentation that is focused on the intellectual aspects and that is less in length than the length of the video, and responsive to the identified video frame identifier, an intellectual insight.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the at least one video frame identifier is further associated with additional information that is responsive to an intellectual aspect; and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

receiving from the user a request for additional information; and

providing the additional information that is responsive to the intellectual.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein at least one of the segment definitions is further associated with descriptors that are responsive to an intellectual aspect; and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

keyword searching the plurality of segment definitions; and

selectively playing, responsive to the keyword searching, a compilation of video segments.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of:

receiving, from the user, a request for additional information that is responsive to an intellectual aspect; and

playing, responsive to user request and from within the video presentation, a compilation of video segments that are responsive to the intellectual aspect.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the intellectual insight comprises an identification of a clue depicted within the video presentation.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein intellectual insight provides an explanation of a thematic idea depicted within the video presentation.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the intellectual insight comprises an explanation of an intellectual aspect.

14. A method comprising the steps of:

retrieving video information comprising (a) a plurality of segment definitions defining video segments within a video, the defining being responsive to intellectual aspects within the video; and (b) a plurality of video frame identifiers comprising at least one video frame identifier being associated with an intellectual insight;

enabling a user to establish a presentation preference and a function preference;

playing, responsive to the presentation preference and the plurality of segment definitions, selected video segments from within the video as a storyline driven video presentation that is focused on the intellectual aspects within the video and that is less in length than the length of the video; and

providing, during the playing of the storyline driven video presentation that is focused on the intellectual aspects and that is less in length than the length of the video, and responsive to the function preference and a selected video frame identifier, an intellectual insight.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the at least one video frame identifier is further associated with additional information that is responsive to an intellectual aspect; and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

receiving from the user a request for additional information; and

providing the additional information that is responsive to the intellectual aspect.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein at least one of the segment definitions is further associated with descriptors that are responsive to an intellectual aspect; and

wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

keyword searching the plurality of segment definitions; and

selectively playing, responsive to the keyword searching, a compilation of video segments.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

receiving, from the user, a request for additional information that is responsive to an intellectual aspect; and

playing, responsive to user request and from within the video presentation, a compilation of video segments that are responsive to the intellectual aspect.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the intellectual insight comprises an explanation of an intellectual aspect.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the intellectual insight provides an explanation of a thematic idea depicted within the video presentation.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the intellectual insight comprises an identification of a clue depicted within the video presentation.