In this paper, we propose a content-based video indexing and retrieval system using MPEG-7 standard to retrieve and manage videos efficiently. The proposed system consists of video indexing module for a video DB and video retrieval module to allow various query methods on a web environment. Video indexing module stores metadata such as manually typed in keywords, automatically recognized character names, and MPEG-7 visual descriptors extracted by indexing module into a DB in a sever side. A user can access to retrieval module by a web and retrieve desired videos through various query methods like keywords, faces, example and sketch. For this retrieval system, we propose ATC(Adaptive Twin Comparison) as a cut detection method for efficient video indexing and QBME(Query By Modified Example) as an improved content-based query method for the convenience of users. Experimental results show that the proposed ATC method detects cuts well and the proposed QBME method provides the conveniences better than existing query methods such as QBE(Query By Example) and QBS(Query By Sketch).