Recently a client suggested using a splash page on their first page...
"Introduction Page (automatically leads to first page)...Should be a video integrated flash, short in duration, just to grab attention prior to sending them to our web site."
There are several reasons why I would not suggest this approach. Firstly, Google puts more "weight" on your index page than on any other page on your site. So, using that page to simply bounce to a second page is severely wasting precious space that should be used to get your site higher in the search engines.
Secondly, bouncing pages to other pages in general is not good for SEO (Search Engine Optimization). And thirdly, thousands of articles online will concur that you will loose visitors. Here's why: A.) You force the visitor to wait for a large flash file to load before they ever get to the information they really want to see. Many visitors won't wait. They'll move on. B.) If visitors do wait it out the first time around, they will at best find it to be an annoyance on their subsequent visits.
They best way to impress new visitors is not with sparkle but instead with a great service presented in a clear, concise way.