diff --git a/video2x/__init__.py b/video2x/__init__.py
index 86a0b32..72abf0a 100755
--- a/video2x/__init__.py
+++ b/video2x/__init__.py
@@ -31,4 +31,4 @@ __version__ = "5.0.0-beta5"
 # generated by the following lines
 from .interpolator import Interpolator
 from .upscaler import Upscaler
-from .video2x import Video2X, main
+from .video2x import Video2X
diff --git a/video2x/__main__.py b/video2x/__main__.py
index 51bfcb3..0c6e510 100755
--- a/video2x/__main__.py
+++ b/video2x/__main__.py
@@ -22,9 +22,218 @@ Date Created: July 3, 2021
 Last Modified: February 26, 2022
 """
 
+import argparse
+import os
+import pathlib
 import sys
 
-from .video2x import main
+from loguru import logger
+from rich import print as rich_print
+
+from . import __version__
+from .video2x import LOGURU_FORMAT, Video2X
+
+LEGAL_INFO = f"""Video2X\t\t{__version__}
+Author:\t\tK4YT3X
+License:\tGNU AGPL v3
+Github Page:\thttps://github.com/k4yt3x/video2x
+Contact:\ti@k4yt3x.com"""
+
+# algorithms available for upscaling tasks
+UPSCALING_ALGORITHMS = [
+    "waifu2x",
+    "srmd",
+    "realsr",
+    "realcugan",
+]
+
+# algorithms available for frame interpolation tasks
+INTERPOLATION_ALGORITHMS = ["rife"]
+
+
+def parse_arguments() -> argparse.Namespace:
+    """
+    parse command line arguments
+
+    :rtype argparse.Namespace: command parsing results
+    """
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+        prog="video2x",
+        formatter_class=argparse.ArgumentDefaultsHelpFormatter,
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--version", help="show version information and exit", action="store_true"
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "-i",
+        "--input",
+        type=pathlib.Path,
+        help="input file/directory path",
+        required=True,
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "-o",
+        "--output",
+        type=pathlib.Path,
+        help="output file/directory path",
+        required=True,
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "-p", "--processes", type=int, help="number of processes to launch", default=1
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "-l",
+        "--loglevel",
+        choices=["trace", "debug", "info", "success", "warning", "error", "critical"],
+        default="info",
+    )
+
+    # upscaler arguments
+    action = parser.add_subparsers(
+        help="action to perform", dest="action", required=True
+    )
+
+    upscale = action.add_parser(
+        "upscale",
+        help="upscale a file",
+        formatter_class=argparse.ArgumentDefaultsHelpFormatter,
+        add_help=False,
+    )
+    upscale.add_argument(
+        "--help", action="help", help="show this help message and exit"
+    )
+    upscale.add_argument("-w", "--width", type=int, help="output width")
+    upscale.add_argument("-h", "--height", type=int, help="output height")
+    upscale.add_argument("-n", "--noise", type=int, help="denoise level", default=3)
+    upscale.add_argument(
+        "-a",
+        "--algorithm",
+        choices=UPSCALING_ALGORITHMS,
+        help="algorithm to use for upscaling",
+        default=UPSCALING_ALGORITHMS[0],
+    )
+    upscale.add_argument(
+        "-t",
+        "--threshold",
+        type=float,
+        help=(
+            "skip if the percent difference between two adjacent frames is below this"
+            " value; set to 0 to process all frames"
+        ),
+        default=0,
+    )
+
+    # interpolator arguments
+    interpolate = action.add_parser(
+        "interpolate",
+        help="interpolate frames for file",
+        formatter_class=argparse.ArgumentDefaultsHelpFormatter,
+        add_help=False,
+    )
+    interpolate.add_argument(
+        "--help", action="help", help="show this help message and exit"
+    )
+    interpolate.add_argument(
+        "-a",
+        "--algorithm",
+        choices=UPSCALING_ALGORITHMS,
+        help="algorithm to use for upscaling",
+        default=INTERPOLATION_ALGORITHMS[0],
+    )
+    interpolate.add_argument(
+        "-t",
+        "--threshold",
+        type=float,
+        help=(
+            "skip if the percent difference between two adjacent frames exceeds this"
+            " value; set to 100 to interpolate all frames"
+        ),
+        default=10,
+    )
+
+    return parser.parse_args()
+
+
+def main() -> int:
+    """
+    command line entrypoint for direct CLI invocation
+
+    :rtype int: 0 if completed successfully, else other int
+    """
+
+    try:
+        # display version and lawful informaition
+        if "--version" in sys.argv:
+            rich_print(LEGAL_INFO)
+            return 0
+
+        # parse command line arguments
+        args = parse_arguments()
+
+        # check input/output file paths
+        if not args.input.exists():
+            logger.critical(f"Cannot find input file: {args.input}")
+            return 1
+        if not args.input.is_file():
+            logger.critical("Input path is not a file")
+            return 1
+        if not args.output.parent.exists():
+            logger.critical(f"Output directory does not exist: {args.output.parent}")
+            return 1
+
+        # set logger level
+        if os.environ.get("LOGURU_LEVEL") is None:
+            os.environ["LOGURU_LEVEL"] = args.loglevel.upper()
+
+        # remove default handler
+        logger.remove()
+
+        # add new sink with custom handler
+        logger.add(sys.stderr, colorize=True, format=LOGURU_FORMAT)
+
+        # print package version and copyright notice
+        logger.opt(colors=True).info(f"<magenta>Video2X {__version__}</magenta>")
+        logger.opt(colors=True).info(
+            "<magenta>Copyright (C) 2018-2022 K4YT3X and contributors.</magenta>"
+        )
+
+        # initialize video2x object
+        video2x = Video2X()
+
+        if args.action == "upscale":
+            video2x.upscale(
+                args.input,
+                args.output,
+                args.width,
+                args.height,
+                args.noise,
+                args.processes,
+                args.threshold,
+                args.algorithm,
+            )
+
+        elif args.action == "interpolate":
+            video2x.interpolate(
+                args.input,
+                args.output,
+                args.processes,
+                args.threshold,
+                args.algorithm,
+            )
+
+    # don't print the traceback for manual terminations
+    except KeyboardInterrupt:
+        return 2
+
+    except Exception as error:
+        logger.exception(error)
+        return 1
+
+    # if no exceptions were produced
+    else:
+        logger.success("Processing completed successfully")
+        return 0
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     sys.exit(main())