Presented in their original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, the 1080p transfers of all 24 films look uniformly excellent. Originally shot in 16mm, these films exhibit bold color palettes, a thick layer of natural grain and rich black levels. Image detail and textures are incredibly striking at times, especially the shadowy faces from Manual of Arms and the charred paper remains of Nostalgia. Of course, some instances of dirt, vertical scratches and other damage can be spotted along the way, but this is often a source material issue and nothing more. Artist and film preservationist Bill Brand---who served as one of this collection's telecine supervisors---contributed a valuable essay which details the "damage" that was carefully corrected or, in some cases, left intact. Brand's essay can be found in this release's accompanying booklet.

Less noticeable but still important, this release's LPCM mono soundtrack usually gets the job done perfectly. Although a handful of the included films are silent, those that make use of sound are, at times, about as ambitious as one-channel audio can be. Dynamic range obviously doesn't have a great deal of punch, but the homemade craftsmanship of A Hollis Frampton Odyssey still makes for a fascinating listen. Unfortunately, optional English subtitles have not been provided during the main feature or extras, which may have helped to clarify certain portions of audio (whether English or otherwise).

Seen above, this one-disc release is housed in Criterion's typical clear, stocky Blu-Ray keepcase and decorated with dual-sided artwork. A valuable Booklet is also tucked inside, which includes written contributions by Hollis Frampton, Ken Eisenstein, Bruce Jenkins, Michael Zryd and Bill Brand. Criterion's menu designs are clean, concise, easy to navigate and free from annoying forced trailers and piracy warnings. The 264-minute main feature is divided into four sections that represent different stages in Frampton's career, and handy "Play All" options are included for each group or the whole collection.

Up next is "A Lecture", a simulated version of Hollis Frampton's 1968 performance piece at Manhattan's Hunter College (23:10, 1080i). Original audio from the performance (including collaborator Michael Snow's narration) is presented here, while the appropriate visuals---in this case, a film projector and a slideshow of images Frampton would've used---combine to give us a virtual front row experience.

Last but not least is "By Any Other Name" (1080p), a collection of images from Frampton's 1979-83 image series of the same name. Essentially, it's photocopied designs from product labels of the era...so while I question its artistic merit, "By Any Other Name" is interesting from a historical perspective.

Polarizing, creative, eye-catching and, at times, painfully repetitious, A Hollis Frampton Odyssey is a one-of-a-kind release that experimental film fans will enjoy and appreciate. Every else might as well flip a coin. Either way, it's obvious that a lot of care and attention went into this collection, which doubles as a time capsule and a concise career retrospective for the late artist. Criterion's Blu-Ray does more than just present these films in chronological order: it pairs them with excellent picture and sound quality, tossing in a handful of bonus features for good measure. Die-hard fans probably own A Hollis Frampton Odyssey already, but all other interested parties should try before they buy. Rent It first.

Image courtesy of the Criterion Collection