Garland is triumphant in classic 'Star Is Born'

One of Judy Garland's greatest film triumphs leads off this look at movies newly released or reissued on DVD and Blu-ray.

"A Star Is Born" (Warner/Blu-ray, 1954, PG, two discs, $34.99). Something we are seeing more and more in Blu-ray special-edition releases of classic titles are loads of bonus features, including books attached to the Blu-ray box — which is still smaller and more easily stored than regular DVDs.

This one contains a treasure trove of materials, as well as the movie, of course — one of those rare cases when a remake actually surpassed the original (though the 1937 nonsinging version with Fredric March and Janet Gaynor is still awfully good).

Garland is stunning as a rising star who marries James Mason, whose own star is on the way down, causing him to drown his sorrows in drink.

Knockout performances, songs and staging make this one of the great dramatic musicals, which is only enhanced with this Blu-ray buffing.

Extras: widescreen, introduction, deleted scenes, alternate takes, featurettes, newsreels, telecasts, audio interviews, radio program, trailers; 40-page booklet (also on DVD, $20.97)

"The Last Station" (Sony Classics, 2010; R for sex, nudity; $27.98). Based on Jay Parini's novel drawn from the diaries of friends of Leo Tolstoy, this art film explores the final year in the life of the Russian author (Christopher Plummer) as he renounces his worldly possessions and makes arrangements to leave his royalties to the Russian people — which doesn't sit well with his wife (Helen Mirren).

Both Plummer and Mirren earned well-deserved Oscar nominations for their performances, with Mirren especially fiery. Paul Giamatti and James McAvoy co-star.

Extras: widescreen, deleted scenes, audio commentary, featurette, bloopers, trailers

"Horses: The Story of Equus" (Warner/IMAX, 2001, $14.98). This 45-minute IMAX movie, narrated by Gabriel Byrne and filmed in Australia, follows the lives of three horses on very different paths — one becoming a racehorse, another a movie stunt horse and the third joining a wild herd.

Extras: widescreen

"Just Add Spice" (PBS, 2010, $24.99). This instructional video is for those with children ages 3-6, as parenting experts help four families put to the test the formula for S.P.I.C.E. — structure, praise, inspire, consistency, enjoy.