Hi,
I have to agree with the majority on this - you should like a film for what it is, regardless of whether it looks perfect, or is in mono or DTS.
I really enjoyed "Nosferatu" from 1928 (I think), and an old 50's B-movie called "Fiend Without A Face". Both are out on DVD, but neither are ever going to sound or look exceptional.
Having said that, there are a few films you DO buy, because of what they look or sound like, rather than the quality of the film itself. ("Armageddon" might be one example.)
There is a definite point to old movies! Same as there is a definite point to old music. I would hazard a guess, and say that 90% of all modern pop and dance music, is actually a rehash of old stuff! As such, in my opinion, most of today's pop musicians and dance acts, are actually not real genuine musicians. Anyone could, in theory, take a classic song, add a techno drum beat to it, include a few "Ah ha's" and "Diggy, diggy, diggy's" to it and chuck it out to sell. However, it ain't music. It's just old stuff, with a minor twist. Example - "The Streets". Absolute drivel. A man talks about absolutely nothing, over an awful repeatitive piece of muzak! Dire! That's not music, in any sense of the word. Ditto with most Jean Claude Van Damme movies. It's not about the stories or the acting. It's purely about Van Damme's martial arts work.
Much can be said of modern movies. Occasionally, you will get a really good new movie come out, that isn't a remake or a rehash of someone else's work. But that is very rare, although it is getting more frequent. (Recent examples of great modern cinema could include "Run, Lola, Run", The Insider", "American Beauty", the 1988 edition of "The Vanishing", The Usual Suspects", and/or "Four Weddings And A Funeral".) All of these titles did something different, and on a relatively small budget. Yet they still pulled in millions of people off of the street, and back into cinemas! Why? Simply because they were intelligent, well-written and superbly acted movies, that made you think!
Occasionally, you will get a good film that manages to utilise superb stories, great acting and jaw-dropping effects, e.g. "Gladiator". However, it's pretty rare. Normally, one has to sacrifice to the other. That is, you either have great affects, but a lousy film. Or you get a great film, but really lousy effects.
So much stuff in recent times is all to do with the CGI effects, not the acting or the plot or the direction. As such, there is MORE THAN ENOUGH reasons to watch old movies!
Pooch