[Xanderfox]

the real problem is when CGI becomes a crutch, such as film makers that turn to CGI when a make-up, animatronic or similar effect would look better and produce a better performance out of the actors. CGI is great for creatures and effects that would other wise be too expensive, dangerous or just too complicated to create using other techniques. But thanks to Avatar, now Hollywood is leaning going to lean more and more on CGI and 3-D.

I also am sad that not only is CGI being used by many as a crutch it even causes audiences and critics to become jaded and not recognize non-cg effects then they see them. Underworld comes to mind, a film that like it or hate it is sighted as being full of CGI effects when in fact is uses them sparingly. FX shots using costumes, wires and high speed cameras are dismissed as CG. When truly impressive costume and make-up effects get dismissed for being CGed into scenes their is a real problem folks.