[mrnoodle]

The "blockbuster" movies can't go extinct fast enough, imho. I've seen enough CGI explosions to last a lifetime. How about some characters and stories?

Technology will eventually enable any hack with a PC to replicate what they see in "XXX III -- Three Times The Xtreme Product Placement". They won't be able to replace the marquee actors, but why are we buying tickets to see a multimillionaire converse with a hand puppet in front of a blue screen, anyway?

Of course, there are notable exceptions -- I liked LOTR and can't wait for Narnia. But those use technology to...not sure how to say this...make you forget you're watching technology? Still, if the story's not there, no amount of (oxymoronic) special effects can save a movie. When we run out of 100 year old authors to plagiarize, who's going to write the stories? Focus groups? Gah.