Hitchcock's effects were state of the art at the time. Now the datedness of the effects always pull me out of an otherwise state of suspended disbelief. Bummer. I honestly think scenes like the nightmare sequence in
Vertigo should be memorialized as a reminder to avoid special effects at all costs. Inevitably they won't hold up.
However, an excellent use of CGI were the establishing shots in
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Subtle, deliberate, and didn't try to play within the story so much as just give a sense of place.
I think so many brilliant directors have been seduced by the harlot of special effects wizardry, which just defies reason for me. Think of any great director (besides George Lucas, who's really a glorified FX technician) and their best work is virtually empty of special effects, in my opinion
Even Peter Jackson. Ever seen
Heavenly Creatures? I love the LOTR trilogy for its mythic scope and sheer spectacle, but the dramatic aspect is ham-fisted compared to that previous work.