It’s not a case of which is better it’s a case of aesthetic. Models don’t necessarily look more real they just have their own look which adds to the film.
CG can certainly look excellent when the effort is put in (a lot is done on the cheap these days) but there is a time and a place for models if you want that feel.
Would be interested in seeing someone try to recreate the feel of models in CG though by literally modelling a model set/scale in CG.
Well no, it's not the same. I love when films use scale models to create effects, and I agree that sometimes they are better. But in this case they used a piece of glass with a projector behind it to recreate one of the simplest company logos, which could've been done in photoshop and after effects for half the time (and probably a 10th of the budget).
But yes, I love the Star Wars and LOTR (Wetaworks) stuff.
CG can certainly look excellent when the effort is put in (a lot is done on the cheap these days) but there is a time and a place for models if you want that feel.
Would be interested in seeing someone try to recreate the feel of models in CG though by literally modelling a model set/scale in CG.