First off: while I think criticism has it's place in making the world better etc, it's certainly not my main priority. When I criticise stuff it's generally to vent or illustrate a wider social trend (ie, as here, the blurry line between different associations with "darkness") And I'm not sure I've ever read any high-brow literary Criticism of racism etc(*), I'm thinking of places like Girls read comics or bobthehaitian.

I think it's good to make the general public aware of sexism in films etc, and it's enjoyable to discuss with likeminded people (especially if you want a forum to vent your frustration with the way your group is portrayed etc)

Does it have any effect on creators? Maybe sometimes. I dunno. Certainly you'd have to not just not buy the dvd, but send a letter of complaint saying why you weren't buying it (though a couple of letters and LOTS of boycotting would be just as good). But I think you and I have different opinions on the general effectiveness of "awareness raising" etc.

Girl wonder goes into why they do what they do in a faq.

(*)I'm not sure I've read much high-brow Criticism of much of anything unless you count highschool Lit, such writing is not really my bag.