I do read reviews. Problem is, there are too many idiots out there that fancy themselves film critics. You know, the same people who said Brokeback Mountain or any Michael Moore film was good (or Oscar worthy)for example.
I agree that it is great that fledgling filmmakers have access to that stuff. I think it is even better that there are productions out there like Film Riot (a Revision3 podcast) that show you how to accomplish effects, shots, build make-shift equipment like booms and steady cams, etc.
Between the access to equipment, educational materials available to anyone willing to learn and the natural talent that some people have, we get great short films ( Lazy Teenage Superheroes, documentaries and low budget movies.