Reaction to Badder-Meinhof Complex

I was really confused through the majority of the movie.  I think that if I would have researched the RAF previous to watching the movie I would've understood it better.  Regardless, I found it to be shocking.  I feel like for all of their efforts in trying to change the way the government operated by attacking innocent bystanders accomplished very little.  If they were really trying to make a political point it seems to me that they fell short of it.  From what I read they were all well educated with the exception of Baader which I find shocking because of the means they used to accomplish their goals.  I understand the feeling of powerlessness they may have felt in trying to push their opinions without taking action to accomplish them.  But through all the innocent lives they took and damage they caused there was very little change made in response to all their work.  In addition, it seemed to me through parts of the movie that they were just enjoying a long joyride filled with partying without consequences.  I understand their motivation but not their action.