CNN’s chief international correspondent and all-around news celebrity Christiane Amanpour delivers a three-part report on politicized religious fundamentalism beginning tonight. No doubt the series will be entertaining and informative, but probably mostly for what it says about Amanpour and the timidity and provincialism of CNN. The ads, of course, look a heap of Hollywood cliche, complete with ominous theme music and an Amanpour outfitted in dour veil and peering through dark iron gates wrought with religious design. Creepy! The special, “CNN Presents: God’s Warriors,” got a tepid review from the New York Times today. Neil Genzlinger wrote that “Amanpour is more tour guide and history teacher than reporter… which makes this ambitious look at three flavors of religious fundamentalism less than it could be.”

You know Amanpour had a killer budget and full crew and translators and fixers and everything else. And despite what the New York Times thinks, CNN says she put in a full “year of reporting.” So what did she do to get this story? Did she hang out with the families of warrior-martyrs? Did she go to a training school and stay there for a few weeks or months? Did she speak at length with people of faith who are attempting to combat the tendency toward violence on the ground every day? Did she get down into the dirt with the committed Jews and Muslims and Christians she’s reporting on? I hope so. But I doubt it.

Tags: amanpour, cnn, gods warriors