[yankeedog]

local religious leaders told him those subtitles should stay in place to help spread the movie’s message to those not familiar with the story.

I'd love to see the movie and to see it as Mel intends it to BE seen. Who, in the year 2003, in any cinema in the world is NOT familiar with the story?

[SwinneySwitch]

I don't know Aramaic and only a little Latin.

[MississippiMan]

Who, in the year 2003, in any cinema in the world is NOT familiar with the story?

Sadly, far more than would've been the case just a few decades ago. I recently watched a DVD designed to coach Christians on witnessing. It included a lot of actual on-the-street witness attempts. I was shocked at how many people were positively clueless. It's hard to believe how far this society has slipped so quickly.

MM

[Broward Lion]

20 times as many are not familiar than those who are. Where have you been? Many people in mainline churches have not be preached the passion in decades. Certainly most people around the world do not know the passion story.