Of OLd and NEw LiFe -Part 1

Lately I have been exposed with a few movies that made me think in many many ways, not only spiritually but also hedonistically. By spiritual, I am referring to all beliefs and by hedonist, just pure materialism.

The movie called The Fountain (2006), main actors were Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz. Although this movie was reviewed mostly by Buddhists, I also think as a person who believe in religion that the message it portrayed was appropriate in a lot of ways in life.
Take DEATH for example. It is inevitable, but many people are in fact unprepared for it. Why?
Why are we unprepared a thing that is so certain? I asked not because I have the answers but I also wonder the magical power DEATH has to effect us mentally and physically. Mentally that made us scared and shivered thinking about it, Physically moving that it made us change our way of life.
In this movie, Death was an irony for a person who can biologically change the nature of human for Hugh was a biologist/scientist/doctor-researcher, but cant save his dying wife (Rachel) from the fatal brain cancer (or something like that).
In relation to religion, Death is perceived in many perspectives. Some say we have an after-life, another says we will be revived and others says the world is just a transition. So what if we accumulate a lot of wealth or name for ourselves? Does it matter? Do we bring that glory to the after-life?
The Fountain as a movie explores about what happens in between as well. Made you think that there is no co-incidence to events in life. Sometimes made you think that if we are going to die one day anyway, why we bother to be on earth?

So hedonistic point of view, I think our existence on earth is to make a mark. We were sent with a mission, not for ourselves but for the sake of humanity, to prove our existence worthy. As much as I loved this phrase: "He who dies with most toys wins" I do believe in the happiness of nothingness. Some may say lets optimize our existence by getting rich now and not worrying about it when we die. Some may say, why bother to get rich when everyone who is less rich is just equally happy?

What is the measure here?