glahey It was hard to take this documentary series as an exploration of a question. The film maker biases himself from the outset. Christianity (his native religion) is represented only by wrestlers, back-woods ministers, a crazed lunatic, and very only crusty men. Other religions are represented by sincere but folksy types who boarder on primitive. Atheism is represented by extremely friendly and socially well-adjusted supra-geniuses.Were no authors from the Christian best seller's list available? Are no Buddhists or Muslims teaching in universities? And most noticeably missing, the Atheists I grew up with Texas trailer parks ranting, "There ain't no God, that's why I steal and kill." I do not think this was intentional on the filmmakers part. I think he subconsciously sought the answer he was already desiring...."Whatever the nature of existence is, it is certainly not offered by the church, it is doubtfully possible that some other religion offers it, but science gives us the best hope."

sabotcat-1 I went to a small screening with a bunch of spiritually minded people to see "nature of existence." It's not the kind of gathering I usually find myself in...but went because I was a fan of Roger Nygard's first film, Trekkies. I was not disappointed. First of all, the spiritually minded group, with the exception of one lady with an ax to grind, TOTALLY rose to the challenge of a movie that is PROFOUNDLY INTERESTING SPIRITUALLY and very funny at the same time. This is as engaging an hour and a half as you could spend. And what makes the movie work for me...and what's really unique among documentaries of this type is this one is not condescending in the least...and Roger Nygard, who appears in his own movie isn't smug about any of these experiences. If you showed this film in your high school class you'd be everyone's favorite teacher.I never thought you could make this stuff interesting...and human. But this movie does. I'm actually thinking of buying a copy.

rroberto18 "The Hitch Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy" was a quest for THE answer to everything. This intelligent, thought-provoking and witty documentary provides many answers that at first make about as much sense as Douglas Adams' "42" because they come at you so quickly. Almost as quickly though, the viewer realizes that posing big, probing questions is key to moving forward, both in life and on the screen. Filmmaker Nygard's double role as tour guide and tourist is never self-serving. His impish approach to philosophy, science and religion as three sides to the same multi-dimensional coin is essential to the film's success. It's corny to say this, but when the film is over, you want to meet him for a friendly chat over some pancakes (reference explained in the film's opening sequence). An obvious choice for Best Documentary because of its scope and all it gives you to ponder on the way to the exit (figuratively and metaphorically). The film itself is a fast-paced 96 minutes that whets your appetite for a forthcoming, mind-blowing 7 DVD set. A digital equivalent of an encyclopedia to spark the search for knowledge even in a high-school drop-out. Just when it seems that cable TV's Discovery, National Geographic and History Channels are morphing into network "reality shows," this is the right film at the right time.

lisacarluccio I'm getting older, and the older I get the more I'm thinking about what life is all about, because if all it's about are the lousy dates I've been going on lately, well...what a rip off.I saw this documentary at a film festival in Pennsylvania last year, to be honest...I thought we bought tickets to another film and when I saw it was a documentary I nearly jumped up and ran out, but because we were seated in the middle of a populated row and running out was going to be a problem I thought I'd tough it out...my patience was rewarded.My first thought on a film about why we exist was DRY, perhaps the term BORING jumped to mind, but this was neither. This film is totally funny (let me just say this - Christian WRESTLERS, need I say more? Entire marketing campaigns have been mounted on less interesting items), breezy, and a lot of fun to watch. I'm a bit of a social butterfly, I have to tell you, and this film has given me lots of ammo to bring up at dinner parties. I'm telling you that here and now, but at these parties I'm claiming all the witty and well read ideas as my own...you will too, admit it.The director is also the narrator, and if there was one note I'd like to pass along to him - don't star in any future endeavors...seriously, holy cow, he was like a creepy guy who hangs out near schools only here he was traveling around the world asking people about God, The After Life, and Masturbation...seriously...that's brought up. He teams up at one point with this Holy Roller who preaches on college campuses, the things that come out of his mouth are jaw dropping...and yet totally quotable. The real laugh is I'm fairly certain I saw this guy on my campus as a kid - hello Mr. Creepy and Mr. Evangelist, may I scream now? All that aside, the film is ultimately a sincerely brilliant experience, well edited, and somewhat of a happy cinema going accident for me. The next time I get some vacation time together from the job I'm going to India to study with this Spiritual Leader there who appears in the film...he's so...I dunno, he seems like he'd be a hoot to meditate with...oh, and there's this other guru named AHA, he's not much to look at...but he's got a lot to say that's worth listening too. If I ever meet him, I have some wisdom to pass along to him - it's one word - aerobics.I wouldn't even review this film here really, because of seeing it at a festival I figure no one would ever get the chance to see it - but I just saw the trailer on the APPLE site, and heard it's going to be playing a few blocks away from where I live here in NYC...which is great, but now everyone's going to be hip to my deep thoughts at my next dinner party.