I cannot believe how much of a parallel your post is to how I approached this film.
First time I thought, "Meh. Not bad," and didn't care after that. I just remembered that I enjoyed it, but thought it incredibly bizarre. I still couldn't stop thinking about it, though, so I bought the DVD. Watched it a second time.... then a third, fourth, fifth, and sixth time all within a week. I adored it after the second viewing; I cried every time at the end after the second viewing. I made a wallpaper that took 6 hours to make, got the complete score and have listened to it at least 10 times all the way through... it's the cause for me to even join this website.
You're absolutely right, jody. It really does require a second viewing to "get" it.