I guess your options can be summarized somewhat like this:
1. $2000+ for a modern DSLR with 2-3 quality lenses and other miscellaneous gear
Pros: Gets you great performance and image quality, instant satisfaction
Cons: Expensive expensive expensive, and even more so if you decide photography isn't for you, bulky, will lead to spending even more money
2. $1000 for a modern DSLR and a single lens
Pros: Cheaper than above
Cons: The types of pictures you can take will be limited by your single lens. If you value variety at all, this is really just a postponement of #1 above, as you'll eventually be spending more money for more lenses, better lenses, and gear anyway.
3. $500 or less for a prosumer super-zoom
Pros: Cheaper than above, more shooting options than a single lens SLR, can easily hone skills like framing and composition, more portable than SLR, usually includes image stabilization, can record movies
Cons: Image quality might not be as good as an SLR, slower to focus and shoot, less responsive, depth of field is unpronounced, no RAW, much worse high ISO performance, no optical viewfinder
4. $100 for a film SLR and a lens
Pros: Cheap
Cons: Kinda like learning how to swim by being thrown into the deep end and being forced to adapt quickly. Learning curve is harsh because there's no instant feedback on how you're shooting (have to buy film, shoot film, wait for developing, find out your pictures stink and you've just sunk $8 on a "learning experience" that you'll probably repeat again and again). Photos you take will have to be scanned in order to be editable on the computer or shared online, and scanning will decrease image quality unless you have a professional film scanner. In the end, you will have spent $100 + film costs for a harsh learning experience when you could have just spent $300+ for a prosumer digital camera. I do not recommend film for a first learner in our modern age, but I have no problem with people who already understand photography going back to film who want to experience the good ol' days again.
NOTE: do not discount used cameras, lenses, and gear. Going used or going with a previous generation (or both) can save you a very hefty amount of cash. You can certainly get a good used bare bones previous generation DSLR setup for $1000, but this will again just be a postponement for #1 above. The downside is if you decide you want to upgrade, in which case you'll be spending money for the current generation anyway.
ex. Used Rebel XT + kit lens + 50mm f/1.8 + another lens for ~$1000. Note this does not include accessories.
If you go with an SLR, also do not ignore miscellaneous costs. SLRs need to use quicker and more numerous flash memory for their faster shooting speeds and larger files. SLRs need beefier and more expensive tripods than prosumers because they are heavier. SLRs need beefier and more expensive tripod heads, such as ballheads, than prosumers because of the weight. Then there're things like a remote shutter release cord, rubber blower to clean the sensor, large camera bag and lens cases, and additional things you might want to eventually get, like a monopod, a hand strap, a better neck strap, a battery grip, a portable hard drive for backing up photos, a monitor calibration device, software, OMG.
With a prosumer, you can easily get away with a cheapo $20 tripod+head, a small camera bag, a remote shutter cord, a standard slowish but cheap flash card, and you're kinda good to go.