The question is: do I bring kids and resign myself to the inevitable talking and shuffling of snacks? Or do I go with the wife and have a quiet, cinematic experience while wondering, "Would the kids like this?"

My neighborhood Theater in Austin (The Galaxy) is screening TERMINATOR SALVATION in a theater equipped with D Box Motion Chairs. Its one of the few theaters in the country using this technology. I'm going to check it out tomorrow. Will report back.

I saw DMTH at the Alamo Draft House theater here in Austin. What a cool place. State of the art projection and sound, a bar with microbrews and fine wine, a kitchen serving good food. And you can eat and drink in the theater which has table tops in front of the plush seating. You order by writing what you want on a piece of paper and hand it to the quiet and discreet waiters. Surprisingly, none of this distracts from the film watching experience. At the start of the film a message appears on the screen that says the theater is a quiet zone, no rustling of food wrappers, no talking etc. If someone near you is making a racket there is a card that you can hold up in the air and a manager will come to your seat and ask if there's a problem. If your neighbor is being loud or obnoxious, they will get one warning. If there is another complaint they will, as it says up on the screen, "get their asses thrown out of the theater". The fact that alcohol is being served has probably resulted in drunks creating problems in the past, so the Alamo has set up systems to nip that shit in the bud. A sophisticated and well thought out theater. Best sound system on the planet.

I finally turned around, glared at them, and said "if you don't shut up I'm going to rip your fucking throats out!"

I finally turned around, glared at them, and said "if you don't shut up I'm going to rip your fucking throats out!" They didn't make a peep after that. I've used that line on many occasions and it always works.
The glaring is important.