Most people who love a particular phone but are forced to use AT&T know that their network performance can sometimes leave something to be desired. Yes iPhone owners, I’m talking to you. Poor network performance, inability to use 3G data and the ever-present dropped and failed calls are pretty consistent issues when using AT&T — at least in many areas.

But now it seems the network is listening and is going to try and do something about it. No, they are not introducing a radical improvement to their network or anything like that. Instead, they’ve rolled out a tool for the iPhone that will allow users to report any failure to their service. This application, called Mark the Spot, uses geo-location to pinpoint your iPhone’s location and then asks the user to identify the type of problem they are experiencing.

Supposedly this data will be used by the carrier to help pinpoint trouble spots that they can then take steps to improve. While I would prefer an actual improvement in network performance, i guess this is a step in the right direction. This application is now available in the iTunes store so go it it.

I wonder if they’ll get very many reports?

Though its a viable source of daily information, we all accept that watching the news can be pretty boring. Whether it’s C-SPAN, CNN, or Fox News, unless you’re really invested in the subject matter, it can put you to sleep in a matter of minutes. Back in April, a few clever college students found out that the news can be so much more, if only sung in the right key.

The first Auto-Tune the News started on April 11th, with a series of clips taken from news networks, cut up, and auto-tuned to a beat. The outcome was pretty impressive, and they’ve been cranking out new episodes on a nearly monthly basis.

Yesterday, the 8th episode went live, and it includes a range of topics from dragons to geese to Michael Vick. Take a look at the video below, buy the MP3 here, and you’ll probably never listen to Joe Biden the same way again.

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We may see a prequel Alien, one of the greatest and scariest sci-fi/horror films of all time, in the near future. At least if, according to an interview with Fox’s Co-Chairman Tom Rothman over at IESB, Ridley Scott decides to do it. Rothman gave the interview, which featured some more tidbits about a potential Alien prequel and also the reboot of the Predator franchise, while on the red carpet for the Austin, TX premiere of X-Men Origins: Wolverine last night.

During the interview, Rothman was asked about an Alien prequel and said: “There’s been some talk. Ridley Scott, Ridley is right now working on Robin Hood, but I think he’s toying with the idea and that would be great for us. I mean, it’s always been a matter of, really, if you can get the originator to do it that would be the greatest thing, so I’ve got my fingers crossed, all of them.” Rothman, when asked about the announced Predator reboot, said it was going forward and that Robert Rodriguez’ film, now known as Predators, would be under the writer/director/producer/editor/steadicam operator’s total control.

Other projects mentioned during the interview included Daredevil and James Cameron’s Avatar — which will likely have footage from it from shown at the San Diego Comic-Con in July. So, a potential new Alien film under the direction of Ridley Scott. Robert Rodriguez has total control over a Predator reboot. We will see footage from Avatar at Comic-Con and Fox may end up doing another Daredevil movie. Of those things, the first and the third most interest me. The second and last? Not so much.

Here’s some interesting, exciting, controversial and never boring news from the worlds of movies, television, comic books and all things geek that caught our eye this week.

Elizabeth Shue will star in the remake of Piranha in 3D.

William Hurt joins the cast of Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood along with Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett

Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson join the cast of the Clash of the Titans remake.

The fate of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is still up for debate.

The silver screen adaptation of Green Lantern starts filming in July in Australia.

Seth McFarland talks about a Family Guy movie.

ILM tells how they reinvented the starship Enterprise for J.J. Abrams new Star Trek film.

Joss Whedon kills hope for a Buffy: The Vampire Slayer movie.

A Swedish court found the four operators of The Pirate Bay guilty of “Accessory to Copyright Infringement” and sentenced them each to a year in prison.

Dr. Who has put together a new production team for Season 5.

The Screen Actors Guild and Hollywood producers reached a tentitavie deal which may prevent a costly strike by actors.

We came out with a brand new podcast this week. The Flickcast – Episode 3: Revenge of The Flickcast.

Director Michel Gondry has started a new “project” on his website, MichelGondry.com, where he will draw a portrait of you from a photo you supply for $19.95 plus shipping. You know his directing work if you’ve ever seen such “indie” films as The Science of Sleep and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. He’s also currently working on the not-so-indie Green Hornet. Apparently, he’s also an accomplished artist as well.

From his site:

Michel will personally sketch and sign your portrait based off of the photo that you submit via email. This personalized collectible can also be incorporated onto any item sold through this website. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery.

So for those of you out there looking for a nice piece of personalized-but-kooky memorabilia from the mind who made legos cool again, head on over and check it out here.

I think I prefer the 2D...

Well, not really red-and-blue-glasses 3D, but three-dimensions nonetheless. Family Guy creator and all-around funnyman Seth McFarlane was on Adam Corolla’s also funny podcast and the conversation quickly steered towards a theatrical release of the Fox series and maybe even some live-action…action:

MCFARLANE: I can say with definitive assuredness that it will be out. Within the next few years. We already know what it’s gonna be. We’ve been trying to lock into something that makes it so that it has to be a movie, as opposed to an extended Family Guy episode. And I like the Simpson’s Movie , but that’s something they could do with animation on TV because they’re not constrained by sets. [...] You have to find some way to make it so that it has to be a movie.

CAROLLA: Are you hinting at some live action?

MCFARLANE: Possibly, possibly. Here and there. It will not be a 90-minute Family Guy episode.

McFarlane is most likely referencing the first direct-to-dvd film, “Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story”, which got negative reviews for essentially being 3 episodes strung together with a few dirty words. The FG team has been kicking around the idea of a theatrical release for a few years now and just about everyone in the cast, from Adam West to Mila Kunis has expressed enthusiasm for the idea. This, of course, begs the question: who would play our favorite family from Quahog? Seth McFarlane in a fatsuit? Drew Carey and Kathy Griffen? Let’s hope it’s none of the above.

With comic big screen comic adaptations on the constant rise, it was only a matter of time before a true fan favorite gets his 15 minutes in the limelight. That news came today as Warner Bros. green lit production for a Green Lantern live-action film.

The film has already been given a shiny $150 million budget, which isn’t bad considering Fantastic Four had $100M, Iron Man had $140M, and Watchmen had $150M.

Production will begin in July with shooting to start at Fox Studios Australia in Syndey by November under the helm of director Martin Campbell (Casino Royale). Shooting in Sydney also helps the film out financially due to a favorable exchange rate and a 15% location rebate.

No word yet on casting, or which Lantern we could be seeing on the big screen (rapper Common has expressed his interest in playing John Stewart), but rumors so far have included names like Emile Hirsch (Speed Racer), Chris Pine and Anton Yelchin (Star Trek), Sam Worthington (Terminator Salvation), and Ryan Gosling (The Notebook). Who would YOU cast as the Galactic Peacekeeper?

At The Flickcast, we like Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and hope it gets a new season. Fortunately, if info in a recent posting over at Ain’t It Cool News is to be believed, the fate of Fox’s Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is still up in the air. With Fox playing the “wait until the upfronts on May 18th” card, internet rumors and EW reporter Michael Ausiello citing sources who say “consider it canceled” nobody seems to have told series producer Ashley Edward Miller the bad news.

Miller, who’s been vocal on Twitter about the show and Ausiello, had this to say about the cancellation issue: “Time for Ausiello’s semi-annual SCC termination report. False again. (Remember ’sets were destroyed’ report? Now you know context, people).”

So, is the show really canceled or is this some sort of ploy by Fox to generate sympathy and a renewed interest in a show who’s season finale was only able to garner 3.6 million viewers? Time will tell but if Fox’s past track record with underperformong shows is an indication, I wouldn’t expect any kind of last-minute stay of execution for the show.

Here’s a few of the stories from the worlds of movies, television, comic books and geek that caught our eye this week.

• Some geeks got a surprise screening of JJ Abrams new Star Trek film.

• iO9 gives you everything you need to know about the season finale of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

• Jackie Earl Haley will be the next Freddy Kruger in the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street.

• Al Pacino will be the next Napoleon. No short jokes please.

• IGN gives you the complete guide to Wolverine’s past. Just in time for the movie, which opens this Summer.

• Speaking of Wolverine, according to TorrentFreak, the leaked workprint of the film has been downloaded over a million times.

• Mike Judge brings you a trailer for his new film Extract.

• FSR brings us a trailer for the Sam Rockwell starrer Moon, which is directed by Duncan Jones (aka David Bowie’s son).

• Disney is reportedly spending $300 Million on the new Tron movie.

• According to Variety, Gerard Way’s Umbrella Academy got optioned.

• Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse may or may not be canceled.

• And last, but certainly not least, Megan Fox wants to be know for her acting. Sure, why not? It’s Friday so anythings possible.

In addition to our weekly show, we’re going to be adding more and more new stuff right here at The Flickcast site so be sure to check back each week for more new content. In the meantime, be sure to listen to our show by downloading or subscribing to it right here at the site or by subscribing in iTunes.

Thanks for listening. . . and reading.

Today we recorded another new episode of The Flickcast and it looks to be even better than the last. Lots of great topics and lively discussion from your co-hosts. The Flickcast team is looking forward to you having a chance to hear it.

So, be sure and check back Wednesday right here, or in iTunes, for the next exciting episode of The Flickcast!