all day: Movies

The debonair Pierce Brosnan stars as Agent 007 in “The World Is Not Enough,” his third turn as the durable James Bond character. This time around, Bond, feeling responsible for the death of an oil tycoon at M16 headquarters, resigns from the agency so he can devote his time to protecting the tycoon’s daughter, Elektra (Sophie Marceau). Academy Award-winning actress Judi Dench returns as Bond’s boss M, and American actress Denise Richards (“Wild Things”) co-stars as Dr. Christmas Jones, a nuclear physicist and weapons expert. And in the long tradition of sly Bond Girl names (think Pussy Galore and Honey Ryder), Serena Scott-Thomas plays Dr. Holly Warmflash. Director Michael Apted (“Extreme Measures,” “Nell”) makes his Bond film directorial debut.

* “The World Is Not Enough,” rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action violence, some sexuality and innuendo, opens Friday in general release.

8 pm: Theater

He’s a MacArthur Foundation fellow and co-director of the Mark Taper Forum’s Latino Theatre Initiative, but Los Angeles-based playwright Luis Alfaro hasn’t had a fully staged production of one of his plays in L.A. until now. Emily Kuroda and James Sie headline in the West Coast premiere of Alfaro’s “Straight as a Line,” about a mother and son’s search to discover what it means to be family.

* “Straight as a Line,” Playwright’s Arena, 5262 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, 8 p.m. Regular schedule: Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m. through Dec. 18. (Dark Thanksgiving Day.) $15. (323) 960-7756.

8:45 pm: Laser Show

As if laser light shows weren’t trippy enough, the Laserium at Griffith Observatory has created a 3-D show for the company’s birthday: “Laser Holiday 3D,” featuring music from the Eurythmics to Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder to Cyndi Lauper. The premiere on Friday is free--plus there will be birthday cake on the observatory’s steps.

* “Laser Holiday 3D,” Griffith Observatory, 2800 E. Observatory Road, Griffith Park, Los Angeles. Friday at 8:45 p.m. Free. Regular schedule: Thursdays through Sundays, 6 p.m., except holidays. Through Dec. 30. $8, adults; $7, ages 5 to 12 or seniors. (818) 901-9405.

9 pm: Pop Music

The upstate New York group moe. (that’s how they spell it) has moved to the front of the grass-roots “jam band” pack with its mix of rock, funk, folk, hip-hop and world music. They’ll be recording a live album in two shows at the House of Blues.

* moe., House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, Friday and Saturday, 9 p.m. $16. (323) 848-5100.

all day: Art & Music

The holiday gift-giving season always leads to creative store-window displays, but this may take the cake. At Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills, sculptor Charles Long will interpret “Holiday Situations” in an installation. And the display will have its own musical score, created by Mark Mothersbaugh, former DEVO-tee and now a successful film composer. The artwork, however, is not for sale. Saks will add one piece to its permanent art collection; another will be donated to the Birmingham Museum of Art.

* “Holiday Situations” installation, Saks Fifth Avenue, 9600 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. Through Jan 2. Free. (310) 275-4211.

all day: Movies

Director Tim Burton and actor Johnny Depp, who’ve teamed twice before on “Edward Scissorhands” and “Ed Wood,” reunite to bring Washington Irving’s creepy tale of the headless horseman--”The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”--to the big screen. In “Sleepy Hollow,” Depp plays the cowardly hero Ichabod Crane, a city detective who travels to a small town to investigate the grisly murders of several men whose bodies have been found in the nearby woods. For those who have never read “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” think of it as a 19th century “Blair Witch Project” with considerably higher production standards. The estimable cast includes Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon, Christopher Walken and Burton regular Lisa Marie.

* “Sleepy Hollow,” rated R for graphic horror violence and gore, and for a scene of sexuality, opens Friday in general release.

FREEBIES

Sierra Chamber Players perform music by Bloch, Lecuona, Brahms and others, Louis B. Mayer Theater, Motion Picture Home, 23388 Mulholland Drive, Woodland Hills, 7:30 p.m. (818) 876-1064.

*

R.D. Zimmerman signs his thriller “Innuendo” at A Different Light bookstore, 8853 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, 8 p.m. (310) 854-6601