‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and the Elevator Ride From hell

For someone called Captain America, Steve Rodgers likes to break ranks from the government bodies the employ him. In First Avenger, he ignores orders to rescue Bucky and his unit. In Civil War, Steve is the poster child for the Anti-Sokovia Accords club. It is quite astonishing how often Steve finds himself standing up to the red, white, and blue.

Then again, Steve was never a self-professed G-man, and he didn’t join the Army for love of country. No, Steve Rodgers doesn’t like bullies. In the 1940s, there were no bigger bullies than the Nazis and Hydra. Unfortunately for Steve, Hydra would return many years later to brand him a fugitive of the law, once again pitting him against the very agency he worked for, S.H.I.E.L.D.

Today, we step into a time machine to travel back to 2014 for Cap’s second solo outing, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, to shine a light on the moment Stever Rodgers became a rogue agent.

Winter Soldier feels like a seminal moment for the MCU. Just as much a spy thriller as a superhero movie, Winter Soldiers shifts to a more serious tone than its predecessors.

More importantly, Winter Soldier features drastic shifts in the MCU, the sort usually only reserved for an Avengers outing. By the end of the film, S.H.I.E.L.D is no more, and Nick Fury is presumed dead. The MCU is never the same after this, sending it down a path that leads to Ultron.

It also sets a character precedent Cap cannot shake for years to come. For the first time, his face adorns wanted posters as an enemy of the state. It would not be the last time this happens, though. And one moment in Winter Soldier symbolizes Steve’s willingness to stand up to the government bullies no matter the personal cost.

And that scene went down…in an elevator.

The Scene

After an intense conversation with Alexander Pierce about Nick Fury’s supposed death, Cap finds himself sharing an elevator ride from hell with a few of his colleagues. As the elevator descends, S.H.I.E.L.D agents slowly fill the cramped space around him. Sensing something is off, Cap knows there is only one way off of this elevator- to fight.

Why It’s So Great

Cap is the star-spangled man with the plan. Unfortunately, those plans often find the scrappy hero at odds with the very country he has sworn to protect. The elevator scene perfectly captures this divide that Steve frequently wrestles with over the coming years.

What makes the scene work so well is the slow build of tension. Things already feel off after Cap’s conversation with Pierce, and that sense of unease only grows as more agents surround him.

That image of Steve engulfed by S.H.I.E.L.D agents is striking. It’s a well-framed visual that provides insights into the story unfolding in this scene and the thematic elements presented throughout the movie. Cap, and subsequently S.H.I.E.L.D, is all alone, with enemies closing in. He is in the company of those he should trust most, yet he has never been in more danger.

Steve adds to the tension by operating as the eyes of the audience throughout the scene. He notices little oddities, calling them to the attention of the viewer. By the time the last group of agents enters the elevator, there is no mistaking what is happing. Everyone knows a battle is coming, but who will throw the first punch?

The answer is S.H.I.E.L.D, and it proves to be a big mistake. Cap is no stranger to having his back against the wall, but he always manages to punch his way out of tricky situations. That proves to be no different here. Despite being outnumbered nine to one (yes, we counted), Steve manages to overpower some of the best-trained fighters in the world. Well, except for Rumlo, who puts up a decent fight.

Much like the rest of Winter Soldier, the scene is elevated- pun intended- by the well-choreographed fight sequence. It is not a particularly long fight, lasting just over a minute, but there is something personal about it, even if Rumlo claims it isn’t. It is a chaotic slugfest, and the elevator setting creates an almost claustrophobic-like feeling for the audience.

Of course, Cap is a tricky little bugger to trap, and he manages to get away by hurtling himself out of a window several stories above the ground. I think Peter Park only had it half right. Cap’s shield may not obey the laws of nature, but neither does Steve.

But this moment is an important one for Cap. He is a fugitive on the run from the law. That is a position he becomes all too familiar with throughout the rest of his Avenger journey.

What If?

Steve may have taken up fisticuffs to deal with the situation, but he could have easily ended up in some good old regular handcuffs if things went differently. I imagine that would mean a date with the Winter Soldier himself and an end to Captain America.

It’s a good thing it didn’t go that way, though. Otherwise, who would assemble the Avengers?