MCU: 15 greatest Captain America moments of all-time
“Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier”..Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans)..Ph: Film Frame..© 2014 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.
9. The Elevator Fight
Film: Captain America: The Winter Soldier
It’s not easy to make the almighty Captain America feel uncomfortable in the MCU. The hardened hero had defeated Hydra during World War II and battled a city full of aliens by the time that The Winter Soldier rolled around, so it’s safe to say that he had seen the worst of two worlds. Yet, standing in a crowded elevator surrounded by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, his supposed allies, he felt uncomfortable.
The beauty about this scene is that it managed to make us, as viewers, feel uncomfortable too through its beautiful use of invasive close-ups to illustrate just how oppressive the environment was, and with each lingering shot on the agents’ respective weapons, it was clear that something was about to go down.
Steve’s intuition was, as always, on point as he quickly found himself overpowered by the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents (who were actually Hydra operatives) and cuffed to the elevator with a magnet. However, he didn’t let that stop him and, despite taking an onslaught of punches, kicks, shoves and electrical stuns, he effectively managed to use his legs to subdue any nearby threats before freeing his arm, retrieving his shield and battling them all in hand-to-hand combat.
When all was said and done, Captain America was standing in an elevator alone, surrounded by countless unconscious turncoats, victorious. Again, the cinematography here was great because, in contrast to the beginning of the fight, he was now surrounded by space, free to catch his breath and survey his conquests.
Even with the element of surprise, the numbers game and all of their fancy tech, the Hydra operatives never stood a chance. Without a doubt, one of the first Avenger’s most impressive victories.